What AI adoption costs a small firm, and what it pays back

The bill is not just the subscription. Count the software, the time people spend reviewing the output, and the maintenance when a tool changes.

Hours recovered are not the same as cash saved. Freeing an afternoon does not cut payroll on its own. For a firm that bills by the hour, faster delivery can change how much work the same team can finish.

65% of SMEs using generative AI report better employee performance, but only 26% report higher revenue (OECD, November 2025). That is why I separate hours recovered, costs removed, and new revenue, and why I do not publish a fee until the scope of a review is clear.