How much does AI automation cost? Typical prices for 2026
You'll read everything from “a few hundred euros” to “six figures”. Here are realistic ranges for typical small and mid-sized business projects, and how to work out whether it pays off.
In short
A simple automated workflow usually costs €300 to €900, a workflow with an AI step €900 to €2,500, and a chatbot trained on your own content €1,500 to €4,000. Running costs are roughly €20 to €150 a month for AI services and hosting. All figures are typical ranges incl. VAT.
Typical prices by project type
| Project type | Example | One-off (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| Simple workflow without AI | Form → CRM → confirmation email | €300 – 900 |
| Workflow with an AI step | Routing emails, reading data from PDFs | €900 – 2,500 |
| AI chatbot with company knowledge | Answers questions based on your content | €1,500 – 4,000 |
| Several connected workflows | Enquiry → quote → appointment → invoice | €3,000 – 8,000 |
| Custom AI solution | Own application or integration into existing software | from €6,000 |
Typical ranges incl. VAT for the DACH region, 2026. The exact price depends on the number of systems, data quality and edge cases.
Running costs
Once built, running costs are usually small: usage-based fees for AI services, possibly an automation tool, and hosting. For typical small-business workflows that's roughly €20 to €150 a month. Maintenance is optional and mainly worth it when connected tools change often.
What drives the price up or down
- How many tools are connected and whether they have a clean API
- How uniform the incoming data is: the same form vs. every email different
- How many edge cases there are and how they should be handled
- Whether a person approves results or the workflow runs fully on its own
- Requirements for data protection, EU hosting and logging
How to work out whether it pays off
- 1
Estimate time per run
How many minutes does the task take each time today?
- 2
Count how often
How many times a month does it happen?
- 3
Convert to euros
Minutes × frequency ÷ 60 × internal hourly rate = cost per month.
- 4
Compare with the investment
One-off cost ÷ monthly saving = months until the automation pays for itself.
Worked example
Example: a business receives 150 enquiries a month. Each one is read, categorised and answered with a standard reply by hand, about 6 minutes per enquiry. That's 15 hours a month. At an internal rate of €45 an hour, that's €675 a month.
An automation that categorises enquiries and drafts replies costs about €1,800 one-off plus €40 a month. It pays for itself in roughly three months and saves over €7,000 a year after that.
Funding
Digitalisation and AI projects can be partly funded in Austria and Germany, for example through SME digitalisation programmes. Terms and deadlines change regularly. We're happy to check in a first call whether funding could apply to your project.
What people usually ask
01Can AI automation be done at a fixed price?
Yes. Once the process is clearly described, a fixed price is common and easier to plan for both sides than hourly billing.
02Why are off-the-shelf tools sometimes cheaper?
Standard tools cover standard cases. As soon as your own software, edge cases or data protection requirements come in, workarounds appear that cost more time day to day than the tool saves.
03What happens if a connected tool changes?
The connection needs adjusting. With a lean maintenance agreement that happens without downtime, otherwise it's billed by effort.
04Can I pay in instalments?
Yes. Larger projects can be split into instalments, for example monthly amounts during or after the project. We agree the split individually in the quote.
05Are these prices binding?
No, they're typical ranges for orientation. A binding quote follows a short first call in which we look at your process in detail.