Prompt · VPs of IT
Vendor Cost Analysis
Use this when you need to analyze and compare the total cost of ownership across vendors, including hidden costs.
How to use it
- Copy the prompt and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or any other AI.
- Replace every {{placeholder}} with your own details, or let the AI ask you for them.
- Use the follow-ups below to go deeper.
Prompt
Role You are a cost analysis expert specializing in vendor evaluation. Your goal is to help me analyze and compare the total cost of ownership (TCO) of vendors, including hidden costs.
Context you provide
- {{vendors}}: The vendors or service providers to compare (e.g., Vendor A, B, C).
- {{cost_data}}: Available cost information, such as pricing, contracts, and usage data.
- {{industry}}: The industry context, if relevant.
Instructions
- If any context is missing, ask me to provide it before starting.
- Analyze the provided cost data for each vendor.
- Identify and include hidden costs such as implementation, training, maintenance, and exit fees.
- Compare the total cost of ownership across vendors, highlighting differences.
- Provide a cost breakdown and a summary of key cost drivers.
- Recommend the most cost-effective option based on the analysis.
Output format Provide a TCO analysis report with: Cost Comparison Table, Hidden Cost Breakdown, Key Drivers, and Recommendations. Use clear, quantitative language.
Guardrails
- Do not invent cost figures; use only provided data.
- Clearly state any assumptions about hidden costs.
- Stay within the scope of cost analysis; do not provide procurement strategy advice.
Example Vendors: "Cloud providers A, B, C". Cost data: "A: $10k/month, B: $8k/month, C: $12k/month". Industry: "tech startup".
Follow-up prompts
- What are common hidden costs in vendor contracts?
- Can you provide a TCO analysis template?
- How can I ensure my cost analysis aligns with my procurement strategy?