Spoiler alert: you don't need a big agency. You need someone who knows what you need.
Determining an AI consultancy budget is the first hurdle for most self-employed people and small businesses. Because when you look around, you see two extremes: large agencies with enterprise price tags starting at €10,000, or cheap tools that you don't know how to use. There's a gap in between. And that's where you are.
I know that gap well. Because that is exactly the market I work for.
What is a realistic AI consultancy budget for small businesses?
Before you start comparing, you need to know what you are looking for. AI consultancy is a broad concept. It can involve strategy, specific automation, implementing tools, or redesigning processes.
First, ask yourself these questions: Which tasks in my business take up the most time each week? Am I doing things manually that could actually be automated? Do I want to know what is possible, or do I want someone else to develop it for me?
Depending on those answers, you will need a different type of help and a different budget. According to research by McKinsey, small businesses that successfully deploy AI often start with a limited pilot before investing further. Starting smart pays off more than starting big.
What is the cost of an AI consultancy budget at Diggiehippie®?
I work with four packages, depending on where you are and what you want to achieve. No vague quotes, just transparent prices.
AI Roadmap Lite (€1,250): For those who don't know where to start. We analyze your business, identify where AI can deliver the most value, and provide you with a concrete plan that you can implement yourself or with assistance. No vague reports, just clear next steps.
AI Accelerator Sprint (€4,500): For those who are ready to get started. In three weeks, we will work together to develop the first automations: from lead follow-up to repetitive processes that I will take over from you. At the end, you will have working systems, not slides.
AI Strategy Partner (6 months, customized): For those who want a long-term sparring partner. I contribute ideas about AI strategy, processes, and structure. Not as an executor, but as a partner who thinks along with you while you run your business.
AIOps & Retainer (from €450/month): For those who already have systems in place but want them to run, adjust, and expand. Monthly follow-up, minor adjustments, and someone to keep an eye on things.
What should you consider when choosing your AI consultancy budget?
Transparency about price. A serious AI consultant will tell you in advance what it will cost and what you will get for it. No vague "contact us for a quote" without any indication.
Customization, not standard packages. Every company is different. If someone knows what you need after ten minutes without asking any questions, something is wrong.
Start small, scale up. You don't have to jump into a big project right away. An AI Roadmap is a safe way to test whether the collaboration works and whether AI makes sense for your business before you invest more. That's also why I built the AI Roadmap Lite: an affordable entry point with no obligations.
Someone who also implements. Advice alone is not enough. Make sure that the person you choose also rolls up their sleeves, or at least knows how that works in practice with the tools you use.
No techno-babble. If you have more questions than answers after the conversation, that's not good. A good AI consultant explains things in language you understand.
Request an introductory meeting
AtDiggiehippie®, every process starts with an intake. No obligations, no sales pitch. I will look at your situation and tell you honestly what you need, even if I can't (yet) provide it myself.
If you choose me, you will know exactly what you are getting, when you will get it, and what it will cost. Because an AI consultancy budget that suits your situation starts with honesty about what you need.
Ann Boen is the person behindDiggiehippie®, a Belgian web design and AI automation studio specializing in solo entrepreneurs and small businesses. She works locally in the Antwerp region and internationally.
