All FAQs in one place.

• How long does an AI consulting engagement take?

  One to three weeks for an AI assessment, depending on scope: a focused single-workflow audit takes about a week; a comprehensive multi-department audit runs two to three weeks. Workshops range from a half-day session to a multi-week program. Automation builds typically run four to eight weeks. Strategy and multi-quarter programs run longer. Every engagement starts with the same free 30-minute scoping call.

• Do we need to have AI tools already in place?

  No. About half the teams we work with have never paid for an AI tool. We work with you regardless of where you are starting. If you do have tools in place (ChatGPT, Copilot, Notion AI, custom GPTs), we audit how they are being used and whether they are earning their seats. If you do not, we point at the smallest first move with the biggest leverage.

• What is the difference between assessment, workshop, automation, and strategy?

  Assessment maps where AI fits in your business and produces a written roadmap (1–3 weeks, $1.5K–$5K). Workshop is hands-on training for your team using your real tools (half-day to multi-session, $1.5K–$10K). Automation is custom builds — GPTs, integrations, workflow systems we ship for you (4–8 weeks, $5K–$25K). Strategy is the multi-quarter plan with priorities, governance, and budget for larger programs ($5K–$25K+). Most teams start with an assessment to figure out which path fits.

• What does an engagement actually cost?

  Real ranges, not tiers. Assessments run $1,500–$5,000. Workshops run $1,500–$10,000. Automation builds run $5,000–$25,000 depending on integrations. Strategy and multi-quarter programs run $5,000–$25,000+. Retainers, when they make sense, run $2,000–$10,000 per month. The first call scopes the right shape; we do not anchor pricing until we understand the work.

• Is this grant-eligible in Canada?

  Team training may qualify for the B.C. Employer Training Grant, which reimburses up to 80% of eligible training costs, and R&D-heavy builds may qualify for NRC IRAP or SR&ED. We can flag the programs that might fit your scope; final eligibility is determined by the program itself. We do not write the application. Bring it up on the discovery call and we will tell you which programs might apply to your scope.

• What happens after we engage you?

  Discovery call is free. After that: scoping, agreement, kickoff, and a shared workspace. We work in milestones with weekly check-ins, so you see drafts before anything ships. After delivery, you get 30 days of post-launch support to catch issues. Many clients move to a monthly retainer for ongoing optimization, but there is no obligation to continue. The deliverables are yours either way.

• How is this different from hiring an AI agency?

  Three things. First, you work with a senior operator, not a sales lead and a junior team. Second, we build with your stack, not on top of it, so you do not end up locked into proprietary tools. Third, we leave you trained and self-sufficient. Most agencies are incentivized to keep you dependent. We are not.

• What tools do you build with?

  We are stack-agnostic and pragmatic. Common foundations: OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google models. Common automation: Zapier, n8n, Make, plus custom code where it earns its place. We integrate with whatever you already use, including Notion, HubSpot, Slack, Shopify, Airtable, and custom databases. Our principle: use the boring, reliable thing first. Custom code is a last resort, not a default.

• How do you handle data privacy?

  Seriously. We use enterprise-tier API access (no training on your data), build with your data residency requirements, and never store client data on our systems beyond the active engagement. For sensitive industries (legal, healthcare), we can structure the engagement to keep all data inside your environment. NDAs are standard. Custom DPAs available on request.

• What if the project does not deliver?

  We work in milestones. If after the discovery phase we do not see a clear path to value, we tell you and refund the build deposit. We would rather lose the project than ship something that wastes your time.

• How fast can you ship something usable?

  Two to three weeks for a quick-win build (ChatGPT integration, CRM automation, email triage, reporting digest). Four to eight weeks for larger automation builds with multiple integrations. The first week is always discovery — we never skip it — but for tactical work the build phase moves fast because the scope is tight on purpose.

• Do you work with clients outside Canada?

  Yes. Most of our work is Canada-based and grant-eligible, but we take on US and international clients regularly. Note that the grant funding programs we mention are Canadian-only.

• What's included in the website build?

  Every website includes custom design, mobile responsiveness, SEO fundamentals (metadata, site structure, page speed), contact forms, and basic analytics setup. Depending on your package, we also include Google Business Profile setup, social profile creation, and AI tool integrations.

• Can you help with branding if we already have a logo?

  Yes. If you already have a logo you like, we can build the rest of the brand system around it: color palette, typography, brand guidelines, and visual direction. We can also refine or modernize your existing logo if it needs a refresh.

• How long does a full launch package take?

  Depends on scope. A focused brand or website lane runs 4–6 weeks. A full launch package — name, brand, site, and go-to-market — runs 12–16 weeks. Larger programs run longer. We commit to a defensible band on the first call.

• Do you offer ongoing support after launch?

  Every launch package includes 30 days of post-launch support to catch any issues and make adjustments. After that, many clients move to a monthly SEO or AI consulting retainer. But there is no obligation to continue if you are happy managing things on your own.

• What platforms do you build on?

  We build on modern platforms like Next.js, WordPress, and Webflow depending on your needs and budget. We will recommend the best fit based on your technical comfort level, scalability needs, and whether you want to manage content yourself.

Deep dives

AI consulting questions, answered in full.

Standalone deep-dive pages for the most common AI consulting questions. Each page has its own structured answer, sources, and related reading.

• What are AI consulting services? →
• What does an AI consultant do? →
• Is AI consulting worth it? →
• How much does an AI consultant cost? →
• What is the hourly rate for an AI consultant? →
• What is a reasonable consulting fee? →
• What are the 4 types of AI? →
• What are the three golden rules of AI? →
• What is the 30% rule in AI? →
• Why do 85% of AI projects fail? →
• What are the 5 things AI cannot do? →
• What is the biggest flaw of AI? →