Plain-English AI Guides for Small Businesses Field Notes from the Porch.
What I've learned building AI tools with real small businesses, written for owners who'd rather be doing the work. No jargon, real prices, and an honest word on when you don't need any of it.
Start Here
How Much Does AI Consulting Cost for a Small Business?
As of October 2026, published rates put a small AI consulting project at about $5,000 to $25,000, and an advisory retainer at $2,000 to $5,000 a month. Porch Light Studio's Teardown starts at $5,000, with tools usually adding $100 to $250 a month.
How-To Guide · The Teardown Method for Small BusinessesHow to Find the Chore AI Should Take First
Follow one real job start to finish, list the chores that repeat, then score each by how often it happens, how much it hurts and how easy it is to set up. That's the Teardown, the method I use at Porch Light Studio.
Inside the Teardown · AI Consulting for Small BusinessesWhat's in an AI Teardown Report
Every Porch Light Teardown opens with the Online Presence Report: an SEO and AI search audit, a competitive analysis, customer voice and a social audit, plus ranked fixes. Then come the plan, one working tool and a private workspace for all of it.
By Business
AI for Contractors: What a Remodeler Actually Automated
AI can take on the chores that eat a contractor's evenings: estimates, review requests, client updates, job photos and getting found on Google. Here's what Ash & Pine Construction built for each, what's still in build, and what to try this week.
Software Guide · AI for JobTread, Buildertrend and CompanyCamAI Tools That Work with Contractor Software
As of October 2026, JobTread and Jobber each run their own connector that links your jobs to Claude, and JobTread's also works with ChatGPT. CompanyCam connects through Zapier, Housecall Pro's API needs its top plan, and Buildertrend keeps its AI inside its own app.
Coaching Guide · AI for Coaches and TrainersAI for Coaches and Trainers: Scheduling, Social and Search
For coaches and trainers, AI helps most with the chores around the sessions: booking, client texts, follow-ups, unused content and being found online. Here's what Game Face Performance has built or is building for each, and what you can try with tools you already have.
Tools and How-Tos
How to Train ChatGPT to Write in Your Brand Voice
To train ChatGPT in your brand voice, give it 10 to 20 real messages you've sent customers and turn what it notices into a short voice file. Save that file in custom instructions or a Project, then test it on three real replies and tune.
Reviews Guide · Google Reviews for Small BusinessesHow to Get More Google Reviews Without Nagging Customers
To get more Google reviews without nagging, ask every customer once, at handoff, in your own words, with a direct review link, and reply to every review. Google's policy bars rewarding customers for reviews and asking only the ones you expect to be happy.
Phone Guide · AI Receptionists for Small BusinessesShould a Small Business Use an AI Receptionist?
An AI receptionist is worth it if you miss calls, as long as it sticks to routine work: texting back, booking, answering FAQs and logging calls. Keep a person on angry customers, complex quotes and emergencies, and approve what goes out in your name.
Social Media Guide · AI for Small BusinessesAI and Social Media: What to Automate and What to Keep Human
Let AI draft captions from your voice notes and photos, schedule posts, repurpose long content and suggest hooks. Keep people on replies to comments and DMs, anything about a real customer, the photos themselves and the final yes on every post.
Tool Comparison · AI Assistants for Small Business OwnersChatGPT vs. Claude vs. Gemini for Small Business Owners
ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini each cost about $20 a month for one person, and all three write, connect to your email and talk back. The right pick depends on where your work already lives: Google, Microsoft, or the software you run your jobs on.
Design Guide · AI Logos for Small BusinessesAI Logo Design vs. Hiring a Designer
AI is enough for early logo ideas and a scrappy launch. A mark you'll register and live with for years deserves a designer, partly because a purely AI-made logo can't be copyrighted in the U.S., though it can become your trademark through use.
Glossary · AI Terms for Small Business OwnersSmall Business AI Glossary: Terms in Plain English
This small business AI glossary defines 25 terms owners hear from vendors, consultants and the tools themselves, each in a sentence or two. Every entry says what the thing is and, where it matters, why you should care.