Too big for DIY tools. Too small for enterprise AI firms. Right in the middle — where a dedicated AI operations partner pays for itself fastest.
Quick Answer
AI for Small Business — Sized for $1M–$20M Service Operators — Too big for DIY tools. Too small for enterprise AI firms. Right in the middle — where a dedicated AI operations partner pays for itself fastest. Businesses using Ironback see $1M–$20M the revenue range we're built for.
The Problem
At $1M–$20M revenue, you have real operational complexity — multiple crews, compliance requirements, a dispatcher, an office manager — but not the budget for a $300K enterprise AI project or a $200K in-house hire. Every AI vendor is either too small (one-trick SaaS tools) or too expensive (enterprise consulting firms).
What Ironback Is
What Ironback Is Not
How It Compares
| Ironback ($1M–$20M Focus) | Enterprise AI Firm | SMB SaaS Tools | Freelance AI Help | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built for $1M–$20M | ✓ Exclusively | Too small for them | Too basic for you | Hit or miss |
| Year 1 cost | $96K | $200K–$500K | $12K–$36K | $30K–$80K |
| Understands 25–50 employee ops | ✓ | Thinks in 500+ employees | Designed for 1–10 | Varies |
| Categories covered | All 7 | All 7 (at 5x cost) | 1 per tool | 1–2 |
| Implementation timeline | 90 days | 6–12 months | Months (DIY) | 3–6 months |
| 3-month minimum, then month-to-month | ✓ | No | No | No |
Industries We Serve
We specialize in specialty trades and high-urgency service businesses.
Results You Can Expect
Frequently Asked Questions
Below $2M, you typically don't have enough operational complexity to justify a dedicated partner. Above $15M, you can usually afford a full-time hire. At $1M–$20M, you have the pain (25+ hours of admin waste per week) but not the budget for enterprise solutions.
We work with companies as small as $1M and as large as $20M. The assessment will tell us exactly what's possible. Book a call and we'll give you an honest answer within the first 10 minutes.
Yes. The Month 1 operational audit is a one-time fee. Flat $8,000/month retainer. 3-month minimum ($24K total commit), then month-to-month. No long-term contracts. Scale up or down based on what you need.
Your dedicated partner covers all 7 operational categories: call handling, estimating, documentation, follow-up, scheduling, reporting, and inventory. Plus software licensing, integrations, monitoring, and ongoing improvements.
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Book a free 20-min call. We'll map out where the margin in your operation is hiding and show you the ROI timeline.