AI is no longer just for big companies. Small businesses are using it to save time, sharpen marketing, improve customer service, and make everyday decisions. Adoption is moving quickly, too: by 2024, surveys estimated that 20% to 40% of U.S. businesses were using AI tools. Among respondents to the Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey, nearly 40% of small businesses were already using AI or planned to start soon.
How are small businesses putting AI to work?
- Some owners rely on AI features already built into familiar software, including billing platforms and accounting solutions.
- Others use widely available tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini to draft and polish blog posts, emails, and social media content.
- Some invest in paid tools such as Claude to research ideas, solve problems, and tackle more complex work.
Industry-specific uses are catching on, too. One business uses AI software to track caregiver visits to clients’ homes. Another uses it to forecast HVAC service demand based on local weather. More advanced firms are building custom models or adding AI-powered features to products for their own clients.
Why are some owners still cautious?
Not every small business is ready to dive in, and that hesitation is understandable. Owners have real concerns about accuracy, confidentiality, intellectual property, and the time it takes to learn something new. Others are interested but simply do not know where to begin. And some are not convinced they need AI at all. As one respondent put it: “I hope not. We make cheeseburgers.”
It’s time to get started
AI does not have to be overwhelming—or reserved for companies with massive budgets. The best approach is usually to start with one real business problem, choose the right tool, and build from there.
Ready to save time, work smarter, and grow with confidence? Reach out to Mendelson Consulting and Noobeh. We help small businesses turn technology into practical results with guidance that fits the way they actually work. Together, we can identify the right opportunity, take a smart first step, and help your business do more, better.
Make Sense?
J
Cooper Mann Consulting 