How to Hire an AI Implementation Consultant (Red Flags & Checklist)

Consultant shopping? Here's what to look for and red flags to avoid. Don't waste $10K on bad advice.

Green Flags

• Has case studies with specific numbers
• Asks about your costs/metrics first
• Suggests cost reduction, not more spending
• Offers audits before proposing solutions
• Works with multiple vendors (not biased)
• Has experience in your industry

Red Flags

• Pushes 'AI for everything'
• No mention of costs or ROI
• Wants to sell you their tool
• No case studies or references
• Promises 10x improvement without data
• Only recommends expensive solutions

Questions to Ask

• What's the typical implementation timeline?
• How do you measure success?
• What happens if it doesn't work?
• How much does it cost?
• Can you share a case study from similar company?
• Do you offer ongoing support?

Budget

Audit: $2K-5K. Small implementation: $10K-25K. Mid-size: $25K-75K. Enterprise: $100K+.