You Know AI Is the Answer. You Just Don't Know Where to Start.
Mike Routen helps small business owners cut through the noise, find the AI opportunities that actually move the needle, and build a clear plan to act on them.
No pitch. No pressure. Just a straight conversation about where AI fits in your business.
This Is For You If...
You've been experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT and you know there's something there, but you haven't figured out how to get real results from any of it.
Your business runs on manual processes, spreadsheets, and your own time. You're the bottleneck, and you know it.
You've looked at AI consultants before and come away feeling like they were selling software, not solving problems. You want someone who actually understands how a small business operates.
You're not looking for a course or a certification. You want a plan you can actually execute, and you want someone to help you build it.
The Consulting Engagement, Broken Down
Every engagement starts with a strategy session. From there, you can go as far as you want: a build-out, ongoing support, or just walk away with a solid roadmap and handle it yourself. Your call.
Option A: AI Opportunity Session
One focused hour where we look at your business, your current workflows, and your biggest pain points. You walk away with a written summary and 3 to 5 prioritized AI opportunities specific to your operation.
The session fee is credited toward any project or retainer you sign within 30 days.
What's included:
- Pre-call intake so we don't waste time on basics
- Current-state review of your tools, team, and workflows
- 3 to 5 prioritized AI opportunities, ranked by impact and effort
- Written summary delivered within 48 hours
Option B: Process + AI Diagnostic
A deeper dive into two or three of your most critical workflows. We map the process, identify the automation opportunities, and build out a prioritized roadmap with ROI projections. This is the right starting point if you already know a build-out is likely.
The session fee is credited toward any project or retainer you sign within 30 days.
What's included:
- Everything in the AI Opportunity Session
- Deep-dive into 2 to 3 specific workflows
- Process maps for each workflow reviewed
- Automation opportunity analysis with ROI projections
- Prioritized roadmap document you keep
Option C: Done-For-You Build-Outs
If you've already got a roadmap and you want someone to build it, that's the next step. We handle everything: workflow design, tool integration, testing, and training your team. Three package tiers based on scope.
| Package | Price | What's Covered | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Build | $4,500 | One workflow automated end-to-end, integration with 1 to 2 existing tools, 1 training session, 30-day email support | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Growth Build | $9,500 | Up to 3 workflows, CRM/ops integration, custom reporting, 2 training sessions, 60-day support | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Transformation Build | $18,500 | Full process audit, up to 6 workflows, multi-system integration, team training (up to 3 sessions), 90-day support + one optimization pass | 6 to 8 weeks |
AI Launch Stack Bundle: $11,500 Packages the Process + AI Diagnostic, a Growth Build, and your first month of retainer support into one decision. Saves $1,450 off standard pricing.
Option D: Ongoing Retainers
AI systems need to be maintained, optimized, and expanded as your business grows. The retainer keeps that work happening without you having to manage it.
| Tier | Monthly | What's Included |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | $1,200/mo | System monitoring, up to 4 hrs hands-on work, priority email support, monthly 30-min check-in |
| Growth Partner | $2,500/mo | Up to 10 hrs hands-on work, bi-weekly strategy call, one new automation or improvement per quarter |
| Embedded Advisor | $4,500/mo | Up to 20 hrs hands-on + advisory, weekly check-in, unlimited email support, up to 2 new builds per quarter, quarterly business review |
What the Process Actually Looks Like
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Free Discovery Call (30 minutes)
We talk through where you are, what's not working, and whether a strategy session makes sense. No commitment required. If I can't help you, I'll tell you.
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Strategy Session
You pick the format, the AI Opportunity Session ($350) or the Process + AI Diagnostic ($950), based on how much detail you want to go into. I review your business, your workflows, and your bottlenecks. You get a written deliverable and a clear set of priorities.
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Decide What Comes Next
You might handle the roadmap yourself. You might want R4 to build it out for you. Either is fine. If you move into a build-out within 30 days, the strategy session fee is credited.
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Build-Out (If You Want It)
We scope the project, agree on deliverables, and get to work. Every package includes specific named outcomes. You know exactly what you're getting before you sign.
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Ongoing Support (Optional)
Most clients stick around. AI systems get better over time when someone's paying attention to them. The retainer is there if you want it.
This Isn't Theory
Mike Routen doesn't just consult on AI. He runs his business with it.
R4 Digital Systems operates with an AI team handling research, strategy, sales, content, and operations. There are no human employees on payroll. The team is AI agents, each with a defined role, and the business runs because of the systems Mike built to manage them.
That matters for you because it means every recommendation Mike makes has been tested on a real business with real stakes. When he tells you where AI fits and where it doesn't, he's speaking from the same position you're in: a small business owner who had to figure this out with his own time and money.
He's not coming from a big consultancy. He's not recycling enterprise frameworks and charging you to downsize them. He's a peer who figured something out, and he's sharing the system.
The AI team running R4 Digital is the product demo. You can ask him about it on the discovery call.
Where to Start
The free discovery call costs nothing and takes 30 minutes. It exists so both of us can figure out whether this is worth pursuing.
If it is, the natural next step is a strategy session. Most clients start with the AI Opportunity Session at $350. It's a low-risk way to get a clear picture of where AI can actually move the needle in your business.
If you already know you want a deeper look, the Process + AI Diagnostic at $950 goes further: process maps, ROI projections, and a full roadmap document.
Both session fees credit toward any project you sign within 30 days. If you decide to move forward, you're not paying twice.
No pitch. If we're not a fit, I'll tell you that too.
Questions We Hear From Business Owners Before They Book
Probably not for what you're doing with it now. But if you're using it for one-off questions and still running your actual business manually, that's where consulting changes the picture. The difference between "using AI tools" and "running an AI-powered business" is systems, not subscriptions.
Start with the free discovery call. If I don't think the strategy session will deliver clear value for your situation, I'll tell you before you spend anything. The session fee also credits toward any project you move into within 30 days, so it's not a sunk cost if you decide to keep going.
That's the most common objection I hear, and it's fair. The difference here is that every engagement has specific named deliverables. The AI Opportunity Session ends with a written summary and a prioritized list of opportunities. The Process + AI Diagnostic ends with a process map, an ROI projection, and a roadmap document. You know what you're getting before you book.
Yes. The recommendations are built for business owners, not developers. Where implementation requires technical work, the Done-For-You Build-Out handles it. Where it doesn't, most clients can run with the roadmap themselves or hand it to someone on their team.
That's completely fine. A lot of clients come in for the strategy session, get a clear roadmap, and go build it on their own. There's no pressure to keep going. If you want support later, it's there.
Ready to Find Out Where AI Fits?
The free discovery call is 30 minutes. We'll look at your business, talk through what's eating your time, and figure out whether there's a real AI opportunity worth pursuing.
If there is, we'll map it out. If there isn't, you'll know that too, and you'll have saved yourself from chasing the wrong thing.
30 minutes. No commitment. Just a real conversation.