High-repeat, clear rules, measurable value.
Examples: new lead summaries, quote follow-up queues, invoice reminders, weekly reports, order intake checks, SOP drafts.
Proof asset · 10-minute automation ROI triage
Should you automate it, delegate it, or leave it alone?
Most businesses do not need more AI tools. They need one workflow with enough repeat volume, enough money impact, and low enough risk to justify the first build. This triage is the front door for the $499 AI Business Automation Audit.
Quick filter
Messy but teachable.
If judgment matters but the steps are repeatable, use AI to prepare context and let a human approve the action.
Rare, risky, or low-value.
If it happens twice a year, touches legal/payment changes, or saves pennies, it should not be the first automation.
ROI triage table
Score the workflow before building anything.
Frequency
How many times per week does the workflow happen?
Best first builds happen daily or several times per week.
Time drain
How many minutes disappear every time it happens?
Look for 30+ founder minutes or repeated admin handoffs.
Money risk
What revenue, cash, or customer trust is lost when it is late?
Leads, quotes, unpaid invoices, no-shows, and onboarding delays usually score high.
Tool clarity
Where does the input live and where should the output go?
If the source and destination are clear, automation gets much easier.
Human approval
Can a person approve the action before it leaves the business?
Safe early automations draft, summarize, queue, and measure before they send.
Rule of thumb: if one missed workflow can cost more than $499, it is worth mapping before buying another AI subscription.
Audit fit
The audit is a fit when the workflow has repeat volume, obvious owner pain, and a measurable leak: slower response, lost deals, late invoices, broken handoffs, or reporting blind spots. The deliverable is a ranked build queue, not a generic strategy PDF.
Send one workflow. I’ll tell you if it is audit-worthy.
Include the workflow, frequency, time lost, rough value at risk, tools involved, and where the handoff breaks. If it is a fit, I will route you into the $499 audit. If it is not, I will point to the simpler fix first.
Send the automation ROI triage