What does AI automation cost in 2026? Honest prices and math
Published on Updated on by Nicolaas Sterenborg
AI automation in 2026 roughly costs one of two things: a ready-made subscription from €79 per month with setup up to €250, or custom work from €2,500 to €15,000+ one-off plus optional management. The right choice depends on how standard your process is — and with a sound business case, payback usually lands within six to twelve months.
What determines the price of AI automation?
Three factors set virtually the entire price. First, the number of systems to connect: a bot that only reads your calendar is simpler than a workflow running through CRM, accounting and planning. Second, the number of steps and exceptions: "send every quote a reminder after three days" is small; "assess every inquiry, enrich it, route it and escalate edge cases" is big. Third, security and scale requirements — an internal tool for five people demands less than a client portal serving thousands.
What does ready-made versus custom cost?
Ready-made AI solutions — like the voicebots and chat agents our sister label Surge Agent rents out — cost €0 to €250 in setup and a fixed monthly rent of €79 to €249 per bot; a complete bundle including a website runs €995 setup plus €595 per month there. Custom work at Van Borg starts at €2,500 for a first workflow project, €3,500–€4,500 for custom agents and voicebots, and from €15,000 for a full platform.
The rule of thumb: if a standard solution covers 80% or more of your process, take the subscription. If your process is your competitive edge, or real integration and logic are needed, custom work earns itself back in precision and ownership.
What does automation return?
A simple calculation we run in every business case: hours of repetitive work per week × hourly cost × automatable percentage × 46 working weeks. A team spending 20 hours a week on re-typing, following up and reporting, at €45 per hour and 50% automatable, leaves over €20,000 a year on the table — before counting faster response times and fewer errors.
The potential is not a niche story. McKinsey estimated back in 2023 that generative AI could add $2.6 to $4.4 trillion per year in value globally, and that 60 to 70 percent of current working time consists of activities automatable with existing technology (source: McKinsey, "The economic potential of generative AI", 2023).
When is automating not worth it?
Honestly: sometimes the math doesn't work. A process that occurs once a month, changes constantly, or where every case is unique won't automate profitably. And if the underlying way of working is messy: fix the process first, then the technology. In our strategy call we'll simply say so when building is a bad idea.
Frequently asked questions
What is the payback period of AI automation?
With a sound business case, usually six to twelve months. A €5,000 automation saving €800 per month in labor time pays for itself in just over half a year; everything after that is return.
Are there hidden costs?
Not with us: every phase has a fixed price and the proposal states running costs (hosting, AI usage, management) explicitly. For custom work, expect €99–€499 per month for management if you outsource it — cancellable monthly.
Can I test small first?
Yes. Start with the one workflow or bot where the pain is biggest, or begin with a ready-made subscription via Surge Agent from €79 per month and switch to custom once you outgrow it.