TL;DR
- Ten Irish AI consultancies that work with owner-managed businesses, described from what their own websites say, with no scores and no invented prices
- Clever Merchants is on the list and is the author of it, so treat that entry as a disclosure rather than a recommendation
- Every entry states what the consultancy delivers, who it suits and how to start, because those are the three things an owner needs before a first call
- Free and funded routes exist too: the Local Enterprise Office’s Digital for Business support and the Grow Digital Voucher
- The fastest free first step with us is the AI Readiness Review: six questions, three minutes, instant report
If you ask ChatGPT or Perplexity who the best AI consultants for small businesses in Ireland are, you get a list of small Irish firms, most of them one to five people, each cited from its own website. This post is that list done properly: each consultancy described from what its site actually says, what it suits, and how you start with it.
A disclosure first. I am Ger Devereux, I run Clever Merchants, and it is on this list. I have marked it clearly and described it in the same terms as everyone else. I have not ranked anyone, I have not invented prices, and where a consultancy publishes a price I have quoted it and linked to the page.
If you want to skip the reading, the free AI Readiness Review will tell you in three minutes which two or three AI workflows would save a business like yours the most time, and you can take that report to any consultancy on this list.
How did we choose these AI consultants?
We included Irish consultancies that work with small businesses, state plainly what they deliver, and show a clear first step on their own website.
Three criteria, applied to each site on 3 September 2026:
- Works with small and owner-managed businesses. The site says so, in its own words, and the services are sized for a business of roughly 5 to 50 staff rather than an enterprise IT department.
- States what it delivers. Named workflows, audits or builds, not “digital transformation”. An owner should be able to read the page and picture what will exist in their business afterwards.
- Shows a way to start. A free assessment, a free call, or a priced audit, stated on the site. Consultancies where the only route in was a generic contact form were left out.
The list is alphabetical after the disclosure entry. It is not exhaustive: Ireland has dozens of small AI consultancies and more appear every month. If yours works with small businesses in Ireland and meets the three criteria, email ger@clevermerchants.com and I will look at it for the next update.
Which AI consultants work with small businesses in Ireland?
Ten consultancies met the criteria, ranging from one-person specialists who build a single workflow to managed IT providers that have added AI to an existing practice.
Clever Merchants (Dublin): the author of this list
What they do. An AI consultancy for owner-managed businesses of roughly 5 to 50 staff: AI receptionists that answer and qualify calls, automated lead follow-up, AI-assisted quoting, invoice chasing, job profitability reporting and weekly management reporting, built and maintained for the client and integrated with existing tools. It also runs two fixed-price generative engine optimisation programmes, GEO Standard for Ecommerce at EUR 6,500 and GEO Standard for Service Businesses at EUR 7,500. The proof point is my own wholesaler, Shamrock Electrical, which ChatGPT cited by name 72 hours after schema and FAQ content went live.
Who they suit. Trades and construction, professional services, ecommerce and retail, manufacturing and distribution, and agencies with EUR 500K or more in revenue, in Ireland and other English-speaking markets. Not tech companies, not enterprises.
How to start. The free AI Readiness Review: six questions, about three minutes, an instant industry-specific report naming the two or three highest-impact workflows and estimated hours saved per week, then a personal follow-up from me within 24 hours. Implementation is priced after the review; see how pricing works.
AppAdvisor (Athlone)
What they do. Based at the Midlands Innovation and Research Centre at TUS Athlone, AppAdvisor offers AI Advisory (an AI audit, a strategy and solutions report, and guided implementation) alongside Digital for Business, Green for Business and Lean for Business consultancy. Its site emphasises “over 35 years of operational experience” and helping owners “cut admin, reduce costs, and simplify operations”.
Who they suit. Irish SMEs and owner-managers across services, manufacturing, retail, food, education and trades, particularly those who want to combine AI advice with the Local Enterprise Office programmes AppAdvisor already delivers.
How to start. A free AI Readiness Assessment described as “a short 3-minute assessment for SMEs” with “instant results on screen” and a personalised PDF by email, followed by a personal follow-up within 48 hours.
Artellis (Dublin)
What they do. Artellis, run by Richard Foley from Rathfarnham, builds one AI workflow at a time and hands it over as a tool the team owns, with training, documentation and the accounts in the client’s name. Typical projects listed on the site are inbox and support triage, invoice and bank reconciliation with exception handling, supplier quote comparison, knowledge search over internal documents, report drafting, and rota or cover coordination. A prototype is delivered within the first week.
Who they suit. Businesses of 10 to 250 people in Ireland and the UK where, in the site’s words, “one workflow eats a day or more a week”.
How to start. “A 20-minute call is enough to tell you whether there is a workflow here worth building.” Enquiries are answered directly by the founder.
Bowsy (Ireland)
What they do. Bowsy is an Irish startup offering “practical AI solutions” from workflow automation and internal tools to customer support systems and app prototypes, built by graduate and postgraduate university student teams through a three-phase process: opportunity call, discovery sprint, implementation sprint. It works with platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Zapier, Lovable and Replit.
