FORGE vs SaaS vs Consulting vs Open Source

Direct comparison across all delivery models.

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The Comparison Table

Dimension	FORGE	SaaS	Consulting	Open Source
Revenue Model	One-time	Recurring	Project	None
Buyer Ownership	Full	None	Partial	Public
Ongoing Costs	Zero	Monthly	Retainer	Zero
Vendor Dependency	Zero	High	Medium	Low
Support Burden	Minimal	High	Very High	Community
Scaling	Infinite	Linear	Human-limited	Infinite
Gross Margins	99%	80-90%	30-60%	N/A
Customer Lock-in	None	High	Medium	None
Update Control	Buyer	Vendor	Negotiated	Community

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When to Use Each

Use FORGE When:

✅ Product is static intelligence (methodologies, frameworks, patterns) ✅ No continuous updates needed ✅ Buyer can deploy autonomously ✅ Perpetual value (knowledge doesn't expire)

Use SaaS When:

✅ Live data feeds required ✅ Continuous updates critical ✅ Network effects drive value ✅ Infrastructure management is complex

Use Consulting When:

✅ Custom solutions required ✅ High-touch implementation needed ✅ Buyer lacks expertise ✅ Solution varies per client

Use Open Source When:

✅ Community-driven development desired ✅ Revenue not required ✅ Maximum distribution goal ✅ Contributions expected

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Choose the model that matches your product's nature, not your business preference. 🪶