What you'll have
A list of qualified prospects with researched first lines, a warmed-up sending setup and a short sequence that books calls for the client.
Who pays for it: Local B2B service businesses (agencies, contractors, consultants). Paid monthly or per booked meeting.
The stack and what it costs
| Tool | Month 1 | Ongoing (per month) | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo.io Lead database | Free (900 credits) $0 | Basic (billed yearly) $49 | Pricing page, read 17 October 2026 |
| Instantly Sending and warmup | Free trial $0 | Growth $47 | Pricing page, read 17 October 2026 |
| Total | $0 | $96/mo Estimate | Sum of the rows. Excludes tax, per-sale fees and anything marked "–" (not verified or usage-based). |
Plan prices are list prices in USD from each tool's pricing page; plan choices for month 1 and ongoing are our estimate for one person doing this part time.
Step by step
4 of 5 steps are checked against official docs, 1 is our advice. Menu names are quoted from the linked docs as of the date shown; apps change, so follow the doc if what you see differs.
Connect sending inboxes
In Instantly, open Email Accounts, choose Connect Existing and pick Google, Microsoft or IMAP/SMTP. Microsoft accounts must be connected one at a time with the Microsoft connector.
Source: Instantly Help: Connect your email accounts, read 20 October 2026
Turn on warmup and wait
Enable warmup on each account; it starts at the next 12:00 AM UTC. During the 14-day trial you can warm 2 accounts free; after that you need an Outbound plan.
Source: Instantly Help: Enable warmup, read 20 October 2026
Build and research the list
Pull prospects from a lead database, then have AI draft one specific first line per prospect from their website. Check each by hand.
Our advice. No specific menus involved.
Create the campaign
Name it by audience (title, niche, location), add leads, write the sequence with variants and wait times, assign warmed accounts, preview and launch.
Source: Instantly Help: Create a campaign, read 20 October 2026
Follow CAN-SPAM in the US, and local law elsewhere
No deceptive subject lines, identify ads, include a valid postal address and a clear opt-out.
Source: FTC: CAN-SPAM Act compliance guide, read 20 October 2026
Common mistakes
- Sending from the client's main domain and damaging its deliverability.
- Skipping warmup.
- Long AI-written emails. Short and specific gets replies.
Rights and terms check
Cold email rules differ by country; CAN-SPAM covers the US and parts of Europe require consent. This isn't legal advice.
A summary of public terms, not legal advice. Commercial-rights matrix
Alternatives and when to pick them
| Tool | When to choose it | Free plan | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | Pick it if you want deeper AI research and enrichment per lead. | Yes | $0 · then $167/mo (billing period not stated) |
| lemlist | Pick it if you want multichannel sequences. | Trial only | Paid plans only |
| Hunter | Pick it if you mainly need to find and verify addresses. | Yes | Free plan + paid plans |
Prices for tools without an in-depth profile aren't verified by us; we show the pricing model only.
Still choosing? What's the best cold email tool? · All cold email tools compared
How to get your first customer
- Run a small campaign for your own service first and show the replies.
- Offer one client a pilot priced per booked meeting.
Our suggestions, not guarantees. Earnings vary.
FAQ
When does Instantly warmup start?
At the next 12:00 AM UTC after you enable it (Instantly Help, read 20 Oct 2026).
Is cold email legal?
In the US it must follow CAN-SPAM: honest headers and subject lines, a postal address and an opt-out. Other countries are stricter.
Sources
- FTC: CAN-SPAM Act compliance guide (read 20 October 2026)
- Instantly Help: Create a campaign (read 20 October 2026)
- Instantly Help: Connect your email accounts (read 20 October 2026)
- Instantly Help: Enable warmup (read 20 October 2026)
- Apollo.io pricing (read 17 October 2026)
- Instantly pricing (read 17 October 2026)
Steps checked 20 October 2026; prices checked 17 October 2026. Corrections: hello@agenthustles.com.