Guides
AI guides for small business owners
Plain English answers for owner led businesses of three to twelve people: what AI actually costs, where your team's hours go, and how to tell a useful plan from a brochure. Written by Christian Rodwell, our Founder.
What does an AI readiness assessment actually include?
A useful AI readiness assessment maps the tasks your team repeats, how often and how long they take, then costs each opportunity honestly, ranks it on effort against impact, names the tool, its monthly price and setup time, checks your existing software first, and ends with a plan for what happens next.
How much does it cost to bring AI into a small UK business?
For most small UK businesses, bringing in AI often costs less in software than in time. Start with the AI already inside Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, add standalone tools only where they earn it, budget for your own learning time, and pay for outside help only when the hours it identifies outweigh the fee.
How many hours does admin really cost a small team, and how do you count them honestly?
UK small business owners average 11 hours a week on admin and finance tasks, according to American Express and Small Business Saturday UK. Count it across the whole team, not just the owner, track the six everyday drains for a week, value each hour at £15, and multiply by 48 working weeks.
Rather have the answer for your own business?
The Hidden Hours Score takes three minutes and shows where your team's hours are going.
Free. Your results arrive straight away.