Automation pricing
How much does AI automation cost in Australia?
The cost depends on the scope of the workflow: how many steps it has, which systems it connects and how exceptions are handled. Cheeky Panda's published setup prices start at AUD $1,500 for one workflow, with monthly support charged separately.
This guide explains how to compare quotes from different providers so you can see what each one covers. Confirm scope, tax treatment, software subscriptions and usage with each provider before you sign.
Updated 28 October 2026
Split every quote into three parts
Quotes are hard to compare when one bundles everything into a single figure and another lists only the build. Put each quote into the same three rows before you compare totals.
| Cost part | What it usually covers | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Scoping, building, testing and handing over the workflow | Which workflows, systems and exceptions are in scope. Cheeky Panda lists one-time setup packages on its pricing page. |
| Platform and usage | Automation platform plans and any AI model usage | Whose account it runs on and how usage is billed. Zapier measures task usage against plan limits, and Make plans use credits, with extra credits available depending on the plan. |
| Support | Monitoring, fixes and changes after launch | Whether it is included, for how long, and what a change request costs. At Cheeky Panda, monthly support is separate from setup. |
Platform terms change and vary by plan. Check the provider's current pricing and settings, because extra usage may be charged or paused depending on how the account is set up.
A scoping example: enquiry to CRM
Say you want every website enquiry to land in your CRM with a reply sent and a person notified. Before anyone can quote it, the scope needs answers to these questions:
- Trigger. Which form or inbox starts the workflow, and how many enquiries arrive in a typical month?
- Data. Which fields map to the CRM, and what happens when a contact already exists?
- AI step. Is AI used to sort or summarise the message, or would a simple rule do the job?
- Reply. Is the first reply sent automatically or drafted for a person to approve?
- Exceptions. Who reviews spam, urgent jobs and enquiries the workflow cannot classify?
- Usage. How many platform tasks or credits does one enquiry use, so you can estimate monthly usage from your volume?
Two quotes for this workflow can differ because one includes the AI step, duplicate checks and an approval queue while the other does not. Comparing the scope line by line shows whether the difference is price or coverage. For more on this workflow, read our guide to enquiry response automation. If you have not chosen a workflow yet, start with what to automate first.
Quote checklist
These are the questions we recommend asking. They are our suggestions, not standard terms from any provider.
- Scope. The workflows, systems and exceptions covered are listed in writing.
- Acceptance. You know how the workflow will be tested and what counts as finished.
- Handover and ownership. Accounts sit in your business name, and you receive documentation and a walkthrough.
- Retries. The quote explains how failed steps are retried and who is alerted.
- Exception ownership. A named person on your team owns the records the workflow cannot handle.
- Ongoing charges. Platform, usage and support costs are shown separately from setup, with who pays each one.
- Tax. The quote states whether prices include or exclude GST.
Common questions
How much does AI automation cost in Australia?
It depends on the workflow you want automated, the systems it connects and how exceptions are handled. Cheeky Panda's published setup prices start at AUD $1,500 for one workflow, and monthly support is separate. See the pricing page for current packages.
Are software subscriptions included in a setup price?
Not always. Platforms such as Zapier and Make bill for usage under their own plans. Ask each provider whether a quote includes platform or AI usage, or whether you will pay those accounts directly.
Do quoted prices include GST?
Ask the provider to state the tax treatment in writing. Do not assume a figure includes or excludes GST until the quote says so.
What should happen when the automation fails?
The quote should say how failed steps are retried, who is alerted, and which person on your team owns the records that need a manual decision.
See current packages on the pricing page or read about AI automation for businesses.