AI Automation Services
AI Automation Pricing Guide
AI automation projects are priced on scope, not on a fixed menu. This page explains the factors that drive price, the ranges you can expect, and what determines where in that range your project falls — so you can evaluate fit before booking a call.
What Drives Price
The Six Factors That Determine What an AI Automation Project Costs
AI automation is not one thing — it ranges from a single no-code Zapier workflow to a custom multi-agent system with proprietary API integrations. Every project proposal is scoped from first principles based on your specific requirements. Here is what that scoping looks at.
Number of Systems to Connect
Each integration point — CRM, database, external API, email platform, calendar — adds discovery, credential management, data mapping, and testing time. More connections means more scope.
Decision Complexity
A linear trigger-action workflow is simpler than a multi-branch conditional flow with AI classification at each decision point. The more decisions the automation needs to make, the more complex the build.
Build Platform
Zapier and Make projects cost less than n8n or custom AI agent builds. The platform determines the development approach, the testing requirements, and the long-term maintenance model.
API Availability and Quality
Systems with well-documented, reliable APIs are faster to integrate. Legacy systems, poorly documented endpoints, or systems without APIs (requiring scraping or workarounds) add significant scope.
AI Component Requirements
Adding an LLM to classify, generate, or make decisions within a workflow increases both build time and ongoing API operating costs. The more the AI has to do, the more scope and cost it adds.
Ongoing vs. One-Time
Projects priced as a one-time build hand off a working system with documentation. Projects with ongoing optimization, monitoring, or iteration are scoped as monthly retainers after the initial build.
How It Works
From First Call to Fixed-Scope Proposal
I do not quote projects without understanding them. Every engagement starts with a conversation that defines the scope — which determines the price. You get a written proposal with a fixed fee before any work begins, so there are no surprises at invoice time.
Free Strategy Session
A 30-minute call to understand the workflow you want to automate, the systems involved, and the business outcome you are trying to achieve. I assess feasibility and give you a realistic scope estimate on the call.
Written Proposal
A fixed-scope proposal covering the exact deliverables, the platform, the integrations, the timeline, and the fee. If the project is complex enough to require discovery before quoting, that is scoped separately and clearly.
Build and Deliver
Work begins once the proposal is accepted. Milestones and delivery expectations are defined in the proposal. You see working automation before the final handoff, not just at the end.
Handoff and Support Window
Every project includes a support window after delivery for questions and minor adjustments. If you want ongoing optimization or monitoring, that is scoped as a separate retainer.
Fixed
Scope pricing — no hourly billing, no scope creep surprises at invoice
ROI
Calculated before build starts — projects are only recommended if the return justifies the cost
30 days
Post-delivery support included with every project
Who It's For
For Businesses Ready to Invest in Automation That Pays for Itself
AI automation makes financial sense when the time it saves or the errors it eliminates are worth more than the build cost within a reasonable time horizon. I assess ROI on the strategy call — if the numbers do not work, I will tell you before you spend anything.
Get a Specific Price for Your Specific Automation Project
Book a free strategy session. Describe the workflow you want to automate — the systems involved, the volume, the current manual effort. I will scope it on the call and follow up with a written proposal.
Get a Free 30-Minute Strategy Session →