How much does an AI chatbot cost for a small business?

The build price and the monthly running cost are two different things. Here is what drives each.

The build

A chatbot that answers from your own FAQ and policies on one channel is the simplest and cheapest. Adding WhatsApp, bookings, lead capture or a CRM connection makes it larger.

Monthly running costs

You pay the AI provider for usage and the messaging provider for WhatsApp messages. For a small business this is usually a small monthly amount, and a good developer tells you the number up front.

What makes a chatbot worth it

It should answer from your real information, hand off to a person when unsure, and save you measurable time or capture leads you would have missed.

How to avoid overpaying

Get a fixed price in writing, ask who owns the code and accounts, and test it on your own data before paying in full.