Pick an agency or fractional officer if
- You want a written plan across the whole business before anything is built
- You need a team to build several systems at once
- You want one senior person accountable for AI over six months or more
Consult / Consultant vs agency vs fractional
Comparison · checked October 19, 2026
AI consultant vs AI agency vs fractional AI officer: what each costs a small business (2026)
Three ways to buy AI help, and they price differently. An hourly consultant sells time. An agency usually starts with a paid audit and then a build. A fractional AI officer sells a senior person part-time, often with a minimum term. Here are published entry prices from each model, dated.
Published entry prices (checked October 19, 2026)
| Model | Example | Published entry price |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly consultant | North Star AI Consultation | $100 an hour online |
| Hourly consultant | AgentHive Inc | Free 30-minute call, then $75 per 30 minutes or $150 an hour |
| Audit, then training | AIessentials | $1,500 AI audit and written roadmap; $150 an hour advice available |
| Agency (audit, build, maintain) | Horizon | Audit from $299 for 1 to 15 employees; maintenance from $500 a month, required on every engagement |
| Fractional AI officer | Carlo Sansonetti | AI Opportunity Audit from $4,500; Fractional AI Officer has a 6-month minimum |
| Monthly advisor | AgentHive Inc AI Concierge | $2,000 a month, two 45-minute sessions plus async Slack or text |
Each price is from the firm's own public page on the date above. These are asking prices, not survey averages.
How to pick the model
- One clear task, like drafting quotes or sorting an inbox: an hourly consultant is usually enough.
- Several departments and no idea where to start: a paid audit may be worth it before any build.
- You want someone senior to own AI for months: a fractional officer or a monthly advisor.
- You want to try before committing: start with a free call, then the smallest paid block.
Where AgentHive Inc fits
AgentHive Inc: a free 30-minute call, then $75 for 30 minutes, $150 an hour, or a 10-hour pack for $1,250 ($125 an hour, $625 up front, the rest when the hours start). Paid on Stripe, no contract. Daniel Graham runs every session by video in your own accounts, one task at a time, for owners anywhere in the US. AI Concierge is the $2,000-a-month retainer if you want someone every month.
Pick hourly time with AgentHive Inc if
- You have one task in mind and want it set up in your own accounts
- You want no audit fee and no minimum term
- You want to stop when the job is done
Questions
What is a fractional AI officer?
A senior person who owns AI inside your business part-time. Carlo Sansonetti's site describes it this way and lists a 6-month minimum for that service, checked October 19, 2026.
Do I need an audit before hiring an AI consultant?
Not for a single task. AgentHive Inc gives you a plan on the free call: what we would do first and roughly how many hours it takes, before you pay anything.
What does AgentHive Inc charge?
A free 30-minute call, then $75 per 30 minutes, $150 an hour, or a 10-hour pack for $1,250. AI Concierge is $2,000 a month.
Sources
Plain-text sources, no outbound links. Each was read on the date shown. Prices change, so check before you compare.
- North Star AI Consultation: northstarconsult.ai/pricing ("Last updated: October 10, 2026"), checked October 19, 2026.
- AIessentials: aiessentials.us, AI Consulting & Team Training page (prices and FAQ), checked October 19, 2026.
- Horizon: horizonworks.ai blog, "How Much Does AI Consulting Cost in 2026?" (February 2026), checked October 19, 2026.
- Carlo Sansonetti: carlosansonetti.com home page (services, starting prices, Fractional AI Officer minimum), checked October 19, 2026.
- AgentHive Inc: agenthiveinc.com/consult (prices, how it works, FAQ), checked October 19, 2026.