NextGen Business Community

Is AI worth it for a business like mine? 10 plain answers

For many owners, yes, if you start with one job you repeat every week. A free plan is enough to find out, and you stay in charge of what goes out.

By Rich Thurman, who spent about 15 years at Microsoft as an application-development consultant and has helped about 1,500 small businesses automate the busywork that eats their week. He still builds real software, AI and data systems today.

Why it matters

You hear a lot about AI, and much of it is hype or another app to buy. The real question is simpler. Does it give you back time? Does it stop money slipping away, like the quote nobody followed up? Here are plain answers from the NextGen Business Community.

Quick answers

Is AI worth it for a plumber, a baker or a bookkeeper?

It won't fix a leak or frost a cake. It helps with the office work around it: replies, quotes, follow-ups, notes and posts. If you spend evenings typing messages, it's worth a try.

Do I need new software or another app?

No. You don't need more tools. You need one clear next step. One chat tool in your web browser or phone is enough.

Is AI hard to learn if I'm not techy?

If you can send a text, you can use it. You type what you want in plain words.

How much time does it take to get started?

Plan on about 15 minutes for a first try, plus a few minutes to open a free account if you need one.

Will AI make mistakes with my customers?

It can, if you let its drafts go out unchecked. AI can get facts wrong and still sound sure. It doesn't know your prices or your customers unless you tell it. So nothing goes out until you've read it.

10 plain answers

Is AI worth it for a plumber, a baker or a bookkeeper?

It won't fix a leak or frost a cake. It helps with the office work around it: replies, quotes, follow-ups, notes and posts. If you spend evenings typing messages, it's worth a try.

Do I need to pay for ChatGPT?

No. ChatGPT has a free plan, and it's enough to try the ideas on this page (checked 2026-09-26). Claude and Gemini have free plans too. Free plans have limits, and free ChatGPT may show ads.

Do I need new software or another app?

No. You don't need more tools. You need one clear next step. One chat tool in your web browser or phone is enough.

Is AI hard to learn if I'm not techy?

If you can send a text, you can use it. You type what you want in plain words. If you don't like the answer, say so: "shorter," "friendlier," "leave out the price."

How much time does it take to get started?

Plan on about 15 minutes for a first try, plus a few minutes to open a free account if you need one. Pick one job that comes back every week and try AI on just that job. If it helps, keep going. If not, you've lost a coffee break.

What can AI actually do in a small business?

Good first tries: turn a messy list into a clean checklist, draft the follow-up you keep putting off, or help you find the next step when you're stuck.

Where in my business does it help most?

Think about the path a customer takes. They find you, ask questions, get a quote and decide. You do the work. Then they come back or send a friend. Each step has writing in it: a post, a reply, a follow-up, a thank-you. AI can draft those. The work stays yours.

Will AI make mistakes with my customers?

It can, if you let its drafts go out unchecked. AI can get facts wrong and still sound sure. It doesn't know your prices or your customers unless you tell it. So nothing goes out until you've read it.

Will it sound like me?

At first, maybe not. Tell it how you talk, like "friendly, short, no big words." Show it a message you wrote. Then change any line that doesn't sound like you.

Is it safe to put my business details in?

For everyday work, yes, if you keep private details out. Never paste card numbers, bank logins, Social Security numbers, passwords or health details. Our safe AI habits guide shows what to leave out and how to spot a scam.

Do it with AI: ask what it could do for you

The quickest way to find out is to ask. Copy the prompt, fill in the [BRACKETS], and paste it into the chat box.

My business: [TYPE OF BUSINESS, e.g. a small bakery with two staff].
I'm new to AI and I'm busy. Give me 5 plain-English examples of everyday jobs in a business like mine where AI could help.
For each one:
- Name the job.
- Say in one sentence what AI would draft or sort.
- Say what I would still need to check or do myself.
No jargon. Don't promise results. If a job isn't a good fit for AI, leave it out.

Sample (made up): Rise & Shine Bakery, a small shop with two staff.

What a good answer looks like: five jobs, such as custom-cake questions, the weekly specials post, turning scrap-paper phone orders into a clean list, and a holiday-order reminder to regulars. Each says what the owner still checks, like prices and pickup times.

Tools checked 2026-09-26: you can use ChatGPT's free plan for this. Claude or Gemini work too.

What to watch for

  • Check facts. Prices, dates, opening hours and anything that sounds like a promise.
  • Start small. One job for one week, then decide.
  • Keep private things private. Leave out card numbers, logins and customer contact details. See what never to paste.
  • Be wary of "get rich with AI" offers. It's a helper for everyday work, not a money machine.

Watch AI used on real jobs, live and free

I feed it the actual copy of the post and then I get back from it the response to that Facebook post and I've gone from getting no likes on those to getting about 10 or 15 likes on people that have read those posts [...]

Russell Merchant
Rich Thurman

Every Tuesday at 5:30 PM Arizona time (4:30 Pacific · 6:30 Central · 7:30 Eastern), Rich teaches a free 30-minute AI training on everyday business jobs like the one on this page, then Q&A for the rest of the hour. Online, on Zoom, open to everyone.

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Want a ready-made routine for quote follow-ups? The AI Starter kit has five ready-made AI routines for everyday jobs. Routine 3, "Follow up on quotes nobody has answered", helps with the quotes that slip away. The kit is $47, one time. NextGen Member is separate: $19 a month, billed monthly until you cancel. It's a simple first step with AI, from NextGen.

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