# Decision Memo: A Balanced Brief on Your Options

Source: https://maito.app/workflows/research-a-decision

Maito researches a decision, lays out options, costs, risks and evidence, notes which figures are estimates, and sends the brief as a two-page PDF.

Get a balanced brief on a decision with options, risks and evidence.

[Founders and leadership](https://maito.app/workflows/team/founders-and-leadership) · When you ask · Updated October 19, 2026

Works with

-   Slack
-   Email

## How do you research a decision?

To research a decision, tell Maito the question and what matters. It uses web research and what your team has told it, then writes a brief with the options, costs, risks and evidence, and attaches it as a PDF. It marks which figures are estimates and points out costs that are easy to overlook.

## How it's done today

Big decisions are made on gut feel.

## What Maito does

1.  Read the question
2.  Research options and evidence
3.  Write pros, cons and a recommendation

## Example

**Kate** (3:15 PM):

should we open an office in London or stay remote? We plan 8 UK hires in 2027.

**Maito** (3:31 PM):

Attached: london-decision-brief.pdf, 2 pages. From web research and what the team told me about the hiring plan. Cost figures are estimates.

**Options**  
• **Stay remote:** $0 in rent. Meetups cost about $60k a year.  
• **Coworking, 6 desks:** about $40k a year.  
• **Own lease:** $150k or more a year, plus fit-out.

UK employer National Insurance is 15% above £5,000 a year, so 8 hires cost more than the salary line shows.

**Recommendation:** coworking, reviewed in Q2.

Catch: you employ 3 people in the UK through an employer-of-record. A lease means setting up a UK entity, which changes their contracts and equity. Check that with your accountant first.

**Kate** (3:40 PM):

add the cost of the entity setup as a line in the brief.

**Maito** (3:43 PM):

Added as a rough range, marked unverified. It's in the same file. Leadership decides.

## How to set it up

When you ask Research a decision

Set up

Nothing to set up. Ask in Slack or by email whenever you need it.

## What it won't do

Its figures are only as good as its sources, and some costs are estimates. It's a brief to support a decision, not the decision, and not financial or legal advice.

## Questions

### Where does the information come from?

Web research and what your team has shared with Maito, such as hiring plans. It marks which figures are estimates.

### Does it recommend an option?

It can say which option looks stronger and why, and shows the risks. The decision stays with you.

### Can it work from our own documents?

Yes, files you attach or share in the thread, and docs from connected tools.

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[See all workflows](https://maito.app/workflows)

## Put your AI teammate to work.

Set it up in minutes. Start with this one, and let it earn the next one.

[Put Maito to work](https://maito.app/login?returnTo=%2Fworkflows%2Fresearch-a-decision)[Book a demo](mailto:support@maito.app?subject=Maito%20demo)