Table of contents
What Is SetupClaw?
SetupClaw is a managed deployment service for OpenClaw — the open-source AI executive assistant. We install, configure, security-harden, and maintain OpenClaw for UK businesses with 4 to 50 employees. The result is a fully operational AI assistant connected to your existing tools, running on infrastructure you control, delivered in as little as one day.
This lesson explains what the service covers, why it exists, who it's for, and what it costs.
The Problem: Why Not Just Install It Yourself?
OpenClaw is open source — anyone can clone the repo and run it. But "running" and "production-ready for a real business" are very different things.
A production OpenClaw deployment involves roughly 8 workspace configuration files and over 32 individual fields that need to be set correctly. These include model routing, memory tuning, channel credentials, personality definitions, skill selection, security rules, and environment variables. Getting any one of them wrong can mean leaked API keys, runaway costs, or an assistant that simply doesn't work.
Beyond the initial setup, there's ongoing maintenance: keeping dependencies updated, rotating secrets, monitoring for regressions after OpenClaw releases, and tuning the assistant's behaviour as your team's needs evolve.
For a small business without a dedicated DevOps engineer, this is effectively a part-time job. SetupClaw exists so you don't have to do it.
What SetupClaw Delivers
Every SetupClaw engagement follows the same structured process, regardless of which pricing tier you choose:
- Discovery call — A 20-to-45-minute kickoff where we learn your workflows, tools, and goals.
- Same-day deployment — We install and configure OpenClaw in a 1-to-3-hour live build session. You watch the entire process.
- Security hardening — AES-256 encryption at rest, Docker sandboxing, VPS-level network isolation, and six additional enterprise-grade security controls.
- Channel connection — We connect your assistant to your messaging platform (WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, or others).
- 14-day hypercare — Two weeks of active monitoring, tuning, and unlimited support via a dedicated Slack channel.
At the end of the 14 days you have a stable, tested, secured assistant — and you know how to use it.
Security Approach
Security is not an add-on — it is built into the deployment from the first minute. Every SetupClaw installation follows a hardening checklist that covers:
- AES-256 encryption for all data at rest
- Docker sandboxing to isolate the assistant runtime from the host system
- VPS deployment on infrastructure you own (not shared cloud)
- Network-level access controls restricting who can reach the assistant
- Secret rotation guidance and automated reminders
- Audit logging so you can see exactly what the assistant did and when
If you've read the earlier Security lesson in this series, you'll recognise many of these controls. The difference is that SetupClaw implements them for you, tested and verified, rather than leaving them as a checklist you need to work through yourself.
Pricing Tiers
SetupClaw uses one-time setup fees with no recurring subscriptions. Every tier includes the 14-day hypercare period.
| Tier | Price | Deployment method | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essential (Hosted) | £770 | Remote — deployed to a cloud VPS | Teams who want a hosted assistant without managing hardware |
| Standard (Mac Remote) | £1,100 | Remote — deployed to your own Mac | Teams who want the assistant running on their own machine |
| Professional (Mac In-Person) | £2,200 | On-site — engineer visits your office | Teams who need hands-on setup, training, or compliance requirements |
What Each Tier Includes
All three tiers include the full deployment pipeline: discovery call, installation, configuration of all 8 workspace files, security hardening, channel connection, and 14-day hypercare.
The Standard tier adds deployment to your own hardware (rather than a cloud VPS), giving you full physical control of the machine your assistant runs on.
The Professional tier adds an in-person visit. The engineer comes to your office, works alongside your team, and provides live training on how to manage and extend the assistant after handover.
The Deployment Process
Here is what the timeline looks like from your first contact to a fully operational assistant:
- Book a free consultation — Tell us about your business and what you want the assistant to do.
- Discovery call (Day 0) — We map your workflows and agree on the configuration.
- Live build session (Day 0–1) — 1 to 3 hours of screen-shared deployment. You see every step.
- Hypercare begins (Day 1–14) — We monitor, tune, and answer questions in a dedicated Slack channel.
- Handover (Day 14) — You receive full documentation, credentials, and ongoing self-management guidance.
Most teams are fully operational within 24 hours of the discovery call.
Who Is SetupClaw For?
SetupClaw is designed for UK businesses with 4 to 50 employees who want an AI assistant but don't have the engineering bandwidth to deploy and maintain one. Typical clients include:
- Small agencies that need an assistant for client communication and project management
- Professional services firms (accountants, solicitors, consultants) who want automated email triage and scheduling
- E-commerce teams who need a knowledge-base Q&A bot for internal operations
- Startups that want AI capabilities without hiring a DevOps engineer
If your team is larger than 50, or you have specific compliance requirements (NHS, FCA), get in touch — we can discuss a custom engagement.
The 14-Day Guarantee
Every SetupClaw deployment comes with a straightforward guarantee: if you're not completely satisfied within the 14-day hypercare period, we refund your full payment. No questions asked.
We can offer this because the deployment process is transparent — you watch the entire build — and because the hypercare period gives us two full weeks to tune the assistant to your exact needs.
Next Steps
If you want to try OpenClaw on your own first, the earlier lessons in this series cover installation, configuration, and security in detail. If you'd rather have it done for you, book a free consultation at setupclaw.uk.
For teams that want something in between — self-managed but without the terminal — the next lesson covers the SetupClaw Desktop App, a one-click installer for £70.