How do I start using AI in my small business?

Pick one repetitive reading or writing task, choose the AI assistant that fits the software you already use, set simple rules about what information staff can share, and trial it for two weeks while tracking time saved. Expand only after the first task shows a clear result.

Which AI tool should a small business use?

Start with the AI assistant that fits your existing software. A business on Microsoft 365 can look at Microsoft 365 Copilot, a business on Google Workspace can look at Gemini, and a business using neither can compare ChatGPT and Claude business plans. Check each vendor's current plan and data terms before signing up.

Is AI relevant for a very small business?

Statistics Canada reported in June 2026 that 41.4% of businesses with 1 to 4 employees said AI is not relevant to their business. AI is most useful for small teams that spend hours writing emails, quotes or reports, or answering the same questions repeatedly.

Guide

How to start using AI in a small business

By Christopher Loubert, co-founder of Scobert. Published September 12, 2026.

The simplest way to start using AI in a small business is to pick one repetitive reading or writing task, test an AI assistant on that task for two weeks, and measure the time it saves. Choose the AI tool that fits the software the business already uses, and set clear rules about what information staff can share. Expand to more tasks only after the first one shows a result.

Step 1: Pick one task, not a strategy

The best first AI task happens every week and involves reading or writing: drafting quotes, replying to common emails, summarizing meeting notes or turning notes into a report. Write down how long the task takes today, so the trial has something to measure against.

Step 2: Choose a tool that fits your software

If the business runs on	Start by looking at	Why
Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)	Microsoft 365 Copilot	Works inside Microsoft 365 apps with an eligible subscription and Copilot licence
Google Workspace (Gmail, Docs, Sheets)	Google Gemini	Available inside Gmail, Docs and Sheets on eligible Workspace plans
Neither, or a mix of tools	ChatGPT or Claude business plans	Standalone assistants; connections to other software depend on the plan and available connectors

AI plans and prices change often. Check each vendor's current business plan, including how it handles your data, before signing up.

Step 3: Set simple data rules

A one-page AI usage policy sets basic rules for staff. The policy should list what staff must never paste into an AI tool (for example customer payment details, health information and passwords), which AI accounts are approved, and that a person reviews anything AI writes before it reaches a customer.

Step 4: Run a two-week trial

Use the AI assistant on the chosen task every time the task comes up for two weeks. Record the time each attempt takes and how much editing the AI output needs. At the end, compare against the time recorded in step 1.

Step 5: Connect AI to your workflows

Once one task proves useful, AI can be connected to email, documents and a CRM through automation tools such as Zapier or Make, so the AI step runs without someone copying text in and out. See examples of what a small business can automate.

Where Canadian businesses stand (Statistics Canada, June 2026)

Statistics Canada reported that 19.2% of Canadian businesses used AI to produce goods or deliver services in the 12 months before the second quarter of 2026, triple the 6.1% share in the second quarter of 2024. The same Statistics Canada release found that 41.4% of businesses with 1 to 4 employees said AI is not relevant to their business. Source: Statistics Canada, second quarter of 2026.