How to run lean by replacing headcount with agents + automations
Why Agent-First Matters
Most founders think the only way to scale is to hire.
But what if you could replace six full-time roles with agents and automations — for about $1K/month?
That's the reality of running an agent-first company.
This guide shows how I replaced ~$600K in annual salaries with ~$12K in agents, what I learned along the way, and how you can start doing the same.
1. Where It All Started
In June 2023, OpenAI announced function calling.
That blog post was a turning point. It showed me that agents weren't just chatbots anymore — they could reliably call tools.
That's when I stopped thinking of them as "helpers" and started treating them as role replacements.
2. The Tradeoff
Agents are unbeatable at structured, repetitive work.
But they're not creative. They recycle patterns and often sound repetitive.
I accept that limitation.
I save my own creativity for high-leverage judgment calls and strategy.
3. My Oversight Model
I don't micro-manage agents.
I only review end results, not every detail.
- If Cursor fixes a bug, I check the outcome, not every line.
- If Toffu.ai drafts a campaign, I skim the flow, not every sentence.
- If Hud.io provides MCP context, I just confirm the issue is resolved.
- If Sentry Seer opens a PR, I review and merge — I don't expect perfection.
This lightweight oversight keeps me fast while still in control.
4. The Big Mistake I Made
At first, I tried to save on tokens and credits.
That was a mistake.
These costs are peanuts compared to the time saved.
Anyone valuing their time shouldn't be counting tokens.
5. The Biggest Misconception
Most people expect agents to deliver perfect results, every time.
They compare them to:
- SaaS products with zero bugs
- Human employees who never make mistakes
That's unrealistic.
Agents require iteration — just like onboarding a junior teammate. You need to give feedback, retry, refine.
6. The Habit That Changed Everything
I no longer keep a to-do list.
Instead of writing tasks for myself, I write them directly to an agent.
The agent is the execution layer.
That simple shift freed me from planning overhead and gave me back focus.
7. Your First Steps Toward Agent-First
If you're starting lean, here's where to begin:
- Map tasks, not titles. Break down the work that needs to get done before you hire. Many tasks can be agent-driven.
- Expect imperfection. Review outcomes, not micro-manage.
- Spend the tokens. The ROI is in the time you buy back.
- Stack agents + automations. Real leverage comes when they work together. For example, Hud.io + Cursor fixing issues, not just reporting them.
My Current Stack
Here's what runs my business for about $1K/month:
- Coding → Cursor
- Product analysis → Hunch.dev + PostHog
- Marketing → Toffu.ai
- Production debugging → Hud.io
- Monitoring & fixing → Sentry Seer
- Deploys → Vercel + Render bots
Equivalent output: 6 roles ($600K/year).
Actual cost: ~$12K/year.
That's a 50× difference.
Closing Thoughts
Agent-first isn't about saving tokens.
It's about saving headcount, burn, and decision fatigue.
The founders who learn to work this way now will build leaner, faster companies — and they'll scale with less overhead.
I write about becoming an agent-first company and about building AI agents in production. Subscribe to stay updated.