The AI audit: find where AI pays off before you build anything
A fixed-scope review of how your business runs. We map the work, measure what the manual parts cost, and rank what is worth automating. You keep the written plan.
Quick answer: an AI audit for business is a fixed-scope review of how your company runs. We map the work, put a time and a cost on each manual task, and rank what to automate by how fast it pays back. You get one written plan to keep, at a fixed price agreed before we start.
Most businesses do not need more AI tools. They need to know which repeated work is worth fixing first, and which is not. That is the job of the audit. It comes before any build, and it stands on its own. You can use the plan with us, with someone else, or by yourself.
What does an AI audit for business include?
We run the audit in five parts. Each one produces something you can check.
- check_circleA discovery session with the people who do the work, following the real flow from the first enquiry to the last invoice.
- check_circleA questionnaire that collects the facts: the tools in use, the volumes, who handles what, and how long it takes.
- check_circleThe process information we need, such as example documents, forms and reports.
- check_circleAn analysis of what should be automated and what should not.
- check_circleA ranking of the opportunities by how quickly each one pays back.
Everything lands in one document, built from five parts.
| Part of the plan | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Findings | Where do time and money go today? |
| Process map | How does the work actually move between people and tools? |
| Ranked opportunities | Which fixes come first, and which are not worth building? |
| Estimated return | What would each fix save, in time and in money? |
| Implementation roadmap | In what order would you build it, and what does each step need? |
How does an AI audit work, step by step?
| Step | What happens | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A free 15-minute call | We listen, and tell you honestly whether an audit makes sense for you. | Describe the business and what slows it down. |
| 2. Scope and price | We agree what the audit covers and the fixed price, in writing. | Approve the scope. |
| 3. Discovery and questionnaire | We follow the work with the people who do it and collect the facts. | Give us access to people and examples. |
| 4. Analysis | We measure the manual work, decide what to automate and rank it. | Nothing. We come back with questions if we need them. |
| 5. The written plan | You receive the document: findings, process map, ranking, return and roadmap. | Decide what to do with it. |
How does the audit decide what to automate, and what not to?
Not every manual task should be automated. For each task we find, the audit asks the same five questions.
- check_circleHow often does it happen, and how long does it take each time?
- check_circleWhat does a mistake cost, and who notices it?
- check_circleDoes it follow the same steps each time, or does it need judgment?
- check_circleIs the information it needs somewhere we can reach and trust?
- check_circleHow hard is it to build, and what does it cost to run?
A task that is frequent, rule-based and fed by clean data usually ranks high. A rare task, a task that depends on judgment, or a task fed by messy data usually ranks low, or goes on the list of things not to build. That list is part of the plan.
How does the audit put a number on a task? A worked example
The audit turns each task into a time and a cost, so the ranking is about numbers you can check. Here is the method with made-up figures. Replace them with yours.
| Step | Example figure |
|---|---|
| Time per task today | 12 minutes to write one follow-up after a quote |
| How often | 25 quotes a week |
| Time per week | 12 x 25 = 300 minutes, or 5 hours |
| Cost of that time | 5 hours x USD 40 an hour = USD 200 a week |
| Cost per year | USD 200 x 52 = USD 10,400 |
| Time per task after the fix, with a person approving a draft | 3 minutes |
| Estimated saving per year | (12 - 3) x 25 x 52 = 11,700 minutes, or 195 hours, or USD 7,800 |
These figures are invented to show the arithmetic. They are not a result from any client.
The audit does the same for every task, then adds what each fix would cost to build and run. The ranking comes from that comparison. Our rule of thumb is simple: if a task costs less per year than its fix would cost to build, it does not make the list.
How much does an AI audit cost?
The AI audit is a fixed price, typically USD 3,000 to 5,000. The price depends on the size and complexity of the business. We agree it in writing before we start, so there are no surprises. The first call is free. Builds are quoted separately, per project, after the audit.
To see how that compares with what other firms publish, and what drives the price, read how much an AI audit costs.
Who is an AI audit for, and who should skip it?
It fits owner-led businesses where repeated work eats the week: customer replies, follow-ups, quotes, invoices, reports, data entry and handoffs between tools. Our first sector focus is renovation firms. If you run one, see the AI audit for home renovation companies.
A good fit
- check_circleSomeone in the business owns the result and can decide what to change.
- check_circleThe same work repeats every week, with the same steps and the same tools.
- check_circleYou do not yet know which of your tasks AI would pay off for.
Skip it if
- check_circleYou already know exactly what to build. Ask for a single custom automation instead.
- check_circleYou want a review of an AI system for bias, safety or compliance. That is a different job.
- check_circleThe audit would cost more than the problem it is meant to solve.
The second point trips people up, because both jobs are called an AI audit. We explain the difference in what an AI audit is.
What happens after the AI audit?
You choose. Nothing is bundled and nothing is automatic.
- check_circleUse the plan yourself, or hand it to someone else.
- check_circleAsk us to build one custom automation from the plan.
- check_circleAsk us to build several, in the order the plan sets.
We build around the tools you already use, so there is no new dashboard to learn. Each build is quoted per project, so you know the price before anything is built. Not sure you are ready? Try the AI readiness assessment, a ten-question self-check that stores nothing. Or see all of our services.
Should you audit first or build first?
| Question | Audit first | Build first |
|---|---|---|
| What you decide first | Which problem is worth fixing. | Which tool to buy. |
| Main risk | Paying for a plan you never use. | Automating a task that was not worth it. |
| What you get | A ranked plan with the return on each fix. | A working automation. |
| Best when | You do not know where AI pays off. | You already know exactly what you need. |
This is our view of the trade-off, not a measured result.
Frequently asked questions
What is an AI audit for a business?
An AI audit for a business is a review of how the company runs. It maps the work, puts a time and a cost on the manual tasks, and ranks which ones AI would fix first. It ends in a written plan. It is not a review of AI systems for compliance, which is a different job.
How much does an AI audit cost?
The first 15-minute call is free. The AI audit is a fixed price, typically USD 3,000 to 5,000 depending on the size and complexity of the business, agreed in writing before we start. A build is quoted per project after the audit.
How long does an AI audit take?
We agree the timeline in writing before we start. It depends on the size of the business and how quickly the questionnaire and examples come back. Other firms publish anything from a few days to four weeks.
Do I have to buy a build after the audit?
No. The plan is yours to keep. You can use it with us, with another firm, or on your own.
What if the audit finds nothing worth automating?
Then the plan says so. The ranking includes the fixes that are not worth building, and that is part of what the audit is for.
Is an AI audit the same as an AI compliance audit?
No. A business AI audit asks where AI would pay off in how you work. An AI system audit asks whether an AI tool is governed, safe and compliant. We do the first. The guide on what an AI audit is explains both.
Do I need an AI audit if I already know what I want to automate?
Probably not. If you already know the task, a single custom automation is the shorter path. An audit helps when you do not yet know which of your tasks AI would pay off for.
Find out whether an AI audit makes sense for you.
Book a free 15-minute call. We will tell you honestly whether an audit is worth it for your business, and what it would cost.