How Much Does Done-For-You AI Cost a Small Business? (2026)
Done-for-you AI implementation for a small business typically runs $10,000–15,000 for a 4–6 week project at a consultant rate of $150–350 per hour. Our step-by-step approach starts at $497 and lets you climb only when each step has already paid for itself — cutting upfront risk without cutting corners.
What the market charges
A mid-size AI consulting firm charges $150–350 per hour and scopes most small-business AI projects at 40–80 hours — meaning you sign a $10,000–28,000 contract before you've seen a single result. That's the norm. It's also why most owners freeze.
Our ladder vs the big-project model
We break the same work into steps, each priced to pay for itself before you move up. Start with the $497 audit, add an AI receptionist from $3,500, then automation from $1,500/mo. You never spend money on step 3 until step 2 is in profit.
| Step | Price | What's included | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Visibility Audit | $497 flat | What AI says about you across 4 engines + a written plan with dollar figures | 5-7 business days |
| AI-Ready Website | from $4,500 | Rebuild AI can read, trust and recommend; built to convert | 3-6 weeks |
| AI Receptionist | from $3,500 + $400-800/mo | Answers 24/7, books the job, texts back missed calls | ~2 weeks · ~3-mo payback |
| Automation Retainer | from $1,500/mo | Follow-ups, reviews, quotes, reminders, paperwork on autopilot | Ongoing |
| Vertical AI Agents | from $6,000 + $800-1,500/mo | Custom AI workers for your trade: quoting, booking, dispatch | 4-8 weeks |
| Managed AI Office | from $2,500/mo | We run the whole AI side as an outsourced department | Ongoing (founding rate) |
What's included in each step
- AI Visibility Audit ($497) — what AI says about you today, where the money is, written plan you keep
- AI-Ready Website (from $4,500) — redesign that ChatGPT and Perplexity can actually read and cite
- AI Receptionist (from $3,500 + $400-800/mo) — answers every call, books jobs, texts back missed callers
- Automation (from $1,500/mo) — follow-ups, reminders, review requests, dispatch
- Vertical AI Agents (from $6,000 + $800-1,500/mo) — custom agents for quoting, scheduling, triage
- Managed AI Office (from $2,500/mo) — full ongoing management across all layers
73% of owners say they want easier AI tools, and 74% want proof of ROI before they commit. Our ladder is designed for exactly that: proof at every rung before you climb.
Common questions
Do I have to buy everything at once?+
No. Each step is a standalone service. Most clients start with the $497 audit, then decide which step fits their budget and highest pain point next.
Is done-for-you better than doing it myself?+
For non-technical owners, almost always yes. The average small business already runs five disconnected AI tools and still can't point to clear ROI. Done-for-you skips that trap and gives you one partner responsible for results.
What's the average payback period?+
The AI receptionist pays back in about 3 months. A full automation layer typically recovers its cost in 4–6 months through recovered bookings, reduced no-shows, and time saved on admin.