What does AI cost for an SME? Prices and payback period (2026)

AI for an SME costs between about €20 per user per month and several thousand euros for setup plus €500 to €1,000 per month, depending on what you want. More important than the price is what it delivers: a good first application often pays for itself within a few months.

The four price levels

Prices excl. VAT, indicative for the Dutch market in 2026.

What are you actually paying for?

• The language model. Use of models from OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google is billed per amount of text. For SMEs, this is usually a small part of the costs.
• Setup. Recording your business context, linking systems, testing. This is the most work and it determines the quality.
• Speech and telephony. For an AI receptionist: call minutes, voice, and phone number.
• Maintenance and adjustment. Updating prompts, links, and knowledge as your business changes.

Calculate it yourself

Use two simple calculations.

Time savings

Hours saved per week × hourly rate × 4 = value per month

Example: you save 5 hours per week on reporting and searching, at an internal value of €60 per hour. That is 5 × €60 × 4 = €1,200 per month.

Missed revenue

Missed opportunities per month × conversion × average order value

Example: 10 quotes per month are not followed up, 20% would have signed, average €2,000 per order. That is 10 × 0.2 × €2,000 = €4,000 per month.

Add both up and compare with the monthly costs plus the setup costs spread over twelve months. This way you can see immediately if and when it pays for itself.

Hidden costs to watch out for

1. Your own time for intake and testing in the first weeks.
2. Extra usage, such as call minutes above your bundle.
3. Separate tools that don't work together, causing you to still transfer data manually.
4. Long contracts without an exit; pay attention to notice periods and whether you can take your data with you.

Where to start with a limited budget?

• Up to €100 per month: a business AI subscription for your team.
• Improve availability: a tailored AI receptionist if you are missing customers on the phone. Discuss your needs and call volume for a personal proposal.
• €500+ per month: an AI Operating System if you want overview and follow-up for your entire company.

At Tergem, you receive a personal proposal based on your needs, goals, integrations and business environment. Explore our tailored approach or schedule a free introductory meeting to discuss your options. The market estimates in this article are not Tergem rates.