Guide · Cost · SMB

AI consulting cost for small business (2026)

Most owners get quoted somewhere between $5,000 and $25,000 for a real project. Hourly theater runs $150–$350. Here’s the straight math — and why we bet $15,000 in one week.

If you’re Googling AI consulting cost small business, you’re not looking for a TED talk. You want to know: what do I pay, what do I get, and when does it pay back?

What the market charges

Model	Typical range	Reality check
Project / fixed	$5,000–$25,000	Best when scope is clear
Hourly	$150–$350/hr	Easy to burn on decks
Retainer	$2,000–$8,000/mo	Fine if deliverables are real
Enterprise firms	$50k–$150k+	Wrong fit under ~$10M

Industry write-ups (2026) put most SMB implementations around $10,000–$15,000 for a defined automation build. That’s the band we compete in — without the six-month “discovery” tax.

What $15,000 buys here

The AI Week is five days. Fixed fee. We get in, map labor and revenue leaks, install systems (phone AI, lead routing, CRM glue, reviews, site hooks as scoped), train your people, and leave you running.

Guarantee: make or save $15,000 within six months (terms on the agreement) — or we worked for free under those terms.
Speed: one week of your life, not a six-month retainer.
Filter: roughly under $10M / 5–25 people. We pass under ~$1–2M for this product.
Travel: on-site USA — you pay travel/hotels/food. Remote skips that.

See The AI Week Read the $15,000 agreement

How not to waste money on AI consultants

No decks without installs. If the output is slides, you’re buying theater.
Demand dollar math. Hours saved × loaded labor cost. Leads recovered × close rate × margin.
Free audit first. Start with our Labor Leak Checklist — same idea as “revenue leak” audits competitors sell calls for.
Qualify both ways. See if you qualify for a 15-minute pre-qual. We’re not for everyone.

Yorkville & Chicago

We’re building from Yorkville / Chicago western suburbs outward. Local owners who want AI that prints money — not a Bay Area science project. More: Chicago–Yorkville AI.

Next step

Stop comparing hourly rates in a vacuum. Score your leaks, then decide.

Free Labor Leak Checklist See if you qualify (630) 937-9690