How Much Does AI Automation Cost for Small Business? Honest Pricing Breakdown

AI automation pricing is confusing because 'automation' means very different things depending on who you ask. A simple Telegram bot and a full CRM with AI integrations are both 'automation' — but they cost very different amounts. Here's a clear breakdown.

What Drives the Cost

There are three main factors: complexity of the logic (how many conditions, exceptions, and edge cases), number of systems to integrate (each integration adds work), and whether you need a custom interface (a dashboard or app vs just a background automation).

Price Ranges by Type

• Simple workflow automation (e.g. form → CRM → email notification): €400–800
• AI chatbot for lead qualification or support (Telegram or web): €400–1 000
• Multi-step automation with 3–5 system integrations: €800–2 500
• Full lead pipeline with AI scoring, database, admin dashboard: €1 100–2 000
• Complete automation system (CRM + bots + integrations + dashboard): €2 400–6 000+

What's Usually Included

A fair quote should include design, development, testing with real data, deployment, and a handover session where you learn how it works. What's usually NOT included: third-party API fees (some platforms charge per message or per API call), hosting costs if you need a dedicated server, and ongoing maintenance (which is a separate plan).

Hidden Costs to Watch For

• WhatsApp Business API: charged per conversation after a free monthly limit
• OpenAI API: charged per token — varies by usage volume
• No-code platform subscriptions (Make, n8n cloud): €9–50/month
• Database hosting: €10–50/month depending on size

For most small businesses, the total monthly running cost after launch is €20–80. We always tell you this upfront — no surprises after go-live.

How to Get an Accurate Quote

The fastest way is to describe the process you want to automate in plain language: 'when a customer fills in this form, I want it to appear in my CRM and send me a Telegram message.' That's enough for a rough estimate. A 30-minute call gets you an exact number.

Book a free audit — we'll scope the project and give you a fixed price before anything starts.