Fractional Retainer

Fractional Chief AI Officer

Ongoing AI leadership without the full-time cost. We guide your roadmap, ship automations, and train your team — as long as you need us.

Most clients start with the $297 audit before committing to a retainer.

Who This Is For

This offering is specifically designed for established SMBs in Metro Detroit (15–200 employees) who recognize the need to adopt AI but lack an internal leader accountable for the outcome. If you are tired of buying software licenses that no one uses and want real operational change, this is for you.

What You Get

Strategic Leadership

A leader who makes the hard calls on buy-vs-build, sets the roadmap, and ensures AI aligns with your overall business KPIs.

Shipped Automations

We don't just write decks. We build custom, no-code integrations that connect your CRM, email, and operations platforms.

Team Training

Seamless handover processes and customized training so your team knows precisely how to run the new systems without us.

How It Works

Every engagement starts with a structured 4-week build sprint. No endless consulting cycles.

01
Week 1

Strategy & KPI Audit (Alignment)

We analyze your entire operation, identify current bottlenecks, and establish clear KPIs for what AI will achieve for your business. We don't guess; we measure.

02
Week 2

Workflow Mapping

We pinpoint the 'Headache'—the exact manual tasks draining your team's time and energy. We map out the data flow and design an intelligent automation to fix it.

03
Week 3

No-Code Build Sprint

Implementation week. We build, connect, and test the custom AI workflows and automations using robust, scalable no-code architectures so you can see immediate results.

04
Week 4

Capability Transfer

Technology is useless if your team doesn't use it. We train your staff, fully document the systems, and ensure a seamless handover so your business runs smoothly without us.

Investment

A full-time Chief AI Officer costs upwards of $250,000 before benefits and recruiting. Our Fractional CAIO program is designed specifically for SMBs, meaning your investment is a fraction of a full-time CAIO, calibrated to your specific scope.

The initial 4-week sprint is executed at a fixed structure so you see real, shipped outcomes. Following the sprint, businesses have the option to graduate, or shift to a monthly retainer for continuous automation stacking and strategy.

How to Start

Let's have a brief conversation. Message us directly to block out 30 minutes. We'll size the opportunity in the first call. No pitch decks, just operators talking about the business.

Let's talk about what's possible for your business

A 30-minute conversation on where simple changes could make the biggest difference.

Email Me Directly

leo@appliedagencyai.com

Response time: < 1 business day

Connect Locally

Metro Detroit, MI

Available for local workshops & strategy sessions.