What Is the Best Way to Get Started With AI for My Business
person Patrick Bushe · calendar_today April 15, 2026
The best way to get started with AI is to ignore the hype and focus on one specific problem. Here is a step-by-step approach:
Step 1: Identify Your #1 Time Drain
Spend one week tracking where you and your team spend time on repetitive tasks. Look for:
- Tasks you do more than 5 times per day
- Tasks that follow the same pattern every time
- Tasks where you copy information from one place to another
- Tasks that could be done at midnight if someone were available
Step 2: Quantify the Impact
Calculate how many hours per week that task consumes and what those hours cost. This gives you a concrete ROI target. If your receptionist spends 15 hours per week answering the same 10 questions, and you pay them $22 per hour, that is $330 per week or $17,160 per year in potential savings.
Step 3: Start With One Automation
Do not try to automate everything at once. Pick the single highest-impact task and automate it well. Common starting points:
- Customer FAQ chatbot on your website
- Automated appointment booking
- Review request messages after completed jobs
- Email response drafting
- Social media content scheduling
Step 4: Measure Results for 30 Days
Track the time saved, customer response times, error rates, and any revenue impact. Real data beats assumptions.
Step 5: Expand Strategically
Once the first automation is stable and delivering results, identify the next highest-impact opportunity and repeat the process.
When to Hire a Consultant
If you do not have someone on your team who is comfortable evaluating and configuring AI tools, hiring a consultant for the initial setup is almost always worth it. A consultant can complete in one week what might take you months of trial and error. Get a free consultation at Bushe.co →