FAQ
Questions about AI consulting, answered plainly.
What it costs, how long it takes, what the AI actually does, and what happens to your data. If your question isn’t here, ask it in the discovery form.
Cost and timelines
How much does AI consulting cost with Borrego Business Systems?
The Business Systems Mapping Session is free — including the workflow walk-through, the opportunity map, and the phased proposal that come out of it. A first system build typically costs $5,000–$25,000, quoted as a fixed price per phase, in writing, before any work starts. Ongoing support and improvement starts at $750 per month.
What affects the price?
Price depends on how many workflows the system covers, how many existing tools it connects to, how clean your current data is, and how much AI it uses. Larger systems are split into phases, each priced on its own, so you never have to commit to one big project up front.
Are there any other costs?
Yes — third-party software subscriptions and AI usage fees (the per-use cost of the AI models) are separate from our fee. We estimate both in your proposal, so there are no surprises.
How long does it take to build an AI system?
Most first builds take 2–8 weeks. A focused automation or AI assistant can be working in as little as two weeks; the first phase of a larger business operating system typically takes six to eight weeks. Your team starts using each phase as soon as it’s delivered, and later phases build on it.
What happens in the free Mapping Session?
It starts with a 30-minute video call about your business and where work gets harder than it should. From there we map how work actually moves, show you where time and revenue are being lost, and give you a phased proposal with fixed prices. It’s a working session, not a sales pitch, and there’s no obligation. Start the discovery form →
AI and your data
How does Borrego Business Systems use AI?
We build AI into the everyday operations of your business: reading and entering information, drafting customer updates and quotes, routing requests, catching unbilled work and pricing errors, answering questions from your own procedures, and briefing owners on what needs attention. A person approves anything with real consequences. How we use AI →
What’s the difference between automation and AI?
Automation follows fixed rules — when this happens, do that. AI handles the work rules can’t: reading a messy email, summarizing a job, drafting a reply, or noticing something that looks wrong. Most of the systems we build use both: automation for the predictable steps, AI for the judgment-heavy ones, and a person for the decisions.
Will AI replace my employees?
No. The goal is to take the repetitive work — re-entering data, chasing status, sending the same update twice — off your team’s plate, so they spend their time on the work only they can do. The people closest to the work help shape the system, because they know what’s actually broken.
Is my business data used to train AI models?
No. Your business data is never used to train AI models. We only use business-grade AI services whose terms say they do not train their models on your data, and access is limited to the people and systems that need it to do your work.
What if the AI makes a mistake?
Systems are built so mistakes get caught before they cost you. AI starts in “draft for approval” mode, a person approves anything involving money, pricing, contracts, or customers, and every AI action is logged so it can be reviewed and corrected. Steps are only fully automated once they’ve proven reliable.
Which AI tools and software do you work with?
We’re tool-agnostic and pick the best tool for each job. AI models: Anthropic Claude, OpenAI GPT & ChatGPT, xAI Grok, Meta Muse, Moonshot Kimi, and TypeSafe Jev. AI coding agents: Claude Code, OpenAI Codex, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot. Voice, image, and video AI: ElevenLabs, Photoroom, and Higgsfield. Platforms: GitHub, Vercel, Supabase, Railway, Clerk, Stripe, Resend, and Tally. We connect them to the software you already use, such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, QuickBooks, and Canva. See the full toolkit →
Do I have to replace the software I already use?
No. Your new system sits on top of the tools that already work for you and connects them, instead of rebuilding what they do. Replacing software that works is wasted budget and a permanent support burden.
Working together
Who will I actually work with?
You work directly with our founder, from the first conversation through delivery and support. There are no account managers relaying messages — the person who learns how your business runs is the person who designs and builds your system.
Do you only work with businesses in Denver?
No. Borrego Business Systems is based in the Greater Denver area and meets clients in person across the metro area, but we also work remotely with businesses anywhere in the United States and travel when being on site helps.
What kinds of businesses do you work with?
Small and mid-sized businesses that have outgrown spreadsheets and disconnected apps — including field and home services, delivery and logistics, wholesale and distribution, professional services, construction and trades, manufacturing, and retail and e-commerce.
Have you built systems like this before?
Yes. We have designed and built our own products end to end, including ResellerScore (an AI reselling and cross-listing platform), LocalDeliveryOS (operations for delivery companies), NEMT Logic, Staff HQ (people and AI assistants working together in group chats), My Adaptive Coach, and a private AI second brain. See the work →
Do I need to be technical?
No. You bring the knowledge of how your business runs; we handle the technology. Systems are designed for the people who will use them every day, and we train your team as each phase goes live.
What happens after the system launches?
We stay involved. A system is only proven once it runs under real conditions, so we monitor it, fix issues, and keep improving it as your business changes. Ongoing support is optional and starts at $750 per month.
Still have a question?
Ask it in the discovery form — it takes a few minutes, and our founder reads every one personally.