September 15, 2025
10 Things Every Small Business Owner Should Know About AI
By Aaron Seelye
If you’ve been hearing about artificial intelligence (AI) and thinking, “That’s for tech giants, not for me,” you’re not alone. A lot of small business owners feel like AI is something futuristic, expensive, or way too complicated.
The truth? AI has quietly become one of the most practical tools a small business can use. It’s less about robots and more about saving time, cutting costs, and keeping customers happy. Think of it like adding an extra employee who never takes a vacation, doesn’t need benefits, and can handle the repetitive stuff so you and your team can focus on the real work.
Here are 10 things every small business owner should know about AI:
1. AI isn’t just for big business anymore
Not long ago, only companies with massive budgets could afford AI. Now, affordable tools put the same capabilities within reach of any shop, service company, or nonprofit.
2. You’re already using AI (even if you don’t realize it)
Ever used predictive text when writing an email? Or noticed QuickBooks automatically categorizing expenses? That’s AI. You’ve already dipped your toe in the water, you just may not have called it that.
3. AI comes in three main flavors
For small businesses, AI usually shows up in one of three ways:
- Automation (handling repetitive tasks like scheduling, invoicing, or reminders)
- Customer-facing (chat, phone answering, bilingual support)
- Decision support (spotting trends in sales, costs, or operations)
4. Start small, not big
You don’t need to launch a massive AI project. Pick one nagging problem. Maybe missed calls, slow follow-ups, or repetitive paperwork, and automate that. The early wins build momentum and confidence.
5. AI saves money by saving time
AI isn’t about flashy tech. It’s about efficiency. If your staff spends 10 hours a week on manual work that can be automated, that’s 40 hours a month! Essentially, a full week of wages you’re paying for no reason.
6. It won’t replace your staff; it will empower them
AI isn’t here to take jobs away. It’s here to handle the low-value tasks that drag people down. That frees up your team to focus on customer relationships, sales, and skilled work.
7. Customer expectations are changing
Customers want faster responses, around-the-clock service, and sometimes bilingual help. AI can bridge those gaps so you look bigger and more responsive than you are, without adding headcount.
8. Security and privacy still matter
Just because something is new doesn’t mean you throw caution out the window. Small businesses should know the basics: don’t feed sensitive customer data into public tools, and make sure any AI service you use respects privacy.
9. You don’t need to be “techy” to benefit
Today’s AI tools are designed for regular business owners, not programmers. Many are as simple as flipping a switch or dragging and dropping. You don’t need to know how the engine works to drive the car.
10. Early adopters win
History shows that businesses who adapt first tend to gain an edge. The same will be true with AI. If you wait until “everyone is doing it,” you’ll already be behind.
Wrapping It Up
AI isn’t a science project anymore, it’s a practical tool for saving time, reducing costs, and growing your business! You don’t need a big budget or a tech team to start. You just need to take the first step.
At MDO, we help local businesses cut through the hype and find practical uses of AI that save hours, reduce stress, and improve margins. If you’re curious what that could look like for your business, let’s talk.
Next up in this series: How Automation Buys You Back Time.