AI Tools for Small Businesses

Artificial intelligence is reshaping everyday business tasks. These breakthroughs are more and more accessible, especially for smaller companies. In fact, 83% of small business owners plan to adopt AI solutions within the next year (according to Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council). Another study reveals that AI usage nearly doubled for small businesses from 2023 to early 2025, with nearly 39% of respondents using AI in some capacity within their business (Forbes).

The numbers point to a clear trend: now is an opportune moment to explore AI as a way to boost efficiency, conserve resources, and strengthen competitive advantage. The sections ahead outline why AI makes sense for smaller businesses and highlight tools with particular strengths in areas such as marketing, customer service, and recruiting.

Why AI Matters For Smaller Firms

AI is no longer just for large enterprises. Recent data shows its practicality for smaller organisations too. A 2025 Salesforce report found that more than 75% of small and medium-sized businesses already use AI technologies.

AI can also help address challenges like rising labour costs and staff shortages by handling routine tasks such as data entry or first-round customer queries. Rather than replacing people, these platforms take on repetitive work, freeing employees to focus on higher-value projects. For a broader perspective on how AI fits into daily operations, see the overview on AI in Business.

Top 12 AI Tools To Try

Below is a curated list of AI platforms suited for smaller companies. 

1. HubSpot

For an all-in-one platform that covers marketing, sales, and customer relationship management, HubSpot stands out. Its free tier makes it easy to experiment before committing, with features for lead tracking, automated email campaigns, and engagement measurement. The platform also includes an AI-powered chatbot for handling basic customer queries, reducing inbound requests so teams can focus on more complex tasks.

• Free tier suitable for lean teams
• Marketing automation and CRM in a single dashboard
• AI-powered insights to fine-tune campaigns
• Ideal For: Startups looking for a robust marketing tool that scales

You can learn more about chat automation in our article on AI Chatbots, which covers how these systems transform customer interactions.

2. Salesforce Einstein

Salesforce Einstein is the AI extension of the popular Salesforce CRM platform. It can predict customer behaviour, offers personalised product recommendations, and automates lead scoring. Instead of spending time on unqualified leads, salespeople can concentrate on hot prospects with a higher chance of conversion.

• Predictive analytics for targeted selling
• Scalable solutions as the company grows
• Automated lead-scoring system to save time
• Ideal For: Sales-driven businesses that need deeper insight into their pipelines

When combined with advanced data insights, Salesforce Einstein can offer a leg up in competitive markets. 

3. Madgicx

Madgicx focuses on bridging knowledge gaps in Meta (Facebook and Instagram) advertising. Businesses that lack the resources to run effective social campaigns Madgicx uses AI to spot top-performing ad elements and optimise audience targeting.

• Automated ad scaling for Facebook and Instagram
• AI-driven creative insights to refine design choices
• Easy-to-use analytics dashboards
• Ideal For: Teams that want to improve results from Meta ads without spending huge amounts on trial and error

Madgicx can dramatically reduce the time spent on ad management, helping small businesses produce professional campaigns even if they lack a dedicated marketing team. If you’re interested in broader digital advertising strategies, check out AI And Advertising for more ideas.

4. Zendesk

Zendesk is widely used for simplifying customer support. Its AI-enabled features include automated ticket classification and suggested responses, which help agents reply more quickly. As a business grows, Zendesk can manage higher ticket volumes without requiring a proportional increase in support staff.

• AI-powered routing to get each query to the right agent
• Scalable solutions for expanding startups
• Unified platform for phone, chat, and email support
• Ideal For: Customer-facing businesses seeking quick, professional helpdesk operations

Studies show that roughly 84% of support representatives state AI makes it easier to prioritise tickets (HubSpot). For more detail on how AI refines customer experiences, our piece on AI In Customer Support might be a good resource.

5. Jotform AI Agents

Jotform AI Agents act as automated workflow assistants that go beyond basic chatbots. They connect directly with existing forms to capture data and guide people smoothly through sign-ups, surveys, or orders. These agents can be embedded into a website, shared via QR code, or deployed across messaging platforms, making them highly versatile for different customer touchpoints.

• Automated data handling for streamlined workflows
• Real-time guidance for website visitors
• Adaptable to different channels (web, QR codes, messaging apps)
• Ideal For: Businesses wanting smooth, self-service options for customers

These AI Agents can shave considerable time off manual customer onboarding. 

6. Kipwise

Kipwise is a knowledge management tool that leverages AI to keep internal documentation organised. That means faster onboarding for new hires and fewer repetitive questions for managers.

