Pricing Guide
HowmuchdoesAIautomationcostforaUKsmallbusiness?
A single AI assistant or automation workflow for a UK SME typically costs between £5,000 and £25,000. The price depends on integration count, decision complexity, and data volume. This guide breaks down the cost drivers.
In this guide
What drives AI automation cost?
AI automation pricing comes down to development time and platform fees. Ongoing tuning adds to the total.
- Integration count: Each system you connect (CRM, email, database) adds development and testing time.
- Data volume: High-volume data processing needs better infrastructure and error handling.
- Complexity: Simple FAQ bots cost less than multi-step workflows with conditional logic and human handoffs.
- Custom training: AI models trained on your documents or data require additional setup and validation.
Typical price ranges
2026 UK pricing for practical, production-ready AI automations.
- Simple chatbot (website or WhatsApp): £5,000 – £10,000
- AI email assistant with CRM integration: £8,000 – £18,000
- Multi-step workflow with 3+ integrations: £15,000 – £35,000
- Custom AI model training and deployment: £20,000 – £50,000
Ongoing costs
AI automations need monitoring and retraining. Platform subscription fees are separate.
- Platform fees: £50 – £500 per month for n8n, Zapier, Make, or AI API usage.
- Maintenance and tuning: £500 – £1,500 per month depending on complexity and change frequency.
- Retraining: Periodic updates to the AI knowledge base as your products and processes change.
Getting the best ROI
Focus automation on high-volume, repetitive tasks with clear inputs and outputs. A chatbot that answers 200 routine questions per week saves more labour than one that handles 10 complex, nuanced queries. Start with the highest-volume pain point and expand from there.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a monthly fee after launch?
Yes, most automations incur platform subscription fees and API usage costs. We include a 12-month cost projection in every proposal so you can budget accurately.
Can we try automation before committing?
Yes. We offer a discovery and prototype phase where we build a limited version of the automation for a fixed fee. This lets you test the concept before full investment.
How long before we see savings?
Most clients see measurable time savings within the first month of go-live. Full ROI typically arrives within 3 to 6 months.
Want personalised advice?
This guide covers the general picture. Your situation is probably different in the details. Book a free consultation and we will talk through what applies to you.