The question every business owner asks
"What does it cost?" – the first question in every conversation. And the right one. Before you invest in AI, you should know what to expect. Here's the honest answer.
The three cost components
Every AI project consists of three phases, each with its own costs:
1. Analysis (one-time)
| What you get | Workshop (2–3h), report with 3–5 concrete recommendations, prioritization |
| Investment | from CHF 4,500 |
| Duration | approx. 1 week |
Together, we identify which processes have the greatest automation potential. You receive a clear plan – no vague promises.
2. Development (one-time)
| Prototype | from CHF 12,000 – working AI agent with your real data |
| Production-ready solution | typically CHF 25,000–80,000 – full integration into your IT |
| Duration | 2–12 weeks depending on scope |
The prototype shows you what's possible within 2–4 weeks – with your real data, not demos. If you're convinced, the full implementation follows.
3. Ongoing operations (monthly)
| API costs | CHF 50–500/month (depends on volume) |
| Maintenance & updates | from CHF 500/month |
| Hosting | In your existing infrastructure or Swiss cloud |
AI models and APIs evolve. To keep your system up-to-date and reliable, regular maintenance is needed.
The counter-calculation: What does doing nothing cost?
The real cost isn't the CHF 4,500 for an analysis. The real cost is the hidden cost of the status quo.
Let's look at a concrete example:
Scenario: Your team spends 30 hours per week on repetitive tasks (customer inquiries, receipts, data matching).
| Cost factor | Calculation | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Working time (30h × CHF 55) | CHF 1,650/week | CHF 85,800 |
| Error costs (estimated) | CHF 500/month | CHF 6,000 |
| Opportunity costs | not quantifiable | significant |
| Total status quo | CHF 91,800+/year |
Compared to:
| AI investment | Cost |
|---|---|
| Analysis + Prototype + Implementation | CHF 40,000–60,000 (one-time) |
| Ongoing costs | CHF 6,000–12,000/year |
| Total in year 1 | CHF 46,000–72,000 |
| Total from year 2 | CHF 6,000–12,000/year |
In our model calculation: An SME that saves 30 hours per week of repetitive work typically recoups the entire investment within 8–12 months. From the second year on, only the ongoing costs remain.
What influences the cost?
Not every project costs the same. The key factors:
- Process complexity: A simple FAQ bot is cheaper than a system that processes receipts from 5 different sources.
- Number of system integrations: Each integration (Bexio, CRM, email) increases the effort.
- Data quality: If your existing data is well-structured, things move faster.
- Security requirements: Local processing on your own servers costs more than cloud solutions.
Common questions about costs
"Are there hidden costs?" No. We work with transparent packages. API costs (e.g., for AI models) are variable, but we give you a realistic estimate before we start.
"Can I start small?" Yes. Most SMEs start with the analysis (CHF 4,500) and decide afterwards whether to continue. No risk.
"How quickly will I see results?" With the prototype, after 2–4 weeks. With full implementation, after 1–3 months.
Conclusion: The question isn't whether, but when
AI automation isn't a luxury for large corporations. For an SME with 15–50 employees, it's an investment that typically pays for itself within a year.
The most affordable entry point: the analysis for CHF 4,500. After that, you'll know exactly if and where AI makes sense for your business.
Ready for the first step? Let's figure out in 30 minutes which process in your company has the greatest savings potential.
