Ideas to get your hours back.

Short, plain-English guides on automation, AI and software for small businesses. Written by me, Ali. No jargon, no hype.

LatestMoney30 October 2026

How much does business automation really cost in 2026?

Real numbers, not 'it depends'. What you pay to build an automation, what it costs to run each month, and how to tell if it's worth it for your business.

Read the guide

Money29 October 2026
7 questions to ask before you hire a developer or agency
Hiring someone to build software for your business? Ask these seven questions first. The answers tell you more than any portfolio.
4 min read
AI27 October 2026
How we built an AI agent that uses a web browser
A behind-the-scenes look at building an AI that clicks, reads and types in a real browser, and the three design choices that made it something you can actually trust.
4 min read
AI24 October 2026
I run a small business. Can AI actually answer my customers?
An honest look at what AI does well with customer messages, where it still gets things wrong, and a safe way to start without risking your reputation.
4 min read
Guides22 October 2026
Spreadsheet chaos? 6 signs it's time to move off Google Sheets
Spreadsheets are great until they aren't. Six clear signs your business has outgrown them, and what to move to next without a painful switch.
4 min read
Guides20 October 2026
Why most automation projects fail (and how to avoid it)
Automation doesn't usually fail because of the technology. It fails because of five very human mistakes. Here they are, and how to avoid each one.
4 min read
Guides17 October 2026
Your team is drowning in email. Here's the 3-step fix.
Shared inboxes get messy fast. Here's a simple 3-step way to sort, route and answer email automatically, so nothing important gets missed again.
3 min read
Money15 October 2026
Zapier vs Make vs custom code: which one should you pay for?
An honest, plain-English comparison from someone who builds automations for a living. Which is easiest, which is cheapest as you grow, and when custom code is worth it.
4 min read
Guides13 October 2026
The 15-minute test: is this task worth automating?
Not every task should be automated. Score any job in your business in 15 minutes with this simple checklist, and find out if automation will pay off.
4 min read
Money10 October 2026
How to stop chasing invoices: a simple automation
Late payments eat your time and your cash flow. Here is a simple automation that sends invoices and polite reminders for you, using the tools you already have.
3 min read
AI8 October 2026
Automation vs AI: what's the difference, and which do you need?
Automation follows rules. AI handles judgment. Here is a plain-English guide to the difference, with real examples, so you know what your business actually needs.
3 min read
Guides6 October 2026
5 tasks every small business should automate first
Not sure where to start with automation? These five jobs save the most time for the least effort, and work for almost any team of 5 to 50 people.
3 min read

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Ideas to get your hours back.

How much does business automation really cost in 2026?

7 questions to ask before you hire a developer or agency

How we built an AI agent that uses a web browser

I run a small business. Can AI actually answer my customers?

Spreadsheet chaos? 6 signs it's time to move off Google Sheets

Why most automation projects fail (and how to avoid it)

Your team is drowning in email. Here's the 3-step fix.

Zapier vs Make vs custom code: which one should you pay for?

The 15-minute test: is this task worth automating?

How to stop chasing invoices: a simple automation

Automation vs AI: what's the difference, and which do you need?

5 tasks every small business should automate first