How much an AI agent costs a small business

An AI agent for a small business can cost almost nothing or several thousand dollars, and the price tag is rarely the real difference. The real difference is how much of the work stays with you. A cheap subscription that you never have time to use costs more than it looks. A higher monthly price that takes a job off your plate entirely can cost less.

The ranges below are what we see in the tools and quotes owners bring to us. They are not a survey, and prices in this market change quickly. Treat them as a sanity check before you compare specific offers.

The five kinds of AI help, and what they usually cost

General AI assistants: usually tens of dollars a month per person

ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot all sell personal and team plans in this range. They are excellent at drafting, rewriting, summarizing, and explaining. They are not agents for your business out of the box. They only know what you tell them, and you still do every step that happens outside the chat window. We cover that in more detail in what ChatGPT can and can’t do for a small business.

AI employee apps: from tens to a few hundred dollars a month

These products package AI into named roles, such as a marketing assistant, a sales follow-up agent, or an executive assistant, and sell them as a subscription. Some are genuinely good. All of them need you to connect your accounts, explain your business, and review what they produce. If you enjoy setting up software, this can be the best value on the list. If you do not, it often becomes another login you stop opening.

Custom-built agents: usually thousands of dollars to build, plus upkeep

A developer or an AI automation agency can build an agent around your exact workflow. This makes sense when you have a repeated, high-volume process that no product fits. It is usually more than a single-location business needs, and the agent still needs someone to maintain it when your tools or your offer change.

A virtual assistant: commonly $400 to $800 a month for part-time help

A person is flexible and can handle judgment calls that software cannot. They also need direction, training, and your attention, and their hours run out. Many owners end up managing the assistant instead of the business.

A marketing agency: commonly $1,000 to $3,000 a month and up

A serious agency retainer buys real people doing real work, usually on SEO, content, or ads. It is the right buy when you need that depth. It is often too much for a business that mainly needs the basics kept up every week. Our SEO cost guide breaks down what each agency band usually buys.

Where a managed AI agent fits

A managed agent sits between a tool and an agency. The AI does the everyday work, and a person stands behind it. JB, the AI business development agent from Vertana, starts at $500 a month, month to month. It keeps you found on Google and ChatGPT, sorts new leads, drafts your emails, and answers your questions about the business, all by text. Nothing goes out without your OK, and when something needs more than a text, you talk to Jon.

That price is above a subscription and below most agencies on purpose. It pays for the follow-through: the fix written for you, checked after it goes live, and raised again if it did not stick.

How to compare offers fairly

Before you compare monthly prices, ask each option the same four questions:

• Who does the setup, and how many hours will it take from you?
• Who checks the work before a customer sees it?
• What happens when something breaks or your business changes?
• How does the bill grow as you use it more?

If the answer to most of these is “you,” the low price is real, and so is the work. That can be the right choice. It is just a different purchase from having the work handled.

Common questions

How much does an AI agent cost per month?

In the ranges we see (not a survey), a general AI assistant subscription usually costs tens of dollars a month per person, AI employee apps run from tens to a few hundred dollars a month, and a managed agent with people behind it, like JB, starts around $500 a month. A custom agent built by a developer is usually a one-time project in the thousands, plus upkeep.

Is an AI agent cheaper than a virtual assistant?

Usually, on the monthly price. A part-time virtual assistant commonly costs $400 to $800 a month in the quotes we see. The fairer question is what each one needs from you. A good assistant needs direction and training. An AI tool needs setup and someone to check its work. A managed agent should need only your yes or no.

What does JB cost?

JB starts at $500 a month, month to month. Larger projects, such as a new website or a booking system, are quoted separately after a call with Jon.

Are there hidden costs with AI agents?

The biggest one is your time. Most AI tools are priced as if setting them up, feeding them your information, and checking their output were free. They are not free for an owner who is already working a full day. Usage-based tools can also charge per message, per minute, or per task, so read how the bill grows before you sign up.