How much does an AI assistant cost for a small business?

The short answer

For most small businesses, an AI assistant has two kinds of cost: a one-time setup (planning, writing the answers, connecting your tools, testing) and small monthly running costs (the AI service, the messaging or website tool, and optional support). The biggest factor isn't the technology. It's how many tasks you want it to handle and how many tools it has to connect to.

What you're really paying for

• Setup and content: collecting your real prices, opening hours, products and policies, and turning them into approved answers.
• Connections: WhatsApp Business, your website, email, booking tool, invoices or spreadsheets.
• Rules and safety: what the assistant may and may not say, when it hands over to a human, and what data it may collect.
• Usage: AI services usually charge by volume, so a shop with 30 chats a day pays less than one with 3,000.
• Care: updating answers when prices change, reviewing conversations and fixing mistakes.

What makes it cheaper

• Starting with one task (e.g. answering your top 15 questions) instead of everything at once.
• Using tools you already have, such as WhatsApp Business quick replies, catalogue and away messages, before adding AI.
• Having your information ready: price list, FAQs, policies.

What makes it more expensive

• Connecting many systems (shop, stock, CRM, accounting) or custom software.
• Multiple languages, high message volumes or strict compliance needs.
• Taking actions, not just answering: changing bookings, issuing refunds, updating orders.

How to tell if it's worth it

Do a simple calculation: hours per week spent answering repetitive messages × your hourly value. If an assistant saves 5 hours a week, that's roughly 20 hours a month. For most owners, that time is worth far more than the running costs, especially if faster replies also win sales you would have lost.

My pricing, for reference

My AI Business Assistant setup starts from €300, with an optional care plan from €50/month. I'm currently taking 3 founding clients at 50% off. Every project starts with a free 15-minute AI audit, so you know the cost before committing.