October 15, 2026 · ClarioAI
AI Consulting Services: What You Actually Get
A plain-language breakdown of what AI consulting services include, what they should cost, and what to ask before you sign.
## What "AI consulting services" should mean
Good AI consulting ends with something running in your business, not a slide deck. A useful engagement usually has three parts:
1. **Discovery and audit** — someone maps how work actually moves through your team: where requests come in, who touches them, and where time is lost.
2. **A ranked opportunity list** — each idea scored by hours saved, risk and build effort, so you start with the one that pays back fastest.
3. **Build and run** — the first automation is built, tested with your real data, and monitored after launch.
What to ask before hiring
- *What will be running at the end?* Get a named deliverable, not "strategy".
- *Who owns the accounts and data?* You should.
- *What happens when it breaks?* Ask about monitoring and response times.
- *How is Canadian privacy handled?* Ask how personal information is stored and who can access it (PIPEDA).
Pricing models
Most firms charge one of three ways: a fixed-price audit, a fixed-scope build, or a monthly retainer for ongoing work. Fixed scope is easier to budget; retainers suit teams that want a steady stream of improvements. See our [pricing](/pricing) for how ClarioAI does it.
Next step
If you'd rather not get on a call, [email us](/contact) a short description of your busiest manual process. We reply in writing with where we'd start.