Chapter 1
Cut Through the Hype
What AI can, and can’t, do for your business, in one sentence you’ll keep coming back to.
A practical guide for small business owners
Start Here
The Small Business Owner’s Plain-English Guide to Putting AI to Work, One Task at a Time
No jargon. No tech degree. No expensive mistakes.
Feeling behind on AI?
You’re not behind. You just need a starting point.
Everyone seems to be talking about AI. Your feed is full of people promising that “AI agents” will run your business while you sleep. A competitor just posted about their “AI transformation.” And somewhere in the back of your mind is a quiet worry: if I don’t figure this out, am I going to get left behind?
When owners are asked what’s holding them back, the same answers come up again and again:
- I don’t know where to start.
- I don’t know which tool to pick.
- I don’t have time to learn it.
- I’m worried about my data.
- I tried it, and what it wrote sounded like a robot.
None of those are technology problems. They’re starting-point problems. That’s what this book solves.
The approach
One task at a time
No big transformation project. No list of fifty tools. Start with one real problem in your business, solve it with one tool, prove it works, then move on to the next.
- 1Find the painA 30-minute audit of the repetitive tasks eating your week.
- 2Pick one taskThe highest-scoring, low-risk job becomes your first project.
- 3Use one toolChoose one assistant and set it up properly in about an hour.
- 4Check the workSimple guardrails for privacy, accuracy and your reputation.
- 5Measure and repeatSee what it’s worth, then plan your next 90 days.
What’s inside
Seven short chapters, each ending in action steps
Chapter 2
Find Your Starting Point
The 30-minute pain audit that picks your first AI project for you.
Chapter 3
Pick One Tool and Set It Up Right
Choose an assistant without the overwhelm, turn off model training and avoid surprise bills.
Chapter 4
Talk to AI So It Talks Back Usefully
The C.R.A.F.T. formula for asking well, plus prompts you can copy and keep.
Chapter 5
Make It Yours
Teach AI your voice and your details, so it stops sounding like everyone else.
Chapter 6
Protect Your Business
Common-sense rules for privacy, accuracy and trust, and a one-page AI policy.
Chapter 7
From Experiment to Everyday Habit
Build the habit, measure what it’s worth, take your first step into automation and plan your next 90 days.
Copy-and-paste prompts
Ready-made prompts