AI for Family Businesses: Where to Start (esp. if you’re not techie)

Naomh McElhatton
Aug 5
2 min read

Running a family business means wearing multiple hats, from quoting and managing suppliers to keeping clients happy and projects on track. With only a small number of people on your team, you probably don’t have time to explore the latest tech trends. But you keep hearing about AI and wondering:

“Is this something we actually need to care about?”

The short answer? Yes, but only if it helps your business!

The good news is, AI doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. And no, you don’t need a data scientist on your payroll. What you do need is a clear starting point and a team willing to explore.

So Where Do You Start?

Here’s how to begin, without feeling overwhelmed:

1. Start with your pain points, not the tech

Forget the AI hype for a moment. Look at your business processes and ask:

What tasks are repetitive and eat up time?
Where do errors happen often (e.g. quotes, timesheets, materials tracking)?
What could we do better if we had more time or data?

AI works best when it solves real, everyday problems. You don’t need to reinvent your business, just improve how it runs.

2. Try one tool (and keep it simple)

You don’t need to “install AI.” You just need to try a tool that helps.

Here are a few practical options:

ChatGPT: Can help write quotes, respond to emails, create job descriptions, or simplify technical documents.
Otter.ai: Automatically transcribes meetings or site updates - no more scribbling notes.
Scribe: Records your screen to automatically generate process documents or how-to guides for the team.
Dext or AutoEntry: Uses AI to capture and organise receipts or invoices, cutting down admin.

Pick one tool. Use it for a week. See what happens.

How to Bring Your Team Along

Change, even helpful change, can be uncomfortable. Here’s how to get buy-in from your people:

Talk about the “why”

Frame AI as a tool to support, not replace. You’re not bringing in robots, you’re looking at ways to make everyone’s job easier, safer, or more efficient.

Get input from the team

Ask them what slows them down. Where do they waste time? What bugs them about current systems? These are your biggest opportunities for AI.

Start small, share wins

When someone saves 2 hours using a tool, celebrate it. It builds trust and momentum. Keep the focus on what’s working.

You don’t need to be an expert to start using AI. You just need to be curious, open-minded, and focused on real business value. The first step is small and it starts with a conversation.

At the Business of AI Club, we help small businesses like yours get started without the jargon. Want help figuring out your first move?training@businessofai.club