Common questions
Fair questions, straight answers.
We're too small for this.+
Tier 01 is designed precisely for this — a few thousand dollars to know where you stand is cheap insurance against AI-tool decisions you'll regret. Most of our clients have 5–50 employees.
Can't I just use ChatGPT?+
Yes, and many clients should. The question is whether your data is in a state where ChatGPT can actually help — and whether you're protecting customer information when you do.
What if I don't end up using AI?+
Most of the work pays off either way. Clean, governed data saves time, reduces errors, and improves financial reporting whether or not you ever turn on an AI tool.
Why price ranges instead of fixed fees?+
Tier 01 ranges based on the number of systems audited — most engagements land at $3,000. Tier 02 ranges based on data volume, systems to consolidate, and pilot complexity. Tier 03 ranges based on company size and advisory scope. You'll get a firm number before any work starts.
Do you work with businesses outside Chicago?+
Yes. Most engagements are fully remote. We're happy to meet in person for Chicago-area clients when it's useful.
Will you replace our bookkeeper or IT person?+
No. We work alongside your existing team and tools. If you need a bookkeeper, Fred Lundin CPA LLC is the sister firm — but Small Biz Data engagements are separate scopes.
How do you handle security and customer data?+
Every engagement starts with a data-handling agreement. We only use AI tools that don't train on your inputs, and we can advise on whether local/self-hosted models are right for your situation.
Ready to make your data actually useful?
Book a free 30-minute assessment. We'll walk through your current data situation, spot the highest-leverage fixes, and give you a clear path forward — no commitment.
No commitment · No technical jargon · 30 minutes