Buyer's Guide
The clearest brief gets the best result.
Before You Hire Anyone
Define these five things before approaching any agency or consultant.
1
The specific problem you want to solve (not "we want to use AI" but "we spend 10 hours a week manually categorising customer enquiries")
2
Your current tool stack and data situation
3
Your budget range and timeline expectations
4
Who will own the AI project internally
5
What success looks like at 3, 6, and 12 months
Questions to Ask Any AI Provider
⚠ Red Flags to Watch For
✕ Guarantees of specific results before doing a proper discovery process
✕ Pushing a single tool or platform without understanding your business first
✕ Unable to explain what they're building in plain language
✕ No references or case studies from comparable businesses
✕ Pricing that seems extraordinarily cheap — AI done badly costs more to fix than it saved
DIY vs Done-With-You vs Done-For-You
Filter by business size to see the recommended model.
| DIY (Self-Serve) | Done-With-You (Coaching) | Done-For-You (Full Service) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lowest (tool subscriptions only) | Medium | Highest upfront |
| Time from you | High — you do the work | Medium — guided effort | Low — they do the work |
| Speed to results | Slower — learning curve | Moderate | Fastest results |
| Internal capability | High — you learn deeply | High — skills transfer | Lower — outsourced |
| Ongoing dependency | None | Low | Higher |
| Best for | Solo operators and small businesses with time and technical curiosity | Businesses that want genuine internal capability | Businesses where time is the constraint, not budget |
AI Project Pricing Guide for Brisbane
Guide ranges only. Get at least 3 quotes for any significant project.
| Project Type | Typical Range | What Drives Cost Up |
|---|---|---|
| AI chatbot (website) | $1,500 – $8,000 | Number of use cases, integrations, custom training |
| Marketing automation setup | $800 – $4,000 | Complexity, number of tools connected |
| CRM + AI integration | $2,000 – $15,000 | CRM platform, data quality, custom workflows |
| AI content system | $500 – $3,000 | Volume, approval workflows, platform integrations |
| Custom AI tool/app | $10,000 – $100,000+ | Scope, custom development, data infrastructure |
| AI strategy workshop | $1,500 – $5,000/day | Consultant seniority, preparation work |
| AI training program | $500 – $3,000/session | Group size, customisation, materials |