AI vs Business Consultant: Compared (2026)
The traditional consulting model is being disrupted by AI coaching. You used to pay £500–£3,000/day for someone to understand your business from scratch, produce a report, and leave. AI coaching provides continuous, contextual, always-available strategic advice at 1/100th the cost — and it remembers everything about your business.
Penny's take
AI transformation agenting doesn't replace all consulting. For M&A, complex restructuring, or regulatory challenges, you still need human expertise. But for ongoing operational improvement, cost management, and AI adoption guidance? AI coaching delivers persistent, contextual advice that traditional consultants can't match at any price — because they're not there every day.
From my notebook
“A small logistics firm hired a consultant for £12,000 to "improve operations." Three weeks, a 60-page report, 40 recommendations — 3 implemented. That's £4,000 per implemented idea. With Penny, the same owner gets ongoing AI transformation agenting for £49/month. He implements changes as he goes, gets real-time feedback, and Penny remembers every decision. More changes implemented in 3 months than the consultant achieved in 3 weeks.”
“Only 34% of SMEs who hire consultants report implementing more than half of the recommendations received.”
— Federation of Small Businesses Survey, 2024
What affects the cost — and can AI replace it?
- •Consultant seniority and reputation
- •Specialisation (strategy, operations, AI transformation)
- •Engagement duration
- •Whether deliverables are included
- •Big 4 vs independent vs freelance
What Penny says
Penny provides ongoing AI transformation agenting for £29–49/month — the cost of 30 minutes with a traditional consultant. For AI adoption, operational efficiency, and business restructuring, AI coaching delivers continuous, contextual advice with persistent accountability at 1/100th the price.
Ask Penny about AI alternatives →Frequently asked questions
Can AI coaching replace a business consultant?
For ongoing operational improvement, cost management, and AI adoption — yes. AI coaching is always available, remembers your context, and costs £29–49/month vs £500–£3,000/day. For one-off complex challenges (M&A, market entry, regulatory compliance) — you still need human expertise.
What's the advantage of AI coaching over traditional consulting?
Three things: persistence (it's available every day, not just during an engagement), cost (1/100th of consultant fees), and accountability (it tracks your progress and follows up on commitments). The main disadvantage: AI can't navigate complex human dynamics or political situations.