Insights
How do I pick an AI consultant without getting burned?
Check four things before you pay: the deliverable in writing, the person doing the work, the price basis, and what free government help already covers. Treat any guaranteed hours-saved figure as unsupported, because the research located for this article supports no such guarantee.
Disclosure: Clockwise sells AI consulting. Read this with that in mind, and apply the same questions to Clockwise.
What free help should you try first?
Free and low-cost government services cover advice, training and general information. They do not replace a consultant who builds with you, and they can tell you what to ask one. Try them first if you qualify.
- SBDC business advisory service. Free, by phone or Teams, 133 140.
- Digital Solutions. Free workshops that include AI, and up to 5 hours of one-on-one coaching for a small fee. Fewer than 20 full-time equivalent staff, plus sole traders.
- AI Information Line. General AI information on 1800 517 403. Run by SMEC AI.
- SMEC AI. A free 45-minute consultation for eligible SMEs, with a written summary afterwards. SMEC AI publishes a $1,000 price for its optional AI Audit.
See free AI advice for Perth businesses for the full list.
What are the ten questions?
Ask each question and note the answer. Ask for the answers in writing.
- What will I have at the end, in writing? A named deliverable such as a documented process, a configured tool or a trained team. "Strategy" without a deliverable is not an answer.
- Who does the work? Ask for the name and experience of the person, not the firm.
- Which tools and which data will you touch? The SBDC advises you to know where information may be stored, processed or shared. Ask where your data goes.
- Is the price fixed or hourly, and what is excluded? Ask what happens to the price if the scope changes.
- What happens if the result is not delivered? Ask for the remedy in writing.
- Can I speak to two clients of my size and kind? Ask for businesses in your industry with similar staff numbers.
- Who owns the prompts, workflows and documents? Ask that you own what you pay for.
- Do you hold professional indemnity insurance? Ask to see the certificate. See what to ask your broker about AI.
- How do you check AI output before it reaches me or my clients? A good answer names a human review step.
- What will I be able to do after you leave? A good answer describes training and documentation.
How do you verify a consultant?
Check the business exists and check the claims. Look up the ABN on ABN Lookup at abr.business.gov.au, which business.gov.au lists as a related service. Check that the name on the proposal matches the registered business. Call the references. Search for the person's published work and read it.
What are the red flags?
These red flags are Clockwise's judgement and are not drawn from a dataset.
- A guaranteed number of hours saved. See the measured evidence on hours saved. Average gains are modest and vary by task.
- A vague deliverable.
- Pressure to sign quickly or a discount that expires today.
- No named person doing the work.
- A request for broad access to your systems before the scope is agreed.
- Reluctance to put answers in writing.
- Claims that AI will replace your staff in a fixed time with no method shown.
How do you compare quotes?
Compare deliverables first, then price. Put each quote into the same table.
| Consultant A | Consultant B | Consultant C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deliverable in writing | |||
| Named person | |||
| Price basis and exclusions | |||
| Data and tools used | |||
| References spoken to | |||
| Insurance certificate seen | |||
| After-engagement support |
What to do next
Try one free service this week and write down what it could not do. That list becomes your brief for a consultant. The Clockwise Intensive is a one-on-one 60-minute session on operational bottlenecks and AI implementation. It costs $550 AUD, and you can book it here.
Book the Clockwise Intensive →
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AI consultant cost in Australia?
No reliable Australian rate dataset was located for this article. Published prices from SMEC AI include a $1,000 AI Audit. Ask each consultant for a fixed price tied to a written deliverable and compare quotes in the table above.
Should I use free government help before hiring a consultant?
Yes, if you qualify. The SBDC advisory service, Digital Solutions and the AI Information Line give advice and general information at no or low cost. They help you define the problem, which makes a paid engagement shorter and cheaper to scope.
About the author
Megan Hogan is the founder of Clockwise and works as a fractional COO inside small to medium businesses. She spent seven years at Optus and has led customer experience transformation and AI-enabled contact centre implementation.
Editorial standards
Program details come from government and centre pages, each dated. The question list and red flags are Clockwise's own and are labelled as such. Clockwise sells AI consulting and discloses it. This article is general information.
Sources and dates
All checked 29 October 2026 unless stated.
- SBDC, Business advisory service. Copyright 2026. https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/business-advisory-service
- SBDC, Artificial intelligence. Copyright 2026. https://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/digital/artificial-intelligence
- business.gov.au, Digital Solutions. Page dated 3 July 2026. https://business.gov.au/expertise-and-advice/digital-solutions-australian-small-business-advisory-services
- National AI Centre, Got questions about AI? Now there's a number you can call. 22 July 2026. https://www.ai.gov.au/news-and-insights/blog/got-questions-about-ai-now-theres-number-you-can-call
- SMEC AI, Services and Is SMEC AI free. Undated, checked 24 October 2026. https://www.smecai.au/is-smec-ai-free
- business.gov.au, related services including ABN Lookup (abr.business.gov.au). Page footer, 2026. https://business.gov.au