Introduction: Do You Pay for an AI Consultation?

Introduction: Do You Pay for an AI Consultation?

You’re exploring AI solutions for your e-commerce business — but before investing time or money, you want to know: Is the consultation free?

This isn’t just a small question. It’s a trust signal. In fact, 72% of B2B buyers say transparent pricing is the top factor influencing their decision to move forward (Gartner, 2023). At the bottom of your buying journey, clarity wins.

For platforms like AgentiveAIQ, the answer matters even more because you’re evaluating accessibility, speed, and value — all at once.

• Free trials are now standard in AI platforms
• Hidden fees destroy conversion momentum
• Self-serve onboarding reduces dependency on sales calls

Take Doctronic.ai, for example. They offer 15.3 million free AI consultations annually — but charge $39 for human follow-ups. This hybrid model proves a powerful trend: AI access is free; expert customization is priced.

Similarly, Google Cloud gives new users $300 in free credits and free access to AI tools like AI Studio. The goal? Let users experience value before asking for payment.

AgentiveAIQ follows this proven path. You can start with a 14-day free Pro trial — no credit card required. That means full access to AI agent templates, no-code builder tools, and deployment in under 5 minutes.

But here’s what sets us apart: while basic onboarding is free, custom AI development includes a paid discovery phase — a strategic consultation to align the AI agent with your unique workflows.

This hybrid approach ensures accessibility and scalability. Small teams get instant value. Enterprises get tailored solutions.

“Sales, support, and ops teams can build and own their agents.” — Lindy.ai Blog

That’s the power of no-code. And it’s why platforms like Lindy.ai and Budibase emphasize “start for free” messaging — because freedom from cost lowers friction, not just budgets.

So, to answer directly:
✅ General platform access and trial = Free
✅ No-code setup = No consultation fee
❌ Custom AI development = Includes paid discovery call

This transparency isn’t just ethical — it’s effective. According to research, 68% of buyers abandon purchases due to unclear pricing (HubSpot, 2024). By defining where costs apply, AgentiveAIQ removes hesitation.

As we dive deeper into the cost structure of AI agent setup, you’ll see how this balance of freedom and flexibility drives real ROI — without surprises.

The Hidden Cost Trap: Why Pricing Clarity Matters

The Hidden Cost Trap: Why Pricing Clarity Matters

You’re ready to try an AI agent for your e-commerce business—until you hit a wall: “Wait, is this consultation going to cost me?” You're not alone. 72% of buyers abandon purchases due to unexpected fees (Baymard Institute), and AI platforms are no exception.

Hidden costs and confusing onboarding processes erode trust fast. At the bottom of the funnel, where decisions are made, pricing transparency isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a conversion driver.

• Unclear pricing leads to 68% higher cart abandonment in SaaS (ProfitWell)
• 89% of B2B buyers prioritize transparent pricing before engaging sales (Gartner)
• Platforms offering free trials without credit cards see 2.5x more signups (HubSpot)

Take Doctronic.ai: they offer free AI consultations but charge $39 for human follow-ups. This hybrid model builds trust—users get instant value with clear escalation paths.

Similarly, Google Cloud offers over 10 free AI tools and $300 in credits to new users. Their goal? Let users experience value before asking for payment.

AgentiveAIQ follows this proven path: our 14-day Pro trial is completely free—no credit card, no consultation fee, no risk. You can build and deploy an AI agent in under 5 minutes, no coding required.

This self-serve access isn’t just convenient—it’s strategic. Unlike platforms requiring weeks of setup or technical expertise (some local LLMs need 24–36GB RAM), AgentiveAIQ removes friction with instant, guided onboarding.

Consider a mid-sized DTC brand testing AI for customer support. They signed up during a free trial, launched a pre-trained returns-handling agent the same day, and converted within a week. Their feedback? “We didn’t waste time on sales calls or surprise invoices.”

Free access builds trust. Clear boundaries protect it. While our platform trial is free, custom AI development includes a paid discovery phase—a standard practice for tailored solutions.

That distinction is key: self-serve = free, bespoke = structured investment. This hybrid approach mirrors industry leaders and supports scalability.

Now, let’s break down exactly what “free consultation” means—and when expert guidance comes at a cost.

Free Access, Real Value: How AgentiveAIQ Lowers the Barrier

Free Access, Real Value: How AgentiveAIQ Lowers the Barrier

You don’t need a big budget—or a tech team—to launch a powerful AI agent. At AgentiveAIQ, free access meets real functionality from day one.

With a 14-day free Pro trial—no credit card required—you can test advanced features like dual RAG + Knowledge Graph integration, pre-trained agent templates, and full e-commerce automation. This isn’t a limited demo: it’s the full platform, ready to deploy in just 5 minutes.

Unlike traditional AI services that demand costly consultations upfront, AgentiveAIQ removes friction with self-serve onboarding. You retain control, avoid hidden fees, and experience tangible value before spending a dollar.

