AI is not just for big tech companies. In 2026, small businesses will happily pay you if you can automate boring tasks for them using tools you already know: WordPress, forms, APIs and VPS hosting.
Here is a realistic step‑by‑step plan to reach your first $1,000/month with AI automation services.
Step 1: Pick One Painful Problem
Don’t promise “AI for everything”. Focus on one clear problem that costs businesses time and money, for example:
- Slow, inconsistent response to website leads
- Repetitive answers to FAQ‑style emails
- No follow‑up after someone fills a form
Step 2: Turn It into a Clear Offer
Example offer:
“I set up an AI assistant that replies instantly to your web leads, asks smart questions, and books calls directly into your calendar.”
The value is obvious: faster replies, fewer lost leads, more booked calls.
Step 3: Choose a Simple Stack
You can combine:
- WordPress + contact form plugin
- An automation tool to send data to an AI model
- Email or CRM for storing lead data
- Calendars for booking calls
You don’t need custom code to start. Your main job is to make the workflow stable and safe.
Step 4: Build a Live Demo
Create a demo on a subdomain of shofik.com or s2bd.com:
- Simple landing page describing the AI assistant
- Contact form connected to your automation
- AI reply that welcomes the user, asks 3–5 questions, and offers a link to book a call
Now you can show prospects a real system instead of just explaining an idea.
Step 5: Get 3–5 Clients
Pitch local businesses, agencies and service providers:
- “You are losing leads when you reply late. I can set up an AI assistant that answers instantly 24/7.”
- Offer a small fixed setup fee + monthly maintenance.
Step 6: Standardize & Scale
Use templates for prompts, forms and follow‑up emails. Document your steps once and reuse them for every new client. This is how your margins grow without more hours.
Step 7: Let AI Help You Deliver Faster
Use AI to:
- Generate proposal drafts
- Write client documentation
- Create troubleshooting guides
The Math to $1,000/Month
Example pricing:
- $250 setup per client
- $100/month maintenance per client
With 4 clients you already reach $1,000 in the first month (setup + recurring). After that, the monthly fees alone bring steady income.
You don’t need a giant SaaS to win with AI. You need a simple, clear service that solves one expensive problem very well.