Who they suit. Irish SMEs that want a lower-cost build of a defined internal tool or automation and are comfortable with a student-team delivery model. The site also lists larger organisations it has worked with, including CRH, Dell and Molson Coors.
How to start. “Book an AI opportunity call”, described as a short call to identify where AI could save time, or email hello@bowsy.ie.
Clear Gate Systems (Cork)
What they do. Clear Gate Systems, operated by Orenda Praxis Limited in Cork, runs an AI readiness assessment made up of a shadow AI audit of the tools already in use, an AI maturity baseline, a data readiness review, a risk and opportunity summary and a prioritised action plan. The assessment is priced from EUR 2,500 at a fixed price agreed upfront, credited in full against its AI Capability Build Programme if you proceed within 60 days. The site notes that eligible businesses may access Enterprise Ireland’s Digital Discovery Grant towards it.
Who they suit. Irish SMEs in any sector where governance, GDPR and AI Act compliance are part of the question, not just automation.
How to start. “The right first step is a conversation”: a free 30-minute AI conversation, or a self-assessment scorecard on the site that takes about six minutes.
Digital Bridge (Gorey, Co. Wexford)
What they do. Digital Bridge is a web and AI agency offering AI chatbot integration, workflow automation, CRM AI integration, customer support automation, document processing, custom AI agents, voice agents and WhatsApp automation, alongside web design and SEO. Its stated model is “fixed scope, fixed price, owned outright”, with no long-term contracts.
Who they suit. SMEs and mid-market organisations “across all 32 counties of Ireland”; the site lists work in environmental services, heating and plumbing, automotive, healthcare, equestrian retail and hospitality. A good fit if you want the website and the automation from the same supplier.
How to start. A free 20-minute consultation, or pick the services you need on the site and fill in your details; the site promises a reply within 24 hours.
Éirím Technology (Ireland)
What they do. Éirím Technology describes itself as “100% Irish Owned” and “vendor agnostic”, offering AI roadmap consultancy and strategy, AI searchability audits (which it calls answer engine optimisation), AI workflow automation, AI training for teams, Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption support and AI readiness assessments. Its positioning is “Practical AI Implementation, Not Hype”.
Who they suit. Irish SMEs and professional services firms, with client examples from professional services, manufacturing, nonprofits and accounting across Dublin, Galway, Cork and Limerick. A natural fit for a Microsoft 365 business that wants Copilot to earn its licence.
How to start. “Book a free 30-minute consultation. We’ll discuss your challenges, explore opportunities, and outline a practical path forward.”
Nostra (Dublin)
What they do. Nostra is an established Irish managed IT provider whose free AI readiness audit delivers, within a week, an opportunity map of the top two or three AI use cases with clear ROI, a risk assessment covering GDPR and governance gaps, an implementation roadmap from pilot to scale, and an executive summary written for a board meeting.
Who they suit. Larger SMEs and mid-sized firms where, in the site’s words, “AI is a board-level priority”; the page speaks to CEOs, CFOs and IT directors and cites work in financial services, healthcare and construction. Probably more structure than a ten-person business needs, and exactly right for a fifty-person one with an IT function.
How to start. The “Book AI Readiness Audit” form, which asks for company size from 1 to 14 up to 100 or more employees. Downloadable checklists are offered for those still evaluating.
Radium Technologies (Dublin)
What they do. Radium has been a managed IT and cyber security provider since 2015, with offices in Sandyford and Fonthill, and now offers “AI Consulting & Automation for Irish SMEs”: AI readiness assessments, configuration of ChatGPT, Claude and Microsoft 365 Copilot, workflow automation, intelligent document processing, AI customer support assistants and AI reporting tools, with an emphasis on AI that is “practical, secure and built around how your business actually works”.
Who they suit. Irish SMEs in ecommerce, marketing agencies, financial services, law, accountancy, healthcare, education and manufacturing, particularly businesses that already have or want a managed IT relationship and care about security first.
How to start. “Book an AI readiness review” through the form on the page, or call and “speak to an AI consultant”.
Square Root Solutions (Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick)
What they do. Square Root Solutions, trading as Smart Stats Ltd, is a software development company offering AI development, generative AI development, AI consulting, AI model training and AI-led product engineering alongside mobile app and web development. Named clients on the site include Setu, Jump Juice, CJ Fallon and Examfly.
Who they suit. Businesses that need a custom AI product or app built rather than an existing tool configured; the site describes its clients as startups and established enterprises in education, healthcare, fintech, ecommerce and travel.
How to start. A free consultation: “Our team will review your requirements and, if needed, sign a mutual NDA”, followed by initial feedback and a proposal with deliverables and timelines.
