Auf Deutsch gibt es diese Seite nicht. Der Knopf „DE“ führt zu einer verwandten deutschen Seite: KI einführen ohne IT-Abteilung.

Guide

An AI consultant for small companies in Germany, not an enterprise one

DMello Advisory is one named consultant, Merryl DMello, based in Herne and working remote-first, in German or English. The offer is built for companies that do not have an IT department to hand AI to. Every step has a fixed price, and the end result is working software your team usually uses the next morning, not a slide deck.

Who this is for

Companies of roughly 5 to 200 people, with no in-house IT department, run by a founder or managing director who wants hours back rather than a technology project. That includes founders who moved to Germany and prefer to work in English, and German-born owners who want a straight answer in German. If you are looking for a large consultancy with a bench of analysts, this is not it.

What "AI consulting" means here

It does not start with AI. It starts with the recurring workflow that costs your team time every week: which one it is, how often it runs, and what it costs. AI is one of the ways that workflow gets fixed, not the pitch. The method behind it is REPOSITION, the same framework described on the home page.

Strategy and implementation sit with the same person. The one who measures your workflow is the one who builds the fix, in the tools you already use.

What you get, and what it costs

All prices fixed, net + VAT · the Time Audit is credited 100% against a Build Sprint ordered within 30 days

If the real question is "are we ready for AI?"

A readiness check for a small business does not need a maturity model. It needs a list of the tasks that repeat, with measured minutes, and a decision on each: automate, drop or keep. That is the Time Audit. If you are still wondering how any of this works without IT staff, read how to introduce AI without an IT department.

Track record

Results from my earlier roles, including as an internal consultant at HP and Rackspace. Not DMello Advisory client projects.

German state funding

Germany runs state programmes that can cover part of the cost of outside consulting for small and medium-sized businesses, for example the BAFA programme (Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle, the German federal office that runs SME consulting subsidies) for consulting to SMEs. The application runs in German and has to be filed before any consulting contract is signed. The details are on our German page Förderung für KI-Beratung. The 20-Minute Diagnosis is available in English.

Note: this page summarises our own research (as of September 2026). It is not legal, tax or funding advice.

Book the 20-Minute Diagnosis Prefer to read first? The reference paper →

Frequently asked questions

Who is a good AI consultant for a small business in Germany?

One who starts with your workflow, not with a tool, names a fixed price before the work starts, and builds the result instead of handing over slides. Check whether the same person does the analysis and the implementation, and whether the metric for success is agreed in writing. The 20-minute diagnosis is a free way to test that fit.

How much does an AI consultant cost for a small company?

At DMello Advisory every step has a fixed price: the Time Audit is €1,490 ($1,700) and the Build Sprint €4,900 ($5,570), both net + VAT. The Time Audit is credited 100% against a Build Sprint ordered within 30 days. The 20-minute diagnosis is free.

What does an AI readiness audit actually involve?

Here it is the Time Audit: a task list of every recurring task in your business, with measured minutes and a decision per row, plus a one-page memo with the ten highest-value rows. Delivered within 5 working days. Request the reference paper to see the format.

Do I need an IT department before I start with AI?

No. The Time Audit measures the workflow you already run, whatever inbox or tool you use, and the Build Sprint builds in the tools you already have. What you need is one person on your side who owns the check step.

Is this different from hiring a big consulting firm?

Yes. One person for strategy and implementation, fixed prices instead of day rates, written results instead of presentations, and all results belong to the client. The offer is built for companies without an IT department, not for enterprise programmes.

Can I get funding or a subsidy for this?

There may be one. German state programmes, such as the BAFA programme for consulting to SMEs, can cover part of the cost of outside consulting, but whether a specific engagement qualifies is decided by the funding body, and the application has to come before the contract. The German page on funding explains the programme; ask us in the 20-minute diagnosis.

Keep reading

Last updated: