Let’s be real for a second: The AV industry is a rollercoaster.
One month, your team is drowning in work, scrambling to meet five deadlines at once. The next? You’re staring at a utilization report, wondering why your most expensive senior programmer is spending their day cable managing a rack because there’s no code to write.
For AV Integrators, this “feast or famine” cycle is a margin killer. For Building Companies and MSPs, it’s the main reason you hesitate to bid on the lucrative “smart building” or “meeting room” slice of the pie. You want the revenue, but you don’t want the headache of hiring a full-time automation engineer.
Here is the truth: You don’t need to own the resources to own the result.
Subcontracting AV programming isn’t just about handling overflow anymore. It’s a strategic lever that smart businesses use to stay lean, bid bigger, and move faster. Here is why shifting your mindset on programming can transform your bottom line.
1. Stop Paying for Downtime (Crushing Overheads)
Hiring a senior programmer—someone who truly knows their way around Crestron, Q-SYS, and HTML5—is expensive. We’re talking high salaries, software licenses, ongoing training, and benefits.
That cost is fixed, whether you have a project for them or not.
By partnering with a specialist programming team, you flip that model on its head. You turn a scary fixed cost into a manageable variable cost. You only pay for the code when you have a signed contract in hand. No idle time, no payroll anxiety—just pure execution when you need it.
2. Protect Your Margins (No More “Black Holes”)
We’ve all seen it: A project is “finished,” but the programmer is still on-site for two weeks tweaking code because the scope wasn’t clear or the in-house team got pulled into troubleshooting cabling issues. There goes the profit margin.
When you subcontract to a pro, you agree on a scope and a fixed price before the job starts. This brings incredible clarity to your bidding. You know exactly what the programming will cost, protecting your margins from the dreaded “scope creep” that plagues internal departments.
3. For MSPs & Builders: Tap Into Revenue You’re Ignoring
If you are an MSP managing a client’s IT network, or a Builder constructing their office, you are already in the room. Why let a third-party integrator take the check for the smart meeting rooms and automation?
You might be thinking, “We don’t know how to program Q-SYS or design a UI.” You don’t have to.
Subcontracting allows you to expand your portfolio overnight. You handle the client relationship and the infrastructure; your programming partner handles the complex logic and user interfaces. You get to offer a complete “turn-key” solution, adding massive value to your client without the risk of hiring a new department.
4. Access “Niche” Genius on Demand
The AV world is fracturing. It’s no longer just about proprietary code; it’s about HTML5, Python, API integrations, and secure networking. It is nearly impossible for one in-house guy (or even a small team) to be an expert in everything.
By maintaining a relationship with a dedicated programming firm, you gain a “bench” of experts.
- Need a complex custom widget in HTML5? Done.
- Need a secure Q-SYS plugin written in Lua? Sorted.
- Need a Cisco Room Kit integration? Easy.
You get access to diverse, high-level expertise without the recruitment nightmare.
5. Fast-Track Your Timelines
In the current climate, clients want systems deployed yesterday. An in-house team has a bandwidth limit. If they are deep in a massive university project, they can’t pivot to handle that sudden corporate HQ bid that just landed on your desk.
Subcontractors provide instant scalability. You can say “Yes” to more work, knowing you have a partner who can run parallel tracks with your internal team. Plus, because specialized programmers don’t get distracted by pulling cable or hanging brackets, they often deliver functional code significantly faster.
The Bottom Line: It’s About Agility
In 2025, the most successful Integrators and MSPs aren’t the ones with the most staff—they are the ones with the most agility.
Subcontracting AV programming gives you the freedom to scale up, scale down, and take on complex technological challenges without betting the farm on overheads. It allows you to focus on what you do best—building relationships and managing projects—while the experts ensure the buttons work, every single time.