How much does AI consulting cost for a small business?
In 2026, most small and mid-sized businesses pay one of three ways: $100 to $250 an hour for an independent consultant, $5,000 to $80,000 for a fixed-scope project, or $2,000 to $8,000 a month on a retainer once there's an ongoing roadmap, more as the work deepens. The usual first step, an AI readiness assessment, runs about $2,500 to $10,000. Where you land depends on the scope of the work, not on anyone's hourly rate.
The short answer.
In 2026, most small and mid-sized businesses pay one of three ways: $100 to $250 an hour for an independent consultant, $5,000 to $80,000 for a fixed-scope project, or $2,000 to $8,000 a month on a retainer once there's an ongoing roadmap, more as the work deepens. The usual first step, an AI readiness assessment, runs about $2,500 to $10,000. Where you land depends on the scope of the work, not on anyone's hourly rate.
The three ways AI consulting is priced
By the hour
Independent consultants generally charge $150 to $350. For small-business-scale work, $100 to $250 an hour is typical. Boutique AI firms run $200 to $600, and the Big Four and McKinsey-tier firms charge $300 to well over $1,000.
By the project
Fixed-scope engagements run $5,000 to $80,000. Most small-business projects land between $10,000 and $75,000, depending on how much actual building is involved versus strategy.
By monthly retainer
Once you have a steady roadmap, retainers run $2,000 to $8,000 a month for a small business, climbing toward $8,000 to $15,000 as the work deepens.
What an AI readiness assessment costs
This is the usual first step, and the one most worth getting right. A real assessment runs $2,500 to $10,000 for a small or mid-sized business: a week or two, a round of interviews, and a written roadmap you can act on. A two-week version, where someone reviews where you stand today, estimates what the work would pay back, and hands you a 90-day plan, sits around $9,500.
One thing worth knowing: anything offered under $2,000, or "credited back" when you buy the bigger engagement, is usually a sales call wearing an assessment's clothes.
The fractional Chief AI Officer option
If you want ongoing AI leadership without a full-time hire, a fractional Chief AI Officer runs $10,000 to $30,000 a month for one to four days a week. For a company doing $10M to $20M in revenue, that is typically $10,000 to $15,000 a month. A common rule of thumb is about 1% of annual revenue. The reason the model exists: it costs roughly 10 to 15% of a full-time executive.
How to read these ranges
Scope beats rate Price tracks scope, not the hourly rate. A $300-an-hour consultant who scopes tightly can cost you less than a $150 one who bills loosely.
Budget the real total Plan for 20 to 40% above the quoted fee: your team's hours, the software, and the work to actually put changes in place all count.
Ask who is accountable Cheapest is rarely the answer for something your business will run on. The better question is who answers for it when a recommendation turns out to be wrong.
Where these market numbers come from
- Leanware, How Much Does an AI Consultant Cost in 2026: Hourly, project, and retainer ranges for small and mid-sized businesses; true total runs 20-40% above the quoted fee.
- Groovy Web, AI Consulting Rates 2026: Hourly rate tiers by firm type, $150 to $1,000+.
- AI Essentials, Cost to Hire an AI Consultant for Small Business (2026): Small-business hourly and monthly retainer ranges.
- Aries Consulting Group, AI Readiness Audit Cost 2026: Readiness assessment range and the under-$2,000 sales-call caveat.
- ConsultKit, How to Price an AI Readiness Assessment (2026): Two-week assessment with roadmap around $9,500.
- The Professor AI, Fractional Chief AI Officer cost: Fractional CAIO monthly retainer range and days-per-week cadence.
- Kompella Technologies, What Is a Fractional Chief AI Officer (2026): About 1% of annual revenue rule of thumb; roughly 10-15% of a full-time hire.
How Aegis prices it
We don't post a sticker price, and that's on purpose. The honest number depends on what you actually need, and we won't know that until we've talked.
What we will tell you on the first call: which of the three models fits, a real range for your situation, and what the first step costs before you commit to anything bigger. Most Kansas City owners we work with start with a readiness assessment, see the roadmap, and decide from there. Every recommendation is signed by a person who answers for it.
Frequently asked questions.
Why won't you just put a price on the page?
Because an honest number depends on what you actually need, and we won't know that until we've talked. We'll give you a real range for your situation on the first call.
What's the smallest amount I can spend to get started?
Most owners start with a readiness assessment in the $2,500 to $10,000 range. Be cautious with anything under $2,000. That is usually a sales call, not real work.
Is a cheaper consultant a bad sign?
Not by itself. What matters more is whether the work is scoped tightly and who is accountable when a recommendation turns out to be wrong. A higher hourly rate with a tight scope often costs less in the end.
Do I need a full-time AI hire?
Usually not at first. A fractional Chief AI Officer gives you ongoing leadership a few days a week for roughly 10 to 15% of a full-time executive's cost, which is enough for most small and mid-sized businesses.