A1
AI Readiness & Use-Case Sprint
Inventory the AI already in use, score your top use cases for value and risk, and leave with a prioritized 90-day AI roadmap.
from$2,500
You get: a ranked use-case list and a 90-day plan in 2 to 3 weeks.
AI Consulting for SMBs
Put AI to work safely, at a small-business price.
Nexus Security Advisors helps small and mid-sized businesses choose the right AI use cases, roll out tools like Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, and AI agents with guardrails, and meet NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001, and EU AI Act expectations, without a Big Four budget. Every engagement pairs AI adoption with security and governance, so productivity gains do not create new data-leak or compliance risk.
A2
AI Governance Program
AI acceptable-use policy, AI inventory and risk register, vendor and data-handling rules, and controls mapped to NIST AI RMF and ISO/IEC 42001.
from$5,000
You get: board-ready AI governance your customers and insurers can review.
A3
Fractional AI Advisor
Ongoing monthly guidance on AI tools, vendors, agent permissions, and new regulations, plus a named advisor for leadership questions.
from$1,500/month
You get: a trusted AI and security advisor on call.
A4
Leadership AI Workshop
A half-day session for owners and leadership teams: practical AI wins, shadow-AI risks, and how to set the rules before something leaks.
from$995
You get: an aligned leadership team and a draft AI policy outline.
Starting prices for a typical small business. Your final fixed quote follows a free 30-minute discovery call. AI consulting can be combined with fractional vCISO or compliance work.
Engagement2026 U.S. market rangeNexus starting price
AI readiness / strategy assessment (SMB, fixed fee)$2,000 to $25,000 [1][2]from $2,500
AI governance readiness assessment$8,000 to $12,000 [3]from $5,000
Monthly AI advisory retainer$1,500 to $8,000 per month [2][4]from $1,500/month
Independent AI consultant, hourly$150 to $350 per hour [4]Fixed-fee packages
Pricing sources & methodology (last reviewed October 29, 2026)
Market ranges are published 2026 figures for U.S. AI consulting. Most sources are consulting firms that publish their own observed rates, so treat them as directional, not as a price list.
- Cabin, AI Readiness Assessment Cost: Real 2026 Price Ranges, updated October 22, 2026 (SMB fixed-fee tier). cabinco.com
- Pareto Talent, AI Consultant for Small Business: Costs & Options (2026), October 2026. paretotalent.com
- Ethical Veracity, What an AI governance assessment costs, and what you get, June 21, 2026. ethicalveracity.ai
- Leanware, How Much Does an AI Consultant Cost in 2026?, updated October 6, 2026 (independent experts; 5 to 10 hour retainers at $2,000 to $5,000 per month). leanware.co
FAQ
AI consulting questions
How much does AI consulting cost for a small business?
Published 2026 U.S. benchmarks put SMB AI readiness assessments at roughly $2,000 to $25,000 and AI advisory retainers at $1,500 to $8,000 per month. Nexus packages start at $2,500 for an AI Readiness & Use-Case Sprint, $5,000 for an AI Governance Program, and $1,500 per month for a Fractional AI Advisor. See the pricing sources.