In today’s marketplace, small business owners are pressed for time, juggling operations, employees, and customer demands. While AI tools are more accessible than ever, most business owners simply do not have the hours—or the expertise—to figure out which tools fit their unique needs. This is where AI advisors come in. By staying ahead of industry trends, certifications, and real-world applications, advisors simplify adoption and remove the guesswork.

Consider a business owner who attempts to set up their own AI-powered customer support system. After weeks of trial and error, they still face glitches, wasted subscription costs, and frustrated staff. Now compare that to working with an advisor: in a single planning session, the advisor identifies the right tool, outlines a clean integration plan, and ensures the rollout is seamless. The difference is night and day—not because the owner couldn’t do it eventually, but because their time is far more valuable elsewhere.

Surveys from 2025 already highlight the gap: while more than 70% of small business owners say they want to use AI, only 23% feel confident about where to start. Advisors bridge that divide by providing clarity, customization, and accountability. This dynamic mirrors the role accountants and financial planners play—most business owners could handle the basics themselves, but they prefer trusted experts to guide critical processes.

Actionable Steps / Preparation

Here are three steps to prepare your business for the AI advisor era:

• Track where your team spends the most time on repetitive tasks—these are likely AI opportunities.
• Budget realistically for AI adoption, not just tools, but also the expertise to implement them well.
• Begin conversations with advisors early—those who establish partnerships now will have the smoothest transitions.

SmartBiz AI is designed with this exact transition in mind. Our training prepares business owners to understand AI at a practical level, while our upcoming advisory services will provide the hands-on guidance needed to integrate AI successfully. By working with SmartBiz, you’ll skip the overwhelm of DIY experimentation and move straight to results.

The future is clear: as AI moves from optional to essential, the businesses with trusted advisors will be the ones who grow faster, serve clients better, and outpace their competition. Now is the time to consider what role an advisor could play in your business success.

‍