How to Choose an AI Consultant for Your Small Business
Finding the right AI partner is critical. We outline the key criteria for small businesses, from technical depth to pricing transparency.
Sean McLellan
Lead Architect & Founder
Navigating the AI Consultant Wild West
It seems like everyone is an "AI Expert" these days. For a small business owner, sorting through the noise to find a legitimate partner is a challenge. Hiring the wrong person can lead to wasted budget, leaked data, and broken systems. Here is how to choose an AI consultant who will actually deliver results.
1. Look for Engineering Depth, Not Just Prompting
Many consultants are just "power users" of ChatGPT. They know how to write a good prompt, but they don't know how to build a system.
Ask them: "How do you handle data privacy and hallucination?" A real expert will talk about Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), Vector Databases (like Pinecone or Weaviate), and systematic evaluation frameworks. If they only talk about "better prompts," keep looking.
2. Prioritize Small Business Experience
An AI consultant who only worked at Google or Amazon might not understand your world. Small businesses have different constraints: smaller budgets, less data, and a need for immediate ROI. Choose a partner who has a track record of helping businesses of your size.
3. Insist on Data Security and Ethics
Your data is your most valuable asset. Your consultant should have a clear plan for how to keep your data out of public training sets. They should advocate for "Ethical AI" practices, ensuring your models are fair, transparent, and secure.
4. Demand Pricing Transparency
Avoid the "endless retainer" trap. Look for consultants who offer fixed-price projects or clear, value-based pricing tiers. You should know exactly what you are paying for and what the expected ROI will be.
5. Check the 'Vibe' and Communication
AI is complex. You need a partner who can explain it in plain English, not hide behind jargon. You want a collaborator, not just a vendor. At BaristaLabs, we pride ourselves on being accessible, transparent, and genuinely invested in our clients' success.
Conclusion
Choosing an AI consultant is one of the most important decisions you'll make this decade. Take your time, ask the hard questions, and look for a partner who blends deep technical skill with a real passion for small business growth.
Sean McLellan
Lead Architect & Founder
Sean is the visionary behind BaristaLabs, combining deep technical expertise with a passion for making AI accessible to small businesses. With over two decades of experience in software architecture and AI implementation, he specializes in creating practical, scalable solutions that drive real business value. Sean believes in the power of thoughtful design and ethical AI practices to transform how small businesses operate and grow.