Liam Ottley Review: Legit Programs or Waste of Time? (2026)

Liam Ottley might be the most influential voice in the AI agency space right now. With 700K+ YouTube subscribers, a free Skool community of 280,000+ members, and a paid program (AAA Accelerator) that reportedly costs $5,000–$7,000+, he’s built an empire around one big idea: you can start an AI automation agency with zero technical experience and earn $10K–$50K per month.

The pitch is magnetic. AI is the future. Businesses need help implementing it. You can be the middleman who bridges that gap — no coding, no technical degree, just no-code tools and a sales process. Build chatbots, automate workflows, and charge businesses thousands per month for services they desperately need.

If you’ve watched even one of Liam’s YouTube videos, you know the narrative. And honestly? Parts of it are true. Businesses genuinely do need help with AI implementation. The opportunity is real. But the path from “I watched a YouTube video about AI agencies” to “I’m earning $10K/month” is significantly harder, more expensive, and more uncertain than Liam’s content suggests.

I’ve spent weeks examining the AAA ecosystem — the free Hub, the paid Accelerator, student reviews on Trustpilot and Reddit, the actual business model, and the reality of building an AI agency in 2026. This review covers all of it.

First — A Quick Recommendation…

Hey, my name is Mark.

I’ve reviewed dozens of agency models, AI programs, and “build a business” courses over 15+ years. The agency model can work — but it’s essentially a service business, which means you’re trading time for money with higher complexity. You need sales skills, technical knowledge, and constant client management.

The best method I’ve found for building recurring income is simpler. I build 2-page websites that show up in Google and generate leads for local businesses. Each site pays $500–$1,200 monthly, recurring, with 92–97% margins. No AI tools to maintain. No client hand-holding. No $5,000+ course required. Just digital assets that generate income month after month.

Go here to see the exact system I use to do this

Now, let’s break down Liam Ottley’s ecosystem.

Who Is Liam Ottley?

Liam Ottley is a young entrepreneur from New Zealand (now based in Dubai) who founded Morningside AI, an actual AI services company, and created the AAA (AI Automation Agency) business model that he teaches through his content and courses.

Here’s his timeline:

• 2020: Started his first online business ventures while studying Commerce at the University of Auckland (which he dropped out of after less than a year)
• 2023: Created the AI Automation Agency model and launched Morningside AI. Started his YouTube channel.
• 2023-2024: Rapidly grew to 700K+ YouTube subscribers. Built the AI Automation Agency Hub on Skool (now 280K+ members). Launched the AAA Accelerator paid program.
• 2024-2025: Claims $7+ million in revenue. Built a team of 40+ people at Morningside AI. Pivoted from selling basic chatbots to higher-ticket AI consulting (“AITP” model).

Liam’s credibility comes from running an actual AI agency (Morningside AI) alongside his educational content. Unlike some gurus who only teach, Liam claims to practice what he preaches. His agency reportedly handles enterprise clients with contracts worth $60K–$250K+.

However — and this is important — Liam’s personal evolution from selling $5K chatbots to closing $250K enterprise deals happened with a team of 40 people, years of experience, and significant resources. The gap between his current capabilities and what a beginner following his free course can realistically achieve is enormous.

Liam Ottley’s Programs: Free vs. Paid

AI Automation Agency Hub (Free)

The free Skool community contains:

• 8 modules with 57 videos totaling 60+ hours of content
• Weekly live Q&A sessions with Liam
• 50+ templates (contracts, proposals, sales scripts)
• Access to a community of 280K+ members
• Topics covering AI fundamentals, tool setup, client acquisition, and delivery

For a free offering, this is genuinely impressive. Sixty hours of structured content with templates and community access would cost hundreds or thousands of dollars from most course creators. Liam deserves credit for making this available at no cost.

The catch: The free Hub serves as a massive funnel for the paid Accelerator. Throughout the free content, you’re exposed to success stories, calls to action, and social proof designed to make you want the premium program. The free content teaches you the what — the Accelerator promises the how at a deeper level.

There’s also a significant emphasis on tools like GoHighLevel throughout the free course, which has led some observers to question whether affiliate relationships influence the curriculum. GoHighLevel subscriptions run $97–$497/month, adding meaningful ongoing costs for students.

