What Should Business Automation Cost?

The useful question is not "How much does automation cost?" It is "What would it take to fix this specific job, and is that worth it?"

What we charge

At Next 12, a workflow automation is typically $1,000 to $10,000 CAD per project. A custom app is quoted separately. A straightforward workflow with clear rules and one or two systems sits at a different end of the range from a build with several integrations, messy inputs and lots of exceptions.

We agree on the scope and price before building. You pay 50% when you approve the quote and the other 50% after you sign off on the finished build. Third-party software and usage fees are extra. Ongoing support is optional and priced before launch.

What moves the price

• How many systems need to talk to each other, and whether they provide reliable access.
• How many exceptions the workflow needs to handle.
• How much information arrives as free-form emails, documents or images.
• What needs human review, testing and support after launch.

The price follows the actual work. "Use AI" is not a scope.

What should you compare it with?

Time the task as it runs today. Count how often it happens, who does it and the time spent correcting errors. Estimate how much of that work a build could realistically remove. Then compare the annual value of those hours with the build, usage and support costs.

If a ready-made tool already solves the problem, use it. If the process is specific to how your company operates, a custom workflow may make more sense. See ten projects with prices or book a call to get a number for yours.