Diagnose
Review how the work happens today and rank the opportunities. Agree one pilot, its baseline and its acceptance criteria in writing.
AI consulting · vendor-neutral
AI consulting that starts with your numbers, not the hype.
We find the one or two places where AI would actually pay back in your business, put them to work with human review, and measure the result. Where AI is the wrong answer, we will say so.
Where AI usually helps service businesses
- Drafting proposals, follow-ups and replies for review
- Pulling data out of PDFs, forms and emails
- Answering after-hours calls and website questions
- Summarizing calls into CRM notes and next steps
- Searching your own documents for answers
Denver, since 2011The AI practice of Innovation Theory
Senior people, directlyYou work with Phil and Martin, not a junior team
Prices on the pageFrom $2,500 a month, scoped in writing
Measured against a baselineWe agree how success is judged first
Our approach
Decide, deliver, prove.
Most AI projects stall because they start with a tool. Ours start with a workflow and a baseline.
Deliver
Build and test the scoped improvement with real examples and the people who will use it. Existing tools first, new ones only when they earn their place.
Measure
Support adoption, compare results with the baseline and agree what deserves investment next, including whether to stop.
Guardrails
AI drafts. People decide.
Every use case gets written rules: what the AI can do, what a person must approve, what data it can see, and how errors get caught.
Approved tools only
Business-tier accounts with appropriate data terms, not personal logins. We help you write a usage policy staff can follow.
Human approval points
Prices, legal or medical content and anything sent to a client is reviewed by a person before it goes out.
Measured quality
We track correction rate and errors alongside time saved, so you know the output is good enough to rely on.
AI use cases by industry
AI for law firmsAI for accounting and CPA firmsAI for HVAC companiesAI for plumbing companiesAI for electrical contractorsAI for roofing companiesAI for construction and general contractorsAI for property management companiesAI for real estate brokeragesAI for insurance agenciesAI for financial advisory firmsAI for dental practicesAI for medical and specialty clinicsAI for veterinary clinicsAI for marketing agenciesAI for architecture firmsAI for engineering firmsAI for staffing and recruiting agenciesAI for IT managed service providersAI for nonprofit organizationsAI for consulting and professional services firmsAI for landscaping companiesAI for commercial cleaning companiesAI for home remodeling companiesAI for physical therapy clinicsAI for logistics and freight companiesAI for event and catering companiesAI for auto repair shopsAI for small manufacturersAI for tax preparation offices
Plans
For decisions and oversight
Advisory
$2,500 / month
$7,500 for the first 90 days
- Twice-monthly advisory sessions
- Opportunity and tool prioritization
- Vendor and roadmap oversight
- Implementation quoted separately
For a priority workflow
Lead + delivery
$5,000 / month
$15,000 for the first 90 days
- Weekly leadership sessions
- One scoped workstream at a time
- Team training and adoption support
- Baseline and performance review
For deeper team involvement
Embedded
$7,000 / month
$21,000 for the first 90 days
- Weekly leadership plus team sessions
- More delivery capacity, still scoped in writing
- Closer work with your team leads
- Agreed support and review rhythm
USD, billed monthly. Initial 90-day engagement with a written scope before kickoff. Software subscriptions, major custom builds and 24/7 support are budgeted separately. Not sure which fits? Take the 3-minute check.
Common questions
How much does AI consulting cost for a small business?
Denver AI consultants commonly quote $100–$250 an hour or $3,000–$15,000 for a defined project. InTheory works on a monthly plan from $2,500, with a 90-day initial engagement and a written scope.
Do you sell or resell AI software?
No. We are vendor-neutral. We recommend tools you already own first, then the best-fit option, and we tell you when a new tool is not worth it.
Will AI replace our staff?
That is not how we approach it. We use AI to draft, sort and summarize so your people spend more time on client work. People approve prices, advice and anything sent to clients.
How do you handle confidential client data?
We agree data handling in writing before implementation, prefer business-tier tools with appropriate data terms, and keep sensitive decisions with people. Regulated work (health, legal, tax, financial) gets the extra controls it needs.
Related: AI for small business guide · AI readiness checklist · AI consultant vs AI agency · How to hire an AI consultant
Next step
Bring one expensive workflow. Leave with a clear next step.
In 30 minutes we look at one recurring workflow, what it costs you today and whether there is a credible case to improve it. If there is not, we will say so.
Book a 30-minute workflow review
Not ready to talk? Take the 3-minute check
30 minutes with Phil or Martin. No technical brief, no pitch deck. Phil or Martin replies personally, usually within one business day.