What is an AI employee for small business? +
An AI employee is a purpose-built AI agent configured to perform a specific role inside a business — such as client intake, follow-up communication, or content drafting. Unlike a general chatbot, an AI employee is trained on the specific business’s voice, tools, and workflows, and operates autonomously within those parameters.
How is an AI employee different from a chatbot? +
A chatbot answers questions. An AI employee takes action. The distinction is scope and integration: an AI employee connects to your CRM, email, scheduling software, and internal documents, then performs tasks the same way a human team member would — drafting, routing, responding, and following up without manual input.
What kinds of businesses use AI employees? +
Small and mid-sized businesses across Ohio use AI employees to handle communication, content creation, client onboarding, and operations tasks. They’re especially effective for service businesses, healthcare practices, real estate teams, law firms, and agencies where repetitive communication and documentation eat hours every week.
How long does it take to build an AI employee? +
Most AI employee builds are scoped and delivered within two to four weeks, depending on complexity and integration requirements. The build includes configuration, testing, voice training, and a team handoff session.
What tools do AI employees connect to? +
AI employees connect to the tools a business already uses — including HubSpot, Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, and most CRM and scheduling platforms. The build is wired around existing workflows, not a replacement for them.
What does an AI employee cost? +
AI employee builds at Explainery start at $3,500 and vary based on complexity, number of integrations, and scope of team training. Most builds include a full handoff session so the business owner and team can run the system independently.
Do I need to be technical to use an AI employee? +
No. The build handles all technical configuration. The handoff includes documentation and training so anyone on your team can manage it day-to-day without a technical background.