Note: Any money examples here are hypothetical. We're not promising anyone will earn anything.
An idea for a consulting offer: help small businesses set up AI automations that a person keeps an eye on, using well-documented tools.
The idea
Help small businesses set up and keep an eye on AI automations using well-known tools. You don't promise specific revenue results.
Who it's for
Owners and operations people at small businesses who already use online tools and are tired of all the copying and pasting between them.
The problem you solve
Too much copy-and-paste between apps. They're curious about AI agents but worried about things quietly breaking, surprise bills, or AI making stuff up.
How you help
A simple consulting offer. You map out how their work gets done, decide which steps should follow a fixed routine and which can use an AI agent (n8n explains this difference), set up the tools with human sign-off on anything important (Zapier and Grok Bot both describe approval controls), and leave the client with a simple playbook. It's not a hands-off autopilot.
Tools you'd use
n8n AI agentsZapier Agents (AI by Zapier)Grok Bot
How it works, step by step
Here's how a project could go, step by step (it's an outline, not a case study):
- Talk through their processes and rank what's risky.
- Recommend which steps should be fixed workflows and which can be agent-assisted, based on what the tools' docs say.
- Set it up in the tools they already use, with logging and approvals turned on.
- Show the client how to review what the AI produces.
- Hand over the documentation. No made-up before-and-after numbers.
Ways to get paid
Here are common ways to charge (just examples, not our earnings): a discovery fee, a one-time setup project, or a monthly oversight retainer. We're not quoting dollar amounts as market rates. Any numbers like that would be hypothetical.
What you need to get started
You'll want to be comfortable with at least one automation tool, be able to read the official docs, and have a clear contract that says AI output needs a human to review it. Get the right liability coverage or insurance for where you live (this isn't legal advice).
Keeping it running
Keep checking pricing and features, since these tools change. Keep an eye on your clients' automations. And don't claim you've personally tested something you haven't.
Things to watch out for
Watch out for projects that keep growing, clients who want everything to send on its own, tools and AI models that change over time, and over-promising results. Written goals and sign-off steps help a lot.
Sources
Heads-up: some links here may become affiliate links down the road. Here's how that works. Right now, no affiliate programs are connected.