AI Consulting Engagements

AI Consulting Built Around Your Top-of-Funnel Gap

Three engagement shapes for mid-market teams that need senior AI judgment in the room — strategic leadership, fixed-scope builds, or ongoing execution. One 30-minute discovery call to figure out which fits.

30-minute fitting call. We listen first, then point you to the engagement shape that fits — fractional, project, or retainer.

Three engagement shapes. One strategic posture.

Pick the cadence that matches how your team needs senior AI support right now. Rates are pulled from the AI Consulting Pricing Guide 2026 — the breakdown for each tier is linked from every card.

Project Engagement

Fixed-scope AI work

A scoped AI readiness audit or automation buildout with a fixed milestone plan and clear handoff documentation at the end.

starts at $7,500
  • AI readiness audit Stakeholder interviews, current-state AI investment review, and a prioritized opportunity map.
  • Automation buildout Shipped automation with prompt/system documentation and operating notes.
  • Fixed scope, handoff-ready Defined deliverables, milestone schedule, and written documentation for the team taking over.
Best for: Teams that need a specific AI system built or audited on a defined scope and timeline.
Book a Discovery Call → See pricing guide breakdown →

Retainer

Ongoing execution

Ongoing support for teams that already have AI systems in production and need them maintained, evolved, and reviewed against goals.

starts at $750 /month
  • Ongoing execution + async SLA 24-hour response window on operational escalation. Same-day response on time-sensitive work.
  • Prompt + system maintenance Keep the prompts, automations, and AI-dependent workflows aligned to current operations.
  • Monthly operating review Recurring review of system performance, new opportunities, and outstanding decisions.
Best for: Teams running AI in production that need ongoing senior maintenance and async escalation support.
Book a Discovery Call → See pricing guide breakdown →
Who It's For

Built for teams that need senior AI judgment, not another hire

A full-time AI executive is overkill at most mid-market stages. A course or cohort sells generalized knowledge. A consulting engagement buys a specific outcome tied to your team's situation.

The right client is a mid-market team — typically $5M to $50M in annual revenue — with a real AI agenda and an internal team able to translate direction into shipped work. You know AI is moving the needle on operations, and you know you need senior AI judgment in the room. You're evaluating whether fractional leadership, a fixed-scope project, or an ongoing retainer is the right frame for the next 6–12 months.

The wrong client is a 2-person startup looking for "advice" in Slack, or an enterprise looking to outsource an entire AI function. The engagement frame only works when there's an internal team to absorb direction and ship against it.

The shape matters as much as the rate. A fractional engagement at $2,500–$3,500/mo delivers strategic leadership without headcount. A project engagement at $7,500–$35K delivers shipped work on a defined scope. A retainer at $750–$1,500/mo keeps AI in production aligned to operations. Different problems, different shapes.
How It Works

From discovery call to active engagement

The path from "we need AI consulting" to "we have an active engagement" follows a predictable structure: discovery, proposal, optional pilot, then formal engagement.

Step 1

Discovery call

30-minute call. We listen first, then recommend the engagement shape that fits (fractional, project, or retainer) — including whether none of these is the right fit.

Step 2

Proposal

Written proposal with scope, deliverables, rate, and timeline. Fixed-scope projects include milestones; ongoing engagements include cadence and SLA terms.

Step 3

Pilot (project tier)

For project engagements, a defined pilot phase produces the audit or first build before the broader scope kicks off.

Step 4

Engagement

Active engagement begins. Monthly check-ins for fractional and retainer; milestone-driven delivery for project. Handoff documentation built continuously.

FAQ

What clients ask before booking

How is cost structured across the three tiers?
The Fractional AI Officer is a monthly recurring engagement starting at $2,500/mo. The Project Engagement is a fixed-scope fee starting at $7,500 — most projects land between $8K and $35K depending on scope. The Retainer is a monthly recurring engagement starting at $750/mo for ongoing execution and prompt/system maintenance. All three tiers are quoted against the AI Consulting Pricing Guide 2026 — see the linked breakdown for each tier above, and the pricing FAQ for context on mid-market ranges.
What makes this different from a course or cohort?
Courses and cohorts sell generalized knowledge to a wide audience at a low price point. AI consulting engagements buy senior judgment applied to a single organization's situation — strategic direction, vendor decisions, and shipped work tied to business outcomes. The deliverable is ownership of a specific decision or build, not access to recorded material. If your situation requires a specific answer for your team, your vendors, and your roadmap, an engagement is the right shape. If you're still learning the landscape, the pricing guides and FAQs linked on this page are the better starting point.
Do engagements include implementation, or strategy only?
It depends on the tier. The Fractional AI Officer focuses on strategic AI oversight, roadmap ownership, and vendor governance — execution stays with your internal team or implementation partners. The Project Engagement is implementation-heavy: AI readiness audits, automation buildouts, and handoff documentation for shipped work. The Retainer covers ongoing execution support with an async SLA — prompt maintenance, system upkeep, and operating reviews. We tell you honestly on the discovery call which shape fits your situation.
How should I prepare for the discovery call?
Come with a one-paragraph description of what you're trying to accomplish and a sense of which tier (fractional, project, or retainer) you currently think fits. Bring any scoping notes, vendor shortlists, or roadmap documents you've already drafted. The call is 30 minutes — we use the first half to listen, the second half to recommend the engagement shape that fits (which may not be one of ours). No deck required.
Send an Inquiry

Tell us about your situation

Send a brief note and we'll come back within one business day with a recommended engagement shape and a proposed discovery-call time. Or book directly →

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Book a 30-minute discovery call

We'll assess whether fractional, project, or retainer is the right frame for your stage, walk through what each tier covers, and tell you honestly whether we're the right fit before any commitment.

Book a Discovery Call →

Or browse three sample engagements →