AAA Accelerator (Paid — $5,000–$7,150)

The Accelerator is Liam’s high-ticket program, sold through a sales call process. Key features:

• 6-month mentorship program
• Unlimited coaching calls with Liam’s team
• Advanced curriculum beyond what’s in the free Hub
• More intensive community support
• Access to Liam’s team for business guidance

Pricing: According to multiple student reviews and independent review sites, the Accelerator costs between $5,000 and $7,150. The exact price is disclosed only during a “free alignment call” (a sales call). This lack of upfront pricing transparency is a common red flag in high-ticket course sales.

Refund policy: This is where things get concerning. According to multiple reviews, the refund policy requires students to demonstrate significant effort (completing modules, making outreach attempts, attending calls) before being eligible. The policy details are presented during the sales call rather than being publicly available on the website. Several students on Trustpilot and Reddit have reported difficulty securing refunds.

What the AAA Accelerator Teaches

The core curriculum covers building and scaling an AI automation agency:

Phase 1 — Foundation: Understanding AI tools, the agency business model, pricing strategies, and legal setup.

Phase 2 — Tools & Delivery: Learning no-code/low-code tools (Make.com, Zapier, GoHighLevel, Voiceflow, etc.) to build AI solutions like chatbots, workflow automations, and data analysis tools.

Phase 3 — Sales & Client Acquisition: Cold outreach, sales scripts, pitching, handling objections, and closing deals. This is arguably the most critical phase, since the technical skills are useless without clients.

Phase 4 — Scaling: Moving from solopreneur to agency owner. Hiring, project management, recurring revenue models.

The progression makes logical sense. But there’s a critical gap between learning these phases in a course and executing them in the real world — especially Phase 3 (sales) and Phase 4 (scaling).

What Students Are Actually Saying

Trustpilot Reviews

The AAA Accelerator has approximately 500 reviews on Trustpilot with a roughly 4-star average. This is decent but notably lower than many competing courses.

Positive reviews mention:

• The coaching calls are genuinely helpful and personalized
• The community is active and supportive
• Some students have closed real client deals ($10K–$26K)
• Liam’s content is high-quality and practical
• The template library saves significant time

Negative reviews highlight:

• The high price point with no guarantee of results
• Restrictive refund policy that puts all risk on the student
• Content overlap with the free Hub (paying $5K+ for incrementally more detail)
• The sales call felt pressured, with urgency tactics
• The program is better suited for people with existing sales or business experience
• Technical complexity is higher than the “no-code” marketing suggests

Reddit Feedback

Reddit is more critical. Multiple threads discuss the AAA model and Liam’s programs:

• Several users describe the Accelerator as “overpriced for what you get” considering the extensive free content available
• Others note that the AI agency model requires much more sales skill than technical skill — and the course underemphasizes this reality
• Some experienced agency owners have pointed out that competing with established AI consulting firms and major tech companies is far harder than Liam suggests
• A few former students report feeling that the refund process was intentionally made difficult

The general Reddit consensus: Liam’s free content is excellent and worth consuming. The paid Accelerator is debatable unless you have both the capital and the sales experience to act on it quickly.

The AI Agency Model: Reality Check

Let’s separate the business model from Liam specifically and examine whether starting an AI automation agency in 2026 is viable.

The opportunity is real — but narrowing. In 2023, when Liam started, the AI agency concept was novel. Businesses were confused about AI and willing to pay almost anyone for help. In 2026, the landscape has shifted:

• Major consulting firms (Accenture, Deloitte, McKinsey) all have AI practices now
• Established software companies (Microsoft, Salesforce, HubSpot) are embedding AI directly into their products
• The market for basic chatbots has been commoditized — businesses can build simple chatbots themselves using no-code tools
• Competition among AI agencies has exploded, with thousands of Liam’s own students competing for the same clients

The income claims need context. When Liam says AI agencies can earn $10K–$50K/month, he’s referencing his own agency (Morningside AI) which has 40+ employees, enterprise clients, and years of reputation building. A solo beginner building their first chatbot on Voiceflow is not going to replicate those numbers in 6 months.

More realistic expectations for a beginner following Liam’s curriculum:

Timeline	Realistic Revenue	What It Looks Like
Month 1-3	$0	Learning tools, building portfolio, making outreach
Month 3-6	$0–$2,000	Maybe land your first small client ($500–$2,000)
Month 6-12	$1,000–$5,000/month	A few recurring clients, still learning delivery
Year 2+	$5,000–$15,000/month	If you persist, have sales skills, and serve a good niche

These numbers assume you’re working on this nearly full-time and have some existing business or sales aptitude. Many students will earn less. Some will earn nothing and quit before month 6.

