Two common first engagement types in the AI consulting world. They sound similar; they produce very different outputs. If you are choosing between them, here's what each actually delivers and which is right for you.
These aren't competing packages, they're sequential ones. An AI Audit is a five-day diagnostic: I look at your current stack, workflows, team, and revenue engine, and I write you a specific report on what AI can meaningfully change in the next 90 days and what it can't. It's $1,500, one-time, delivered as a written document, and that fee credits toward any ongoing engagement. AI Strategy is the ongoing engagement: fractional CMO, embedded operator, or productized subscription. It's the work of actually building and running the plan once we know what the plan should be. If you already know what you want to build, skip the audit. If you're trying to figure out whether AI moves your specific numbers, start with the audit.
If you are a $5M-$50M B2B company that has not deployed AI yet: start with the audit. The strategy adds delay; the audit causes action.
If you are an enterprise considering multi-year AI investments across business units: an AI strategy may be warranted, particularly if board narrative matters.
If you are about to raise capital and investors want to see an AI thesis: a strategy engagement may pay for itself in pitch credibility.
Sometimes. Most good firms include strategic framing in their audit deliverable. Pure strategy engagements often skip the actionable roadmap, which is the part you actually need.
Audit: 1-3 weeks. Strategy: 6-12 weeks.
Audit: \$1.5K-\$15K. Strategy: \$15K-\$80K.
Most $5M-$50M companies need only the audit. Enterprises sometimes need both.
Treetop's free AI Tool Stack Auditor surfaces overlap, gaps, and savings in a 3-minute review. Or skip to the full $1,500 AI Audit for a written recommendation.