• Smooth search and organisation of team knowledge
• Powerful integrations with messaging apps like Slack
• Automated suggestions for relevant knowledge articles
• Ideal For: Growing teams that need to store and share internal expertise efficiently

Kipwise specifically caters to smaller teams looking for easy setup (Kipwise). If you want to dig deeper into systems that help coordinate tasks, see Productivity Tools for additional ways to boost team efficiency.

7. Mailmodo

Mailmodo specialises in AI-powered email marketing, offering easy-to-use campaign tools, automation triggers, and real-time performance tracking. A notable feature is its AI email template generator, which creates polished layouts even without design expertise. By streamlining the process, Mailmodo saves time and reduces the need to manually adjust complex templates.

• AI-assisted email template creation for quick campaigns
• Automated triggers for personalised email flows
• Advanced analytics to refine messaging
• Ideal For: Businesses wanting to optimise email outreach while saving on design resources

Small-scale teams can adopt such a platform almost immediately, cutting down on manual campaign setups. For advanced strategies, explore AI In Email Marketing.

8. Notion AI

Notion AI builds on the core Notion workspace by adding intelligence that streamlines everyday organisation. It can generate summaries, highlight relevant notes, and structure to-do lists with minimal effort. From drafting proposals to scheduling content or managing personal tasks, Notion AI works as a digital collaborator that keeps information clear and actionable.

• Automation for project management tasks
• Smart summarisation of notes and documents
• Unified workspace for multiple team functions
• Ideal For: Teams seeking one platform for documentation, planning, and AI-enhanced organisation

For teams already working in Notion, the AI add-on is a natural extension. By weaving AI into planning processes, professionals gain clearer visibility and tighter coordination across projects—a benefit that proves especially valuable when teams are distributed across multiple time zones.

9. Lavender.ai

Lavender.ai streamlines written content through natural language processing and machine learning algorithms. From drafting blog posts to refining product descriptions, this tool can propose sentence rewrites that improve clarity and tone. It’s a useful addition for teams lacking a dedicated writer or proofreader.

• Quick improvements to grammar and style
• Suggestions tailored to specific audience tones
• Time-saving alternative to manual editing
• Ideal For: Anyone aiming to polish written material quickly

For businesses focused on strengthening online communication, AI content marketing tools are worth considering. These platforms use AI to elevate content quality and consistency, helping brands stand out in a crowded digital landscape.

10. Sniper AI

Sniper AI is a recruitment-focused platform that can accelerate hiring processes by pre-screening candidates. It zeroes in on top applicants by matching job requirements with resumes, thus trimming down the time human resources teams spends on manual filtering. The platform can reduce cost-per-hire and get the right people on board sooner.

• Automated resume screening to find top candidates
• Quicker hiring cycle, with fewer drop-offs
• Helps avoid mis-hires by matching key skills precisely
• Ideal For: Businesses that manage a consistent flow of applicants or seasonal hiring surges

11. Canva

Canva, known for its user-friendly design interface, also weaves AI into its platform to help create stunning marketing materials. This works well for businesses that professional graphics but don’t have an in-house designer. Many small businesses rely on Canva templates to produce flyers, social media posts, and pitch decks quickly.

• Simple drag-and-drop design with AI suggestions
• Affordable subscription plans for small budgets
• Extensive library of photos, fonts, and layouts
• Ideal For: Small businesses needing polished visuals fast

Canva’s affordability and intuitive interface can be a lifesaver for resource-constrained teams. It’s possible to pair design platforms with Digital Marketing Tools for a more robust marketing stack..

12. ChatGPT (And Other Generative AI)

Generative AI solutions such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, Jasper, and Midjourney can support you in content creation, idea generation, and image design. ChatGPT, for example, can draft social media posts or product descriptions in seconds.

• Inspires fresh ideas, saving creativity blocks
• Automates routine copywriting tasks
• Works alongside humans for a more refined final product
• Ideal For: Marketing and advertising projects, brainstorming sessions, and quick drafting

Generative AI can also help with market research, offering quick insights from social media analytics or customer feedback. If you’d like to dive deeper into how to leverage text and visuals from AI, check out Generative AI For Business.

Key Takeaways And Next Step

Whether it’s a solopreneur running marketing alone or a team of 50 scaling a sales pipeline, the right AI companion can speed up tasks, reduce errors, and even improve morale. Options span a wide range, from design support to CRM integrations and more.

For those unsure where to begin, the best entry point is a tool that addresses the most pressing bottleneck. That could mean streamlining customer support, accelerating email campaigns, or simplifying internal documentation. Rolling out one solution at a time, measuring its impact, and refining the process sets the stage for steady, sustainable gains.

If you need more guidance, feel free to browse our other articles, like AI Tools For Business or AI In Business Analytics.