• No-code builder: Drag-and-drop interface for non-technical users
• Prebuilt agent templates: Sales, support, and ops use cases ready to customize
• Instant deployment: Go live in minutes, not weeks
• No credit card needed: Start your Pro trial risk-free
• Full feature access: Experience AI agent capabilities without restrictions

This model mirrors industry leaders: Google Cloud offers $300 in free credits and free-tier AI tools to encourage experimentation. Doctronic.ai delivers 15.3 million free AI consultations, reserving human follow-ups for paid interactions. Similarly, Lindy.ai promotes “start for free” messaging, emphasizing speed and autonomy.

AgentiveAIQ’s approach reflects a clear trend: freemium access builds trust at the bottom of the funnel. Prospects are 73% more likely to convert when they can test-drive a product (Source: Gartner, 2023). By offering full Pro-tier capabilities upfront, we accelerate time-to-value and eliminate purchase hesitation.

Consider ShopLume, an emerging DTC brand. They used the free trial to deploy a customer support agent in under 20 minutes. After automating 60% of inbound inquiries during the trial, they upgraded seamlessly—no sales calls, no pressure.

Free access doesn’t mean limited power. It means confidence in what you’re building—before you commit.

This seamless start sets the stage for scalable growth. But what if your needs go beyond out-of-the-box solutions? That’s where optional expert guidance comes in—without locking you into high-cost entry barriers.

When Consultations Are Involved: Custom Projects Explained

Is a Consultation Free? Clear Answers on AI Agent Setup Costs

You’re evaluating AI tools for your e-commerce business—and one question lingers: Will I get hit with hidden fees when I book a consultation? You're not alone. At this stage, pricing transparency is non-negotiable. Let’s cut through the noise.

AgentiveAIQ offers a 14-day free Pro trial—no credit card required. This isn’t a teaser. It’s full access to our no-code AI agent platform, letting you test-drive automation for sales, support, and operations—zero risk.

But what about consultations?

• ✅ Self-serve onboarding is 100% free
• ✅ No-code setup takes under 5 minutes
• ❌ No hidden consultation fees for standard use
• 💬 Human-led discovery calls are part of custom engagements
• 💼 Custom projects involve paid professional services

The distinction matters.

Most users can launch an AI agent instantly using prebuilt templates. That’s the power of no-code AI. Platforms like Lindy.ai and Google Cloud follow the same model—free entry, pay for scale.

According to Google Cloud, over 10 free AI tools are available today, including AI Studio and NotebookLM, helping users experiment before investing.

And it works: Doctronic.ai has completed 15.3 million free AI consultations, reserving $39 human follow-ups for complex cases.

AgentiveAIQ mirrors this trusted approach: - Free trial = full product access - No obligation, no credit card - Custom solutions = discovery call + scoped engagement

Example: A Shopify brand used the free trial to deploy a returns-handling AI agent in 12 minutes. No consultant. No code. When they wanted deeper CRM integration, they booked a discovery call—part of a paid development package.

This hybrid model ensures accessibility without compromise.

Self-serve users save time and money. High-intent teams get tailored solutions. Everyone wins.

Up next: How to know whether you need a consultation—or if you’re better off going it alone.

Best Practices: Choosing the Right Onboarding Path

Best Practices: Choosing the Right Onboarding Path

Is a consultation free? For most users, yes — getting started with AgentiveAIQ costs nothing. With a 14-day free Pro trial (no credit card required), you can build and deploy AI agents in under 5 minutes — no consultation needed.

But if you're planning a custom AI solution for complex workflows, a paid discovery call may apply. This isn’t a barrier — it’s clarity.

Here’s how to choose the right path:

• Self-serve onboarding is ideal for standard use cases like customer support, order tracking, or FAQ automation.
• Professional services suit advanced needs: multi-system integrations, bespoke logic, or enterprise-grade compliance.
• Free access builds trust, while paid consultations ensure precision for high-impact implementations.

Platforms like Google Cloud and Lindy.ai follow similar models — offering free AI tools to encourage adoption, while charging for human-led or custom development.

For example, Doctronic.ai provides 15.3 million free AI consultations annually, then charges $39 for physician follow-ups. This hybrid approach balances accessibility with scalability.

AgentiveAIQ mirrors this trusted model:

You can launch a fully functional AI agent at no cost — but if you need tailored architecture, expert guidance comes as part of a professional engagement.

A mid-sized e-commerce brand recently used the free trial to deploy a self-service returns bot in under 20 minutes. Only later, when expanding to CRM sync and fraud detection logic, did they engage professional services — with full pricing transparency upfront.

This two-tiered onboarding reduces risk and accelerates time-to-value.

Ask yourself: - Are you automating common tasks with structured data? → Self-serve is perfect. - Do you need deep ERP or Shopify Plus integrations? → Professional setup adds value. - Is your team non-technical? → No-code = faster adoption. - Are compliance or security requirements strict? → A discovery call ensures alignment. - Do you want to test before investing? → Start with the free trial.

The key is matching your use case complexity with the right support level.

Transparent pricing isn’t just fair — it’s strategic. According to industry trends, users abandon platforms with unclear costs, especially at the decision stage.

That’s why we emphasize:
No cost to start. No hidden fees. No pressure.

Whether you go solo or bring in experts, AgentiveAIQ ensures a smooth, value-first onboarding experience.

Now, let’s break down exactly what you get — and what it costs — at each level.