AI tools for small business

Start with NonaCall, from $19 per month: the lowest flat monthly price of the 22 AI receptionists compared. Suits a small business with light call volume and a tight budget: Lite is $19 a month for 60 call minutes, and every plan has the same core features, so you only choose minutes. The catch: each extra minute costs $0.24, and the free trial is only 3 days with up to 15 call minutes. Dialzara gives a 7-day free trial, then Business Lite at $29 a month.

Ambs Call Center AI Receptionist is the one to try first, from $19 per month: no flat plan among the 9 AI answering services costs less. If you run an HVAC or landscaping business and want a low entry price, Starter is $19 a month, and the hybrid option lets a live agent step in on calls the AI shouldn't handle alone. The catch: AI minutes cost $0.79 each on top of that base fee, and there is no free trial. Go Answer AI Receptionist has a 14-day free trial, with AI Receptionist 100 at $95 a month, billed monthly, for 100 minutes.

Try ElevenAgents from ElevenLabs first, from $6 per month: the cheapest flat plan of the 20 AI voice agents listed. If you want to try a voice agent before spending anything, the free plan includes 15 minutes of calls, and Starter is $6 per month after that. The catch: plans are billed by call minutes, so cost grows with volume, and the HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II and BAA terms sit under the enterprise offer. Retell AI is pay as you go, at $0.07-$0.31 a minute for AI voice agents.

Start with Chatling, from $21 per month, billed annually: the lowest flat monthly price of the 20 AI customer service tools compared. Suits a small shop or service business that wants to start free and keep costs low later: the free plan gives 200 AI credits, and Starter is $21 a month billed $250 annually. The catch: usage runs on AI credits, with 1,750 on Starter, and no trial of paid plans is stated. Lyro AI Agent from Tidio also has a free plan, and paid use starts at $32.50 a month from 50 Lyro AI conversations.

ReceiptsAI is the one to try first, from $12 per month, billed annually: no flat plan among the 20 AI bookkeeping tools costs less. Suits a freelancer who wants receipts handled for very little: the free plan needs no credit card, and Starter is $12 a month, billed $144 annually. Accountants can run each client's books separately from one dashboard. The catch: no accounting software integration is stated, though records can be exported. Dext integrates with QuickBooks Online, Xero, Sage and Zoho, at $25.21 a month, billed $302.50 annually, with a 14-day free trial.

Try Puzzle first, from $30 per month: the cheapest flat plan of the 14 AI accounting tools listed. If you are setting up your first books and are happy to check the work yourself, Puzzle's Starter plan is $30 a month with the AI suite included and a 14-day free trial. The catch: Starter comes with 25 lifetime AI credits, and a bookkeeper who closes your books each month comes through the optional accounting services. Digits offers a 30-day free trial, then Essentials at $65 a month.

Start with SparkReceipt, from $5.75 per month, billed annually: the lowest flat monthly price of the 21 AI invoice processing tools compared. If you're self-employed and want receipts sorted for very little, Pro is $5.75 a month billed annually ($69.00 a year), or $6.90 billed monthly. It also links to Zapier and Make. The catch: no free plan is stated, and the free trial lasts 7 days. ReceiptsAI has a free plan, and its Starter plan is $12 a month, billed $144 annually.

CPA Pilot is the one to try first, from $29 per month: no flat plan among the 17 AI tax tools costs less. If you are a solo preparer who wants AI help without paying per seat, CPA Pilot bills by messages, and every plan includes every workflow. The 7-day free trial comes with 20 messages. The catch: CPA Pilot 20, at $29 a month, includes 20 AI messages, which tax season can use up fast. For research alone, Bizora's Essential plan is $29.99 a month.

Try AI Estimate from Joist first, from $8.34 per month, billed annually: the cheapest flat plan of the 18 AI estimating tools listed. If you price occasional jobs or are just starting out, AI Estimate comes with Joist Basics at $8.34 a month, billed annually. Joist also lists QuickBooks sync. The catch: Joist has no free plan, so you pay once the 14-day free trial ends. QuoteIQ AI Estimator has Essentials, for solo operators getting started, at $29.99 a month, billed monthly, with a 14-day free trial.

Start with Civils.ai, from $90 per month: the lowest flat monthly price of the 18 AI takeoff tools compared. Suits a civil or groundworks contractor trying AI takeoff on a first project: Starter is $90 a month, billed monthly for a single user, and you can cancel anytime. The catch: no free trial is stated, and no estimating features are stated, only measured quantities. Kreo also does estimating: Essential is $100 per user a month, billed annually, Pro with AI features is $175, and a 7-day free trial is offered.

ServiceM8 is the one to try first, from $29 per month: no flat plan among the 14 AI field service tools costs less. Suits a one-person trade business starting out: the free plan covers 1 user and 30 jobs a month with AI Smart Helpers, and Starter is $29 a month for unlimited users and 50 jobs. It syncs with Xero, QuickBooks Online and MYOB. The catch: the AI tools work inside ServiceM8's job management, and Starter caps you at 50 jobs a month. QuoteIQ AI Estimator is $29.99 a month on Essentials, billed monthly.