AI consultants in Ireland compared
| Consultancy | Based | Who it suits | Free first step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clever Merchants (author) | Dublin | Owner-managed businesses of 5 to 50 staff in trades, professional services, ecommerce, manufacturing, agencies | Free 3-minute AI Readiness Review with instant report and follow-up within 24 hours |
| AppAdvisor | Athlone | Irish SMEs and owner-managers in services, manufacturing, retail, food, education, trades | Free 3-minute AI Readiness Assessment with PDF report |
| Artellis | Dublin | Businesses of 10 to 250 people where one workflow costs a day or more a week | 20-minute call with the founder |
| Bowsy | Ireland | SMEs wanting a lower-cost build by student teams | AI opportunity call |
| Clear Gate Systems | Cork | SMEs where governance and compliance are part of the brief | Free 30-minute conversation or 6-minute scorecard; assessment from EUR 2,500 |
| Digital Bridge | Gorey, Wexford | SMEs wanting web and AI automation from one fixed-price supplier | Free 20-minute consultation |
| Éirím Technology | Ireland-wide | SMEs and professional services firms, especially Microsoft 365 users | Free 30-minute consultation |
| Nostra | Dublin | Larger SMEs where AI is a board-level decision | Free AI readiness audit delivered within a week |
| Radium Technologies | Dublin | SMEs that want AI from a security-first managed IT provider | Book an AI readiness review or call |
| Square Root Solutions | Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick | Businesses needing a custom AI product or app built | Free consultation and proposal |
Free and funded options in Ireland
Before paying anyone, an Irish small business has two public supports worth knowing about, both run through the Local Enterprise Office network.
Digital for Business. The Local Enterprise Office describes Digital for Business as an initiative “designed to give Local Enterprise Office clients a digital edge”. It provides expert consultancy covering analysis of the existing digital systems in the business to identify gaps, exploration of opportunities to optimise existing systems and integrate new solutions, and guidance on implementing new or enhanced digital solutions. It is open to small enterprises with between 1 and 50 paid employees, established and trading for at least six months, that are not current Enterprise Ireland or IDA clients, and it is arranged by discussing it with your local office.
Grow Digital Voucher. The Grow Digital Voucher funds 50% of eligible costs up to EUR 5,000, with a minimum grant of EUR 500, for businesses of 1 to 50 employees that have completed a Digital for Business project within the previous two years. Eligible spend is software new to the business for up to one year, including ecommerce platforms, CRM systems, online booking tools, accounting software and “analytics software (including AI systems)”, plus training and IT configuration at no more than 50% of the total project cost. A maximum of two vouchers, totalling EUR 5,000, can be approved, and the application must be submitted before any project expenditure is incurred.
Neither support is specific to AI, and neither replaces a consultant who will build something for you. But a business that goes through Digital for Business first arrives at any consultancy on this list with its systems mapped and half of its first software spend potentially covered. We are not a Local Enterprise Office panel consultant; your local office will tell you who is.
How do you choose between AI consultants in Ireland?
Choose the consultancy whose first step costs you least, whose deliverable you can picture, and who will tell you the price after looking at your systems.
Every owner I talk to asks the same three questions before saying yes: what will this actually save me, what does it cost, and will it work in my kind of business. Use them as the filter. A consultancy that cannot name the workflow it would build for you in the first conversation has not understood your business yet. One that quotes a price before seeing your systems is guessing. One that has never worked in your sector will spend your money learning it.
The market rates for each type of engagement, in USD and EUR with named sources, are in our guide to how much an AI consultant costs. The short version for Ireland: a basic audit from EUR 750 to 1,500 where it is charged at all, one workflow from EUR 2,500 to 10,000, and ongoing support from EUR 750 a month, based on the prices Tús AI and Hibernia AI publish.
Take two or three free first steps from the table above and compare what comes back. If the same workflow is named twice, that is the one to build first.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the best AI consultants for small businesses in Ireland?
The consultancies above all work with small businesses in Ireland, state what they deliver and offer a clear first step; which is best depends on whether you need one workflow built, an audit, a governance review or a custom product. The comparison table matches each one to the kind of business it suits.
How much does an AI consultant cost in Ireland?
Irish consultancies that publish prices, such as Tús AI and Hibernia AI, charge roughly EUR 750 to 1,500 for a basic audit, EUR 2,500 to 10,000 for one workflow and from EUR 750 a month for ongoing support. Our AI consultant cost guide covers the full range with sources, and our own first step is free.
Is there a free AI audit for small businesses in Ireland?
Yes. Clever Merchants’ AI Readiness Review, AppAdvisor’s AI Readiness Assessment and Nostra’s AI readiness audit are all free, and several others offer a free 20 to 30 minute call. The Local Enterprise Office’s Digital for Business support also provides consultancy on your digital systems for eligible businesses with 1 to 50 employees.
Can I get a grant for AI consulting in Ireland?
The Grow Digital Voucher funds 50% of eligible costs up to EUR 5,000 for businesses that have completed a Digital for Business project in the previous two years, and analytics software including AI systems is on the eligible list, with training and configuration capped at half the project. Whether a particular consultancy engagement qualifies is for your Local Enterprise Office to decide, and you must apply before spending.
What should a small business in Ireland ask an AI consultant before hiring one?
Ask what exactly will exist in your business when they finish, what it connects to, what it costs to run each month and what happens when it breaks. A consultancy that answers all four plainly, and can point to a real result for a business like yours, is one you can work with.
The free first step with us is the AI Readiness Review: six questions, about three minutes, and an instant report naming the two or three AI workflows that would save a business like yours the most time. I read every one and follow up personally within 24 hours. Take it, then compare notes with anyone else on this list.
