Pricing guide · 2026

How much does an AI consultant cost in Australia?

Published 2026 Australian cost guides put AI consultants at about $150 to $400 an hour,^[2][3][4] $1,000 to $4,500 a day depending on seniority,^[1] $3,000 to $500,000 or more for a project,^[1][2][3] and $500 to $18,000 a month on retainer.^[1][2][3]The range is wide because “AI consultant” covers everyone from a solo adviser to a firm running a year-long program. Our first paid step costs $999, fixed, and the call before it is free.

By Ed Steward · Founder, NOYS · Last checked: 30 September 2026

The four ways AI consultants charge

Nearly every quote you get will use one of these models, or a mix.

By the hour. You pay for time. Independent consultants sit around $150 to $350 an hour,^[2] and one guide puts the wider market at $150 to $400.^[3] It works for a short review or a second opinion. The risk sits with you: if the job takes longer, you pay for longer.

By the day. The same model in bigger blocks. One marketplace for independent specialists lists AI advisory and strategy consultants at A$1,000 to A$1,500 a day, implementation consultants at A$1,500 to A$2,200, and senior generative-AI specialists at A$2,200 to A$4,500.^[1] Another guide converts its hourly range to $1,200 to $3,200 a day.^[3]

By the project. You agree a scope and a price up front. This is where the range gets widest: $3,000 to $15,000 for a structured small-business project,^[2] $10,000 to $80,000 or more for a typical implementation,^[3] and $50,000 to $200,000 or more for a strategy-led build.^[4] Large transformation programs run past $500,000.^[1] Some consultants also price per automation, at $5,000 to $15,000 each.^[4]

By the month. A retainer buys ongoing access once something is live. Published ranges run from $500 to $2,500 a month at the small end,^[2] through $3,000 to $15,000,^[3] up to $8,000 to $18,000 a month for fractional advisory of one to three days a week.^[1]

AI consultant pricing in Australia at a glance

Model	How it's priced	Typical range (2026)	What you get
Hourly	Per hour worked	$150 to $400 an hour ^[2][3][4]	Time, with scope and total left open
Day rate	Per day worked	A$1,000 to A$4,500 a day, by seniority ^[1][3]	Time in blocks, usually for advice or delivery work
Fixed project	One price for an agreed scope	$3,000 to $200,000+, and $500,000+ for large programs ^[1][2][3][4]	A defined deliverable, with the cost capped
Paid assessment or audit	Fixed fee, often credited to later work	Varies. One guide suggests $2,500 to $4,500 ^[3]; another says free to about $15,000 ^[4]	A written diagnosis before you commit to a build
Retainer	Monthly fee	$500 to $18,000 a month ^[1][2][3]	Ongoing access, reviews and new work
NOYS: The Delete List	Fixed	$999	One 45-minute call and a written report naming 3 to 7 tools, each with its setup time and the hours a week it gives back

What NOYS charges

We publish one price, because the first paid step is the same size for everyone. Before it there's a free 15-minute call.

The Delete List: $999, fixed. One 45-minute call about how your week runs, then a written report within 48 hours, naming 3 to 7 tools, each with its setup time and the hours a week it gives back. How The Delete List works.

Build: quoted in your report. If you want us to set up any of the tools, the report includes a fixed quote for that job. The $999 is credited toward it. Builds vary too much to list one price.

Concierge: quoted in your report. Ongoing monthly help once a build is live, priced on what you need.

Both of our promises are in writing:

“If The Delete List doesn't find you five hours a week, we refund the $999.”

“Anything we build for you is live within 14 days, or we refund you.”

Book your 45-minute call

What drives the cost of an AI consultant?

Scope moves the price more than anything else. One workflow, like drafting quote replies, is a small job. Rewiring how a whole business handles its data is a big one. After scope, cost depends on:

Who does the work. An independent specialist costs markedly less than a firm running several people in parallel.^[1]
Advice or delivery. Hands-on work in a live system costs more than strategy and roadmaps.^[1]
The state of your data. Messy or scattered data makes the job longer and the bill bigger.^[1]
Risk. Regulated or security-sensitive work carries higher rates.^[1]
What sits outside the fee. Tool subscriptions, training and governance documents are often extra.^[2]

Questions to ask any AI consultant before you pay

What exactly will I have in writing when you finish?
Is the price fixed, or an estimate? What happens if it runs over?
If I go ahead with the next step, does what I've paid come off it?
Who does the work: you, or someone you hand it to?
What will I keep paying after you leave, in subscriptions or support?
Is there a guarantee, and is it in writing?

A good consultant answers all six before you pay. Ask us too.

Is an AI consultant worth it for a small business?

It depends on how many hours the repeat work costs you each week, and whether you have the time to fix it yourself. If you have more time than money, a chatbot subscription and a few weekends of trial and error may get you most of the way. If your week is already full, paying someone who knows the tools is usually cheaper than your own evenings. Either way, get a written list before you pay for a build.

Run it on your own numbers. Say the repeat work is five hours a week and an hour of your time is worth $80: that's $400 a week, or about $1,700 a month. Take off a tool at $30 a month and you're still well ahead. If your numbers come out small, you probably don't need us.