The hidden costs add up. Beyond the $5K+ Accelerator fee:

• GoHighLevel: $97–$497/month
• Make.com or Zapier: $20–$60/month
• AI tool subscriptions (OpenAI API, etc.): $20–$100/month
• CRM/outreach tools: $50–$200/month
• Total ongoing costs: $200–$800/month before earning revenue

Compare this to business models with minimal ongoing costs. I’ve reviewed similar AI business programs, agency accelerators, and various lead generation models. The pattern is consistent: agency models require significant upfront and ongoing investment before generating returns.

Agentive AI: Liam’s Latest Play

In addition to the Accelerator, Liam has launched Agentive AI through Morningside AI — a platform that lets agencies build and host custom AI agents for their clients.

Agentive is essentially Liam building the infrastructure that his students need. Instead of just teaching people to build AI agencies, he’s also selling them the tools to operate those agencies. This is a smart business move (recurring SaaS revenue from your own student base), but it’s worth noting the dynamic: Liam teaches you a business model, then sells you the tools to run it.

Agentive is relatively new and has limited public reviews compared to established competitors like Stammer AI, Botpress, or Voiceflow. Some early users have praised its simplicity and direct integration with the AAA curriculum. Others have noted that as a newer platform, it lacks the maturity and feature depth of more established alternatives.

The key question for students: are you being taught the best tools for your business, or the tools that benefit Liam’s ecosystem? This isn’t unique to Liam — many educators recommend tools they have financial relationships with. But it’s something to evaluate critically as you build your tool stack.

Liam Ottley vs. Other AI Agency Programs

Program	Price	Free Content	Community Size	Refund Policy	Best For
Liam Ottley (AAA Hub + Accelerator)	Free / $5K-$7K	60+ hours free	280K+ (free)	Restrictive	Tech-comfortable hustlers
Liam Evans (AIAA)	Varies	Some free content	Smaller	Varies	Alternative perspective
Billy Gene (AI Powered Agency)	Varies	Limited	Small	Varies	Marketing-focused approach
Free resources (YouTube + documentation)	Free	Unlimited	N/A	N/A	Self-motivated learners

Liam Ottley’s free Hub is objectively the most generous free offering in the AI agency education space. If you’re going to explore this business model, start there — not with the Accelerator.

Is Liam Ottley Legit?

Yes, Liam Ottley is legitimate. He runs a real AI agency (Morningside AI), creates genuinely valuable free content, and has built an impressive educational ecosystem. He’s not running a scam.

But “legit” and “right for you” are different things. Here’s my honest breakdown:

Liam Ottley is worth following if:

• You’re genuinely interested in AI and willing to invest 6–12+ months
• You have sales experience or are comfortable with cold outreach
• You have the financial cushion to invest $5K+ and sustain $200–$800/month in tool costs without immediate returns
• You treat the free Hub as your starting point and only consider the Accelerator after validating the model

Liam Ottley’s programs are NOT for you if:

• You need income within 1-3 months
• You dislike sales, cold calling, or client management
• You’re looking for passive income (this is an active service business)
• Your budget is tight — the Accelerator plus ongoing tool costs represent a significant financial commitment
• You’re uncomfortable with a restrictive refund policy on a $5K+ purchase

Frequently Asked Questions About Liam Ottley

Is Liam Ottley a scam?

No. Liam runs a legitimate AI company (Morningside AI) and provides genuinely valuable free educational content. His free Skool community offers 60+ hours of structured training at no cost. The AAA Accelerator is a real program with real content and coaching. Whether it’s worth $5K–$7K is debatable, but it’s not a scam.

How much does the AAA Accelerator cost?

Pricing is disclosed only during a sales call, but multiple reviews report costs between $5,000 and $7,150. There are no publicly listed payment plans. This lack of upfront pricing transparency is a common practice in high-ticket course sales but raises legitimate concerns for potential students.

Is the free AI Automation Agency Hub worth joining?

Absolutely. The free Hub is the best free AI business education available online. With 60+ hours of content, 50+ templates, and weekly Q&A sessions, there’s no reason not to start here if you’re interested in the AI agency model. Just be aware that it serves as a funnel for the paid Accelerator — you’ll be exposed to upgrade messaging throughout.

Can you start an AI agency with no technical experience?

Technically yes, using no-code tools. But “no technical experience needed” is misleading. You’ll need to learn multiple software platforms (Make.com, Zapier, GoHighLevel, Voiceflow, etc.), troubleshoot technical issues for clients, and stay current with rapidly changing AI tools. It’s not coding, but it’s not simple either.

What’s the refund policy for the AAA Accelerator?

