The 10 questions
Ask every AI consultant or agency these before you sign:
- 1. Can I click through something you built that's live today — not a mockup?
- 2. Who actually builds it — you, or someone you subcontract to?
- 3. What's the price, and is it fixed before work starts?
- 4. What's the monthly cost after launch, and what does it cover?
- 5. Who owns the software, the data and the accounts?
- 6. Which of my existing tools will it connect to?
- 7. Where does my data go, and is it used to train AI models?
- 8. Where is a person kept in the loop?
- 9. What happens if it breaks on a Saturday?
- 10. Can we meet in person?
Red flags
Walk away if you hear:
- Only demos and slide decks — nothing live you can use.
- "It depends" on price with no number by the second conversation.
- Lock-in: they own the accounts, the code or your data.
- A plan to replace your field-service or accounting software instead of connecting to it.
- Promises that AI will run your business with no human involvement.
Why local matters in Middle Tennessee
AI projects touch how your business actually runs. It's easier to explain that across a lunch table in Franklin or Murfreesboro than on a video call with an agency three time zones away — and easier to hold someone accountable when they're down the road.
How Patton AI answers these questions
Patton AI is Connor Patton in Franklin, Tennessee. The live work is public — the ServiceView customer portal demo, The HR Strategy Agency's website, and Stadium FM. Website prices are published; custom AI gets a fixed quote after one conversation. You own what's built, a person stays in the loop, and the person who builds it is the one who answers the phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose an AI consultant for my small business?
Pick one who can show live, working software they built, gives a fixed price before work starts, lets you own the result, keeps a person in the loop, and will support it after launch.
Are there AI consultants in Nashville who meet in person?
Yes. Patton AI is based in Franklin, Tennessee and meets Middle Tennessee small business owners in person — the first conversation can be over lunch.
What should an AI consultant cost?
It depends on scope, but you should get a fixed number before work starts; Patton AI publishes website prices and quotes custom AI after a 30-minute call.