How much does an AI agent cost a small business?
An AI agent is not just another subscription: it is an assistant connected to your data. Here is where the costs come from, and how to tell if it is worth it.
By Jean Lussier · 2 min read
First: what is an AI agent?
An assistant like Claude or ChatGPT answers from what you give it. An AI agent is connected to your systems (database, CRM, documents) and fetches information itself, within the limits you set. That connection is what creates value, and it is also where most of the cost lies.
The four cost items
1. Connecting your data
You need a connector between the AI and your systems. Today, it is most often an MCP server (Model Context Protocol) built for your needs: it only exposes the data and actions you authorize. The more systems to connect, the more work.
2. Security
An agent that reaches your data should be treated like an employee: least-privilege access, sensitive data excluded, a trail of what it looks up. For personal information, you also need to check where the data is processed: Québec's Law 25 regulates sending personal information outside Québec.
3. Model usage
The model itself (Claude, GPT or another) is billed by its provider: per user with a business plan, or by usage through an API. This cost is recurring and depends on how many questions are asked.
4. Maintenance
Your systems change, and so do AI models. An agent needs follow-up and adjustment to stay reliable and secure.
A concrete example
A manufacturing company in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu had all its data in a custom SQL database, but every new question meant commissioning a costly report. We built an MCP connector that links the employees' AI assistant (Claude) to that database. They now ask their questions in plain language, and the assistant produces the report on the spot.
The math is simple: what did each commissioned report cost, and how many questions went unanswered for lack of budget?
How we work
Like our other projects, an AI agent is delivered at a fixed price, starting at $5,000, after a free assessment. Before we start, you know what will be connected, how it is secured and what model usage will cost.