How Consultants & Small Businesses Make Money with AI
Insights from MicroConf & Indie Hackers
1️⃣ Start With Services
- Don’t start with SaaS
- Start with paid services
- Cash flow first
- Validation second
2️⃣ Sell Outcomes
- Not “AI tools”
- Sell more leads
- Sell saved time
- Sell reduced costs
3️⃣ Use AI Internally
- Automate your workflow
- Improve margins
- Deliver faster
- Clients don’t need to see the AI
4️⃣ Productize Your Service
- Flat pricing
- Defined scope
- Monthly subscriptions
- Predictable revenue
5️⃣ Target Boring Niches
- Local businesses
- Agencies
- Professional services
- Operational bottlenecks
6️⃣ Position Around ROI
- “Save 100+ hours/month”
- “Replace a $60K hire”
- “Increase conversions 20%”
- Speak in dollars, not tech
The 5-Step Playbook
- 1. Pick a painful workflow
- 2. Sell service first
- 3. Automate internally
- 4. Productize pricing
- 5. (Optional) Spin out SaaS
The Big Idea
Sell workflow outcomes powered by AI —
Not AI itself.