How to choose an AI consultant for your startup
You run a startup or solo business. This page answers how to find the right AI Deep Dive partner who understands your reality.
You know AI could help your startup. But every consultant sounds the same. They talk about big ideas. You need someone who can look at your actual website, your software, and your processes. You need a plan that works for a solo founder, not a big company.
Most AI consultants sell a vision. They talk about transforming your business. But they don't show you exactly what to change. For a startup or solo founder, that's a problem. You don't have a team to test ideas. You need a clear, step-by-step plan based on your real business. If a consultant can't point to specific parts of your website or workflow that need fixing, they're guessing.
A real AI deep dive should be a fixed-price project. Not an hourly guessing game. For a solo business, expect to pay $1,000 to $3,000 for a thorough audit. This covers a review of your site, your tools, and a written plan. If a consultant wants a monthly retainer before showing any work, walk away. The scope should be clear: 2-3 days of work, a report you can act on, and maybe a few small fixes shipped right away.
This week, ask three consultants for a fixed-price deep dive. Look for someone who will audit your actual business, not sell you a generic playbook. A good consultant will point to real examples from your site or your process. They should be able to implement, not just advise. If you want to skip the search, Scott Gerke offers an AI Deep Dive for $1,500. He tears down your website, your software, your processes, and gives you a plan with fixes you can use today.
After the deep dive, you'll have a clear list of what to fix and what to build. No more guessing. You'll know exactly where AI fits into your startup. Your next steps will be in plain English, not tech talk. And you'll have a partner who can help you do the work, not just talk about it.
What our customers say
"Scott went above and beyond anything we ever could’ve expected. He didn’t just teach our team to use Claude. He opened our eyes to a whole new way of working. He pulled our entire business together, rebuilt our sales process from the ground up, helped us get payroll organized, and got us ready to launch our new sales team. The real difference for us has been Scott. We are going to keep working with him long-term."
"Working with Scott has been amazing! His ability to ingest information, understand it, and then help you understand it is second to none. His work ethic is unlike any I've seen. Scott's forward-thinking mindset is incredibly refreshing and helpful. If you want your website to be found more easily, do yourself a favor and talk to Scott and his team. But don't stop there. Scott has a wealth of knowledge that can help you in so many ways."
"Scott and team just finished a deep dive on our website and it was eye-opening. They found and implemented several key fixes, and actually explained them so we could understand. We've already hired them for another project."
Other things people with a Startups & Solo Founders ask
how can ai help small businesses
Start from the pain, not the tool: where do hours leak, where do leads die, what do you retype every week. A deep dive maps your specific business to the handful of AI uses that pay for themselves in the first month.
how much does AI consulting cost
A flat-fee deep dive like FocusDude's $1,500 AI Deep Dive is a full teardown of your business. It gives you a written plan and fixes quoted or shipped. Compare that to hourly rates that can run $200+. You get a clear scope, not a mystery bill.