What does AI automation cost for your business?

The honest question everyone asks but most AI agencies prefer to avoid. Because once you talk about money, you have to be honest. And being honest sometimes means a project costs more than expected, or much less.

The three cost categories

AI automation consists of three cost layers you need to consider separately.

• One-off project, For a defined assignment. The proposal describes what I build, the integrations needed and the total one-off costs.
• Monthly software/API (€), Enter costs separately. Blank means unknown; enter 0 only if a cost really does not apply. Count each amount once.
• Monthly partnership, We agree beforehand what the collaboration includes. Maintenance, software usage and further development are described separately; the monthly amount does not mean unlimited building.

What do you pay at Socialo?

We work with a one-time build budget plus a monthly retainer. Build costs depend on complexity: how many systems need to be connected, how unique your processes are, and how much custom work is needed.

• From €300, For a defined assignment. The proposal describes what I build, the integrations needed and the total one-off costs.
• From €100/month, We agree beforehand what the collaboration includes. Maintenance, software usage and further development are described separately; the monthly amount does not mean unlimited building.
• You receive a proposal covering the process, systems, your checkpoints and all one-off and recurring costs. We also define how to evaluate time gained and any lower expenses.

When does AI pay for itself?

Formula: volume × (minutes now − minutes after) ÷ 60 = hours per month. Capacity value is not cash savings. Only paid work that actually disappears reduces expenses; running costs must still be deducted. No payback period without known costs and a positive monthly expense reduction. Payback starts at the entered monthly result. Year one assumes 12 full months and deducts one-off costs; include ramp-up and training.

You receive a proposal covering the process, systems, your checkpoints and all one-off and recurring costs. We also define how to evaluate time gained and any lower expenses.

What determines the price?

• Process complexity, a simple chatbot is cheaper than an agent that reads, interprets and forwards quotes to AFAS
• Number of integrations, each connection to an external system (AFAS, Exact, email) takes time
• Number of exceptions, the more edge cases, the more custom work
• Languages and locations, multilingual operation requires extra configuration
• Existing systems, older systems are sometimes harder to connect than modern cloud software

Honest advice

I start with a free introductory conversation. We discuss what takes time, which systems you use and where automation could help. You then receive a proposal with automation opportunities, integrations, a schedule and costs.