Hey Durham — I know you're probably scrolling through a bunch of 'AI consulting' pages, all sounding kinda the same. Big promises, vague outcomes, a whole lot of buzzwords. If you're a small to medium-sized business owner here in Durham, and you're just looking for someone to help you figure out if AI actually makes sense for your operation, you've landed in the right spot. I'm a solo operator, A.I. Consulting LLC, and I keep things pretty simple and direct. I'm not here to sell you on 'the future of everything,' just to see if AI can make your day-to-day a bit easier, or save you some money, right now.
I get it. You've heard a lot about AI, and maybe you're feeling a bit of pressure to 'do something' with it. But you've also got a business to run, bills to pay, and a team to manage. You don't have time for academic exercises or consultants who disappear into a black box for months. You need practical, real-world applications that can actually move the needle for your Durham business. My approach is pretty hands-on, and I focus on getting you to a concrete outcome, usually within a few weeks, not months or years.
## What I actually do for Durham clients
Okay so, what do I actually *do*? Most of the time, I'm helping businesses in Durham identify a specific, annoying, and often repetitive problem they have, and then I build a small, focused AI tool or process to help fix it. Think less 'build me a new enterprise system' and more 'can AI draft initial responses to customer emails faster?' or 'is there a way to quickly categorize these incoming documents without someone having to read every single one?'
This might look like setting up a small AI model to summarize long reports, automating parts of your customer service replies, or even just helping you sift through a mountain of data to find patterns you're missing. I often start with a pilot project – something small enough to get done in a few weeks, so you can see the value without a huge commitment. It's about finding that one thing that's a real pain point for your Durham business and seeing if a bit of AI can make it less painful.
## How a Durham engagement usually goes
1. **The Initial Chat (Week 1):** We'll hop on a quick 20-minute call, no charge. You tell me what's on your mind, what problems you're wrestling with. I'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you my honest opinion if I think AI can even help. If it sounds like something I can tackle, I'll send over a brief proposal outlining what I *think* we can do and a rough timeline, usually within 24-48 hours.
2. **Discovery & Planning (Weeks 2-3):** If you're on board with the proposal, we'll dive a bit deeper. This usually involves a couple of longer calls or even a visit to your Durham office if it makes sense. I'll ask more detailed questions about your processes, data, and exactly what 'success' looks like for you. From this, I'll put together a much more detailed plan, including specific milestones, deliverables, and a fixed price for the project. I'm not a fan of open-ended billing.
3. **Building & Testing (Weeks 4-8, project dependent):** This is where I get to work. I'll be building out the AI solution, whether it's a custom script, a configured tool, or a small model. I'll keep you updated regularly, usually with weekly check-ins, and make sure we're testing along the way. Your feedback is crucial here – I want to make sure what I'm building actually solves *your* problem, not just *a* problem.
4. **Launch & Handover (Week 8 onwards):** Once the solution is tested and working, we'll get it deployed. I'll provide documentation and make sure you and your team in Durham know how to use it. My goal is for you to be self-sufficient, but I'm always available for follow-up questions or tweaks. I'm not gonna just drop it on your lap and run away.
## What it costs, roughly
Okay so, everybody wants to know about cost, right? Look, I work on a fixed-fee basis for most projects. That means no surprises, no hourly meters running indefinitely. Once we agree on the scope, you'll get a clear price. For smaller, focused pilot projects, you're usually looking at a few thousand dollars, sometimes a bit more depending on complexity. Larger, multi-stage projects can certainly be more, but we'll always agree on the price upfront, before I start any significant work. I'm not the cheapest option out there, but I aim to provide clear value and a definite end to the engagement.
## Who I'm usually NOT a fit for
I'm pretty upfront about this: I'm not for everyone. If you're looking for a giant consulting firm with a whole army of people, that's not me. If you need someone to 'revolutionize your entire enterprise architecture' or build a massive, bespoke AI research lab, I'm probably not your guy. I also tend to work best with businesses that have a clear, specific problem they want to solve, rather than just 'exploring AI generally.' If you don't have a clear idea of what you want to improve, or if your business is still figuring out its basic processes, it might be too early for me to help effectively. I'm really focused on practical, immediate applications for small and medium businesses right here in Durham.
## Getting in touch
If any of this sounds like what you're looking for, and you're ready to explore how a bit of focused AI can help your Durham business, the next step is pretty easy. Just head over to my contact page and book a 20-min call. We'll chat, no pressure, and see if it's a good fit. I look forward to hearing from you.
FAQs — Durham
How do I know if AI is worth it for my Durham business?
The best way to figure this out is to identify a repetitive task that takes up too much time or a data set that's too big to analyze manually. If you have a specific pain point, chances are AI might offer a practical solution.
Do you work with companies outside Durham?
While I often work remotely with clients across the US, I enjoy helping local Durham businesses. My processes are designed to be effective whether we're in the same city or communicating virtually.
What does the first 2 weeks look like?
The first two weeks usually involve an initial free consultation call, followed by a deeper dive into your specific business needs and problems. I'll then put together a preliminary proposal with a rough plan and timeline.
What kind of data do I need to have ready?
It depends on the project, but generally, any data related to the problem you want to solve is helpful. This could be customer emails, sales figures, inventory lists, or operational logs. We'll figure out what's most useful during our discovery phase.
Will I own the AI solution you build for me?
Yes, absolutely. Once the project is complete and paid for, you will have full ownership of any custom AI models, tools, or processes I develop specifically for your business.