The refund policy requires students to demonstrate significant effort (completing modules, making outreach attempts, attending coaching calls) before becoming eligible. Details are presented during the sales call, not publicly on the website. Multiple reviewers have described the refund process as difficult. This puts the financial risk primarily on the student.

How long does it take to land your first AI agency client?

Realistic timeline for most beginners: 2–4 months of consistent effort including learning tools, building a portfolio, and doing cold outreach. Some students with prior sales experience may land clients faster. Others may take 6+ months. The “quit your job in 30 days” narrative is fantasy for most people.

Is the AI agency model saturated in 2026?

The basic chatbot market is increasingly saturated. Simple AI chatbot services are being commoditized, with both AI tools becoming easier to use (reducing the need for an agency) and competition increasing as thousands of students enter the market. Higher-ticket services like custom AI consulting, workflow auditing, and enterprise implementations remain less saturated but require significantly more expertise.

Do I need the Accelerator if I’ve completed the free Hub?

Not necessarily. Many students have launched agencies using only the free Hub content plus supplementary YouTube resources. The Accelerator provides more personalized coaching, deeper content, and community support — but the core knowledge is available in the free program. Consider starting with the free Hub and only upgrading if you’ve validated the model and want intensive mentorship.

The Real Story Behind Liam’s Success

Understanding how Liam built his own success is crucial for evaluating whether his methods are replicable.

Liam didn’t just follow his own course. Here’s what he had that most students don’t:

Early mover advantage. Liam entered the AI agency space in early 2023, when ChatGPT had just launched and businesses were scrambling to understand AI. Being one of the first YouTubers to create content about AI agencies gave him a massive organic reach advantage that’s simply not available to someone starting in 2026.

YouTube as a client acquisition engine. With 700K+ subscribers, Liam’s YouTube channel drives leads to Morningside AI and the AAA Accelerator simultaneously. Most students won’t have this advantage — they’ll need to rely on cold outreach, which is dramatically harder and slower.

A full team. Morningside AI has 40+ employees. When Liam talks about closing $60K–$250K deals, he’s talking about an established company with project managers, developers, sales staff, and operational infrastructure. A solo beginner following his course is in a fundamentally different situation.

Revenue from teaching, not just doing. A significant portion of Liam’s revenue comes from the AAA Accelerator itself — not just from AI agency client work. This is the classic guru paradox: the most profitable version of “start an AI agency” might be “teach others to start AI agencies.” This doesn’t invalidate his advice, but it does mean his income isn’t a realistic benchmark for what his students will earn from client work alone.

None of this makes Liam a fraud. He’s transparently shared his journey and built genuine value. But the gap between “Liam’s results” and “what a student can expect” is larger than the marketing suggests. If you’re considering the Accelerator, calibrate your expectations based on your own starting point — not Liam’s highlight reel.

The Fundamental Question: Agency vs. Assets

The core tension with the AI agency model — and any service-based business — is that you’re building a job, not an asset.

When you run an AI agency, you need to constantly:

• Find new clients (sales)
• Build custom solutions (delivery)
• Manage client relationships (service)
• Keep up with rapidly changing AI tools (education)
• Handle scope creep, revisions, and complaints (operations)

This can be profitable. But it’s not passive. It’s not scalable without hiring. And it’s not building equity in the way that creating digital assets does.

This is why, despite the hype around AI agencies, I keep recommending asset-based models. When I build a lead generation site that ranks in Google, that site generates leads whether I’m working or sleeping. The business I send those leads to pays me monthly. I don’t need to manage the relationship daily, rebuild the solution when tools change, or compete with Microsoft for the next contract.

It’s less exciting than “I run an AI agency.” But it’s also less stressful, more predictable, and actually builds long-term wealth rather than a high-maintenance service business.

If you’ve been exploring AI-related business models, you might also want to check my reviews of AI Acquisition, the AI Income Blueprint, or Tai Lopez’s AI Automation Consultant program. The pattern across all of them is remarkably similar.

Before you go…

If you’ve read through this entire review, you’re clearly doing your due diligence before making a decision — and that’s exactly the right approach. Whether you pursue the AI agency model or not, the underlying goal is the same: building reliable online income.

After 15+ years testing every online business model imaginable, the best method I’ve found for building recurring income is local lead generation. I build simple 2-page websites that show up in Google and generate leads for local businesses. Each site pays $500–$1,200 monthly, recurring, with 92–97% margins. No $5K course fee. No $500/month in tool subscriptions. Just proven digital assets that pay.

Go here to see the exact system I use to do this