AI consulting, Hamilton and remote
Practical AI, for the work you actually do.
Scobert is an AI consultant for small businesses in Hamilton, Ontario, and across Toronto, the GTA and Canada. The job has three parts: find the tasks where AI tools save real time, set those tools up safely, and train your team on their own work. As of September 2026 that starts with an optional $750 readiness review or a fixed-price scope, never an hourly meter. The work starts with your business, not with a product to sell.
AI consulting prices (CAD, as of September 2026)
- AI and automation reviewOptional
- $750
- one time · About 1 week
- Optional. Credited toward the project if you go ahead
- AI team training
- $1,500
- per half-day workshop · Half a day
- Built around your team’s real tasks
Prices exclude HST and any third-party software. One fixed price inside the range is agreed in writing before paid work starts. See every Scobert price.
What an AI consultant does, step by step
- Lists the weekly tasks. Every repeated reading, writing, sorting and lookup task, with the hours it takes.
- Ranks them. Which tasks AI can do well today, which need a person in the loop, and which should be left alone.
- Sets the rules. A one-page policy on what staff can and cannot paste into an AI tool, and which plan to use so client data is handled properly.
- Sets up and tests. Business-grade accounts, the prompts or templates for each task, tested against real examples from your inbox and files.
- Trains the team. Half a day on their own tasks, not generic demos.
Where AI helps a small business, and where it does not
Statistics Canada reported in June 2026 that the most common business uses of AI were data analytics (36.6% of AI-using businesses), text analytics (34.5%) and virtual agents or chatbots (28.2%). Source: Statistics Canada, second quarter of 2026.
| Area | Good fit for AI | Poor fit for AI |
|---|---|---|
| Customer service | Drafting replies to common questions for a person to approve | Sending unreviewed answers about pricing, refunds or safety |
| Sales and marketing | First drafts of quotes, proposals, emails and social posts | Publishing claims nobody has checked |
| Admin and finance | Pulling totals and dates out of invoices, receipts and forms | Final bookkeeping entries without review |
| Operations | Summarizing notes, calls and long email threads | Decisions that need judgment about people or safety |
| Knowledge | Answering staff questions from your own documents | Questions your documents do not cover |
What a Scobert AI engagement includes
- AI and automation readiness review. Scobert lists the tasks where AI saves the most time, ranked by hours per week, with a price for each fix. Optional; $750, credited to the project.
- Setup. Scobert configures business-grade AI tools with data settings appropriate for client information.
- Usage policy. Scobert writes a one-page policy on what staff can and cannot share with AI tools.
- Team training. Scobert trains staff on real tasks from their own work, not generic demos.
- Connected AI. Where it pays off, Scobert links AI to email, documents and CRMs through workflow automation.
You may already own enough AI
Many small businesses already pay for AI features inside Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, their CRM or their accounting software. Scobert checks what is already included before recommending any new subscription.
Based in Hamilton, working with businesses anywhere
Scobert works from Hamilton, Ontario. The first call is free and can happen in person for businesses in Hamilton, Burlington and the surrounding area, or by video call wherever the business is. The tools Scobert recommends are the ones founder Christopher Loubert runs in daily work, so the advice comes from use, not from a vendor brochure.
New to AI? Read how to start using AI in a small business and how much AI automation costs in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
What does an AI consultant actually do for a small business?
An AI consultant finds the tasks in a business where AI tools save real time, sets those tools up safely, and trains the team to use them. For a small business that usually means drafting replies and quotes, summarizing notes and long email threads, answering routine questions and pulling information out of documents. A good AI consultant also tells you where AI is not worth it, and says so before you spend anything.
How much does an AI consultant charge?
A Toronto roundup published by chatgpt.ca in 2026 lists freelance AI consultants at $150 to $350 an hour and boutique firm projects from $5,000. Scobert does not bill by the hour. As of September 2026, the Scobert AI and automation readiness review is $750 CAD (optional, credited to any project that follows), a half-day AI team workshop is $1,500 CAD, and setup work is quoted as a fixed price in a written scope.
What is an AI readiness assessment for a small business?
For a small business, an AI readiness assessment is a short review of the tasks the team does every week, the software those tasks run on, and the information that must never be shared with an AI tool. The output is a ranked list of tasks where AI would save the most hours, with a price for each. Scobert runs this as the $750 AI and automation review, delivered in about a week.
How do I get started with AI in my business?
Start with one repetitive task that involves reading or writing, such as drafting quotes, answering common customer emails or summarizing meeting notes. Try an AI assistant on that single task for two weeks and measure the time saved. Scobert can run this kind of focused trial so the decision to go further is based on results, not hype.
Is it safe to put business information into AI tools?
It depends on the tool and the plan. Training use, data retention and access controls vary between AI products and between free and business plans, so check the current terms before sharing business information. Scobert sets up the business-grade options and writes a one-page usage policy covering what staff should never paste into an AI tool.
Does Scobert only work with businesses in Hamilton?
No. Scobert is based in Hamilton, Ontario, and works with small businesses anywhere by video call. Most AI consulting work, from the readiness review to team training, runs remotely just as well as in person.
Can I meet an AI consultant in person in Hamilton?
Yes. The first call with Scobert can happen in person for businesses in Hamilton, including Stoney Creek, Ancaster and Dundas, and in Burlington. Businesses farther away meet by video call.
Do I need to be technical to work with an AI consultant?
No. A small business owner needs to know the weekly tasks that take the most time, not how AI works. Scobert handles the setup and trains the team on their own tasks in plain language.
Which AI tools does Scobert work with?
Scobert works with mainstream AI assistants including ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot, plus automation tools that connect AI to email, documents and CRMs. Scobert recommends the tool that fits the software a business already uses, rather than a favourite brand.
Last updated September 25, 2026
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