How much does AI consulting cost?
AI consulting is usually priced by engagement type. Fixed-fee readiness assessments typically start from around £3,500 / $4,500, pilots from £15,000 / $19,000, and production builds from £40,000 / $50,000. Ongoing support runs as a monthly retainer (from ~£3,000 / $3,800) or a day rate (~£950–£1,500 / $1,200–$1,900). Actual cost depends on scope, complexity and data readiness.
How AI consulting is priced
- Fixed-fee packages — defined scope and deliverables (assessments, pilots, builds).
- Monthly retainers — ongoing support or leadership (e.g. a Fractional CAIO).
- Day rates — advisory or workshops where a fixed fee isn’t practical.
Typical AI consulting cost ranges
| Engagement | Indicative from (GBP) | Indicative from (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| AI readiness assessment / sprint | £3,500 | $4,500 |
| Discovery & pilot (PoC) | £15,000 | $19,000 |
| Production build & embed | £40,000 | $50,000 |
| Fractional CAIO (monthly) | £3,000/mo | $3,800/mo |
| Day rate | £950–£1,500 | $1,200–$1,900 |
Indicative benchmarks — confirm against Alugence’s pricing.
What drives the cost
- Scope & complexity — more use cases and integrations cost more.
- Data readiness — messy data adds preparation work.
- Integration depth — connecting to more systems increases effort.
- Governance needs — regulated environments require more controls.
- Ongoing vs one-off — retainers spread cost; projects are fixed.
Is AI consulting worth the cost?
It’s worth it when the value created exceeds the cost — which is why efficiency projects, with payback often inside 6–12 months, are a common starting point. Estimate your potential saving with the AI ROI Calculator, and read AI ROI: how to measure it. Starting with a low-cost readiness assessment or pilot de-risks the bigger spend.
See transparent pricing
Alugence publishes indicative pricing for both practices. See pricing or book a scoping call.