AI affects small businesses primarily by automating time-consuming tasks that the owner or a small team currently handles manually: scheduling, invoicing, customer inquiries, social media, bookkeeping, and email. The most accessible entry point is using AI assistants (Claude, ChatGPT) for drafting emails, proposals, and content. The next step is automating a specific workflow — for example, using AI to qualify incoming leads before they reach a salesperson. The cost is typically $20-$200/month for individual AI tools. The ROI comes from time saved: if AI saves an owner 10 hours per week on administrative tasks, that time can go to revenue-generating work.