Why no one simply gives you a price
If you Google "what does AI cost for SMBs" you get articles full of "it depends" and "contact us for a quote." Understandable from the supplier's side, frustrating as an entrepreneur. You want to know where you stand before you enter a conversation.
The honest explanation: AI implementation has no fixed price tag, because no two companies have the same processes, systems and data. But what does drive the investment is something we can explain precisely, so you know what to expect.
AI audit or assessment
An AI audit is the starting point and the lowest risk you can take. In two weeks a specialist maps your processes, systems and data and identifies where AI makes the biggest difference. You receive a report with prioritised opportunities, an ROI estimate and concrete advice.
The scope depends on the size of your company and whether the interviews take place remotely or on site. The time investment on your side is limited: an intake conversation and 3 to 6 short interviews with key people. You gain clear insight without being tied to anything.
First implementation
After the audit there is often a first implementation project. That could be an automation, a dashboard that connects multiple systems, or an AI assistant that handles a specific process. What it costs depends mainly on the complexity and the number of integrations: a well-defined project with a clear scope is a smaller engagement than a solution that reaches deep into multiple systems.
The lead time is usually 2 to 6 weeks. Halfway through you have a working prototype, at the end a completed solution running in production.
Retainer or ongoing collaboration
The most value emerges in an ongoing collaboration: a retainer model in which we keep developing, optimising and expanding month by month. The scope determines the price: a basic retainer with maintenance and small improvements is lighter than an extensive engagement with active development across multiple systems.
The advantage of a retainer over one-off projects is that the knowledge of your company builds up over time. The solutions get better as the collaboration lasts longer, because the context grows.
When it pays for itself
More important than the price is the payback period, and that depends on the type of solution and the size of the problem you solve. A few rules of thumb:
If an automation saves your team ten hours a week of routine work, that translates directly into labour costs you can deploy elsewhere. If an AI layer enables you to serve an extra client with the same team, the return is on the revenue side. In both cases you weigh the investment against what it structurally delivers, not against an hourly rate.
Most SMBs see a payback period of 3 to 6 months on their first AI investment, provided the right problem is chosen. That is exactly why the AI audit is so important: it ensures you invest in the place where the return is greatest.
No surprises
We work with fixed prices and clear scopes. No open ends, no billing by the hour, no surprises afterwards. What we agree upfront is what it costs, and you get that amount after we have determined the scope together.
