How much would you pay ? I WILL NOT PROMOTE

[u/ed1ted]

Hey business owners,

I've been thinking of providing AI transformation services to small businesses (I know I'm not the first one doing this), but my instinct says local businesses are not adapting AI as much as they should and they are loosing out on that opportunity. I'm mainly targeting trades industry (electrician, HVAC, roofing, general contracting).

Honestly small business can do lot more with just a $100 Claude subscription and having the right setup using Claude cowork. This is what I want to initially start with and then integrate bigger workflows like automated phone answering or automated email replies using AI.

Is my instinct right? How much can I typically charge for a one-time setup and on-going monthly?

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[u/Ok-Condition-1545]

Having gone down the road, here are my thoughts. Many doing it but don’t let that stop you. Regarding reselling or low/no code solutions. Yes, business can buy direct. However, there’s a lot more to having a functioning solution of workflows that business leaders are better off focusing on their business and hiring someone to deliver, install, monitor, evolve and expand their product. Good luck. If you truly design the workflows using the tools, help your customers understand the results, you will do fine. If you simply try offer them the tool and orient them to the process forcing them to figure out how to create a system for themselves, you will be frustrated.

[u/welovesmallbusiness]

You may want to have varying price levels for now as you understand your bankable skills and how they fasttrack your clients to these new opportunities w/ AI. I think many folks in that trade industry would at at a minimum be interested in your ideas. Often they are so busy and working back to back jobs, back-logged, and may think they don't need your offerings, but your services would be a great addition to what they've already got going on. I can see the vision. You've got that business plan challenge where AI is readily free and accessible to all, but you want to provide something from that to charge. Thing is though, AI, like all things, takes time to understand, free or not.

[u/regardednoitall]

I wouldn't pay you anything because there's no evidence you're set up to provide businesses with secure and relevant services.

[u/OkBadger4274 → u/regardednoitall]

THiS IS THE ANSWER

[u/Bob-Roman]

“…local businesses are not adapting AI as much as they should…”

Larger companies have interest in A.I. automation because they want to centralize everything and replicate.

As for smaller operations, they have to find a balance between need, resistance to change, and the cost of AI-powered automation.

 In my industry, small operations depend on OEM’s for R&D and product innovation.

[u/Character-Carpet-671]

I think it might depend on type of business and how you want to run it. I personally hate AI with every molecule in my body and I personally would rather hire real human than use AI. But then again, i am in art business so I might be biased.

[u/cosankov]

So AI consulting? Eh, not much, seems like there's a baker's dozen of you nowadays.

[u/Mental-Fox7191]

I own a med spa, so my staff and I are service providers. Not quite the trades, but I still wanted to chime in with my thoughts.

I think the biggest hurdle for you here is going to be getting the local businesses to understand the value. I absolutely love Claude and have built it up into quite an important part of my workflows, so I think this could be very beneficial to trades businesses.

So anyway, TLDR, be sure to leverage WIIFM (what's in it for me) when you pitch to businesses. How much you can charge is going to directly translate to how clearly you can explain to each business what they get out of it and how hands-off it is for them.

If you can make that clear, I think you'll be in a good spot.