AI consulting is the highest-paying tech skill in 2026. But most developers transitioning into consulting undercharge by 60-80%.
Here's the rate card I use and recommend to every developer making the switch.
The Pricing Tiers
Tier 1: AI Audit ($3,000-$5,000)
- 2-day operational assessment
- Deliverable: Implementation roadmap with ROI projections for top 10 automation opportunities
- This is your foot-in-the-door offer
Tier 2: Implementation ($10,000-$25,000)
- Build top 5-10 automations from the audit
- 2-4 week timeline
- Includes training and documentation
Tier 3: Monthly Retainer ($3,000-$8,000/month)
- Ongoing optimization
- New automation development
- Monthly ROI reporting
Why These Prices Work
The average AI automation saves a business 15.5 hours per week. At even $50/hour, that's $40,300/year in value.
A $15,000 implementation that delivers $40,000 in annual savings is a 2.7x ROI. That's an easy yes for any business owner.
The Hourly Rate Trap
Never price by the hour. Here's why:
Hourly pricing: 40 hours x $75/hr = $3,000
Value pricing: "This saves you $41,600/year. Investment: $15,000." (2.7x ROI)
Same work. 5x the revenue. The client is happier because they see the ROI clearly.
How to Present Pricing
Always present 3 options:
- Option A ($5K): Core automation only
- Option B ($15K): Full suite + training (most choose this)
- Option C ($30K): Everything + custom agents + 6-month support
The middle option looks like the best value, which is by design.
The Free Audit Funnel
- Post content on LinkedIn about a specific automation with data
- Offer a free 30-minute AI Audit in the comments
- On the call: identify 3-5 automations that would save them time
- Present a Tier 1 Discovery proposal
- Close rate: 35-45%
I documented 50+ rate card templates and pricing frameworks at wedgemethod.gumroad.com/l/ai-consulting-pricing-bible.
Building an AI consulting practice? I also created the AI Agency Launch Kit with complete SOPs, legal docs, and proposal templates.
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