Best AI Consulting Firms in the USA

Five AI consulting firms for US mid-market companies, none of them Big Four. A roadmap deck is cheap to buy and hard to use. So this list asks one thing of each firm: who builds what the roadmap says?

Updated 3 November 2026. 5 firms compared. Prices and terms come from each firm's own site.

Show me what to automateJump to the comparison
1AY Automate

AY Automate

Our pick

Best for

US companies that want the plan and the build from the same partner

AY Automate does not stop at the roadmap. At Gepromed we mapped 47 places AI could help before building anything, then deployed 16 role-specific AI skills. Planning and building sit with one team, so the plan reflects what ships.

  • Qatar Tourism. A multilingual WhatsApp agent now handles 80% of support requests with no human. The 4+ hour wait is gone.
  • Shem's Publicité. A creative team of three went from five days per content batch to under 24 hours, same team and same output.
  • AY is a formal Claude partner. Clients keep what we build if they cancel.

“The team is super fast, sometimes we had to slow them down. We managed to scale the company without investing into hiring.”

Elie Salame, COO, Adstronaut.io

Not the right fit for a small one-off task. It is built for companies that want AI systems running in production with one partner who stays.

Show me what to automate

5 firms side by side

Same columns for every firm. Pricing and terms are as published on each firm's own site on 3 November 2026.

#FirmBest forPricingTermsLocation
1AY AutomateUS companies that want the plan and the build from the same partnerFrom $3K a monthCancel anytime. 90-day replacement guarantee. Set up in hours.Global, serving US companies
2Aries Consulting GroupGrowing small and mid-sized businesses that want a fixed-price readiness auditAI Readiness Audit $7,500 fixed. Fractional growth operations from $8,500 a month. Custom platform build from $25,000.Fixed-fee audit, 2 to 3 weeks. Waitlist per its homepage.Gilbert, AZ
3Justin McKelveyOwner-led businesses that want a quick readiness check and a setup in Claude, ChatGPT or CopilotAssessment $2,500 flat over 2 weeks. Claude for Small Business install from $4,500, optional $1,500 a month retainer.Assessment credited to a build within 90 daysAustin, TX
4GrayCyanManufacturers and B2B service companies that want a readiness scan and 90-day roadmapQuote-based, no public pricesMost engagements finish in a few weeksWilmington, DE, with offices in Hartford, CT and Mississauga, ON
5InWork GlobalMid-market teams that want a fixed-fee roadmap and an engineering partner to build afterFixed-fee roadmap, amount not published. Readiness audit free.Fixed feeTarpon Springs, FL (US office)

The other 4 firms

2
Aries Consulting Group logo

Aries Consulting Group

Gilbert, AZ

Best for. Growing small and mid-sized businesses that want a fixed-price readiness audit

Sells a fixed-fee AI Readiness Audit scored across seven dimensions, with a stack audit and a 90-day roadmap. Its homepage says it is not taking new clients and keeps a waitlist.

Pricing. AI Readiness Audit $7,500 fixed. Fractional growth operations from $8,500 a month. Custom platform build from $25,000.

Source: ariesconsultinggroup.com/blog/ai-readiness-audit-cost/

3
Justin McKelvey logo

Justin McKelvey

Austin, TX

Best for. Owner-led businesses that want a quick readiness check and a setup in Claude, ChatGPT or Copilot

A solo consultant who finds where AI saves hours, then installs it in the tools you already use. The assessment fee is credited toward a build within 90 days.

Pricing. Assessment $2,500 flat over 2 weeks. Claude for Small Business install from $4,500, optional $1,500 a month retainer.

Source: justinmckelvey.com/

4
GrayCyan logo

GrayCyan

Wilmington, DE, with offices in Hartford, CT and Mississauga, ON

Best for. Manufacturers and B2B service companies that want a readiness scan and 90-day roadmap

States a six-step process: readiness scan, automation mapping, ROI and effort scoring, governance guidance, a 90-day execution roadmap and a 12-month adoption plan.

Pricing. Quote-based, no public prices

Source: graycyan.ai/ai-strategy-readiness/

5
InWork Global logo

InWork Global

Tarpon Springs, FL (US office)

Best for. Mid-market teams that want a fixed-fee roadmap and an engineering partner to build after

Offers a fixed-fee strategy roadmap with a 90-day sprint plan, a build-versus-buy analysis and ROI targets, plus a free readiness audit that ends in a scored report.

Pricing. Fixed-fee roadmap, amount not published. Readiness audit free.

Source: inworkglobal.com/services/consulting

How to choose

  1. Step 1

    Ask who builds the roadmap

    A roadmap handed to a second vendor loses detail on the way. Prefer a firm that can build the first item itself.

  2. Step 2

    Fixed fee or open meter

    Audits at $2,500 to $7,500 are easy to approve. Open-ended retainers need a clear deliverable each month.

  3. Step 3

    Look for an audit credit

    Some firms credit the assessment fee against the build. That tells you the audit is a step into the work, not a separate product.

  4. Step 4

    Match the firm to your size

    A solo consultant fits an owner-led business. A 200-person company with several systems needs a team that can run work in parallel.

  5. Step 5

    Ask for a result with a number

    Look for a named client and a figure, not a slide about readiness. At AY: Qatar Tourism, 80% of support requests handled with no human.

Questions people ask

What does an AI consulting firm do?

It finds where AI saves time or money in your business, ranks the options and writes a plan. The better ones also build the first systems, so the plan gets tested against real work.

How much do AI consulting firms charge in the USA?

Published prices on this page run from a $2,500 assessment to a $7,500 readiness audit, with retainers from $1,500 to $8,500 a month. AY Automate starts at $3K a month and includes the build.

What is an AI readiness assessment?

A short review of your data, tools, processes and team that ends in a scored report and a list of first projects. Aries Consulting Group, Justin McKelvey and InWork Global each sell one.

Do I need a consultant or a builder?

If you already know the job, go straight to a builder. If you have a long list and no priorities, a short assessment helps. A firm that does both avoids a handoff.

How long does an AI consulting engagement take?

Assessments run 2 to 3 weeks in the published examples here. AY Automate sets systems up in hours once the first job is chosen.

Can I cancel an AI consulting contract?

Fixed-fee audits end on delivery. For monthly work, AY Automate is cancel anytime, with a 90-day replacement guarantee. Ask every firm who owns the work if you stop.

Tell us the first job to take off your team.

Book a 30-minute call. You leave with the first system we would build, what it connects to and what it costs. From $3K a month, cancel anytime, 90-day replacement guarantee.

Show me what to automate

Related