The Small Business AI Playbook: Where to Start When Everything Feels Overhyped

If you're running a small business, you've probably heard that AI will transform everything. The reality is more nuanced — and more actionable.

Start with Problems, Not Technology

The biggest mistake is starting with 'we should use AI' instead of 'we have a problem to solve.' AI is a tool, not a strategy.

Identify High-Volume, Low-Complexity Tasks

Look for tasks that are: repetitive, rule-based, time-consuming, and currently done by expensive humans. Customer inquiry routing, document classification, and data entry are classic examples.

The Vendor Evaluation Framework

Red Flags

• •Promises of 'AI that learns everything about your business'
• •No clear pricing before long sales conversations
• •Inability to explain how the system works
• •No discussion of data privacy

Green Flags

• •Specific, measurable outcomes promised
• •Clear implementation timeline
• •Transparent pricing
• •References from similar businesses

Start Small, Prove Value

Pick one process. Implement one solution. Measure the results. Then expand. This approach minimizes risk while building organizational confidence in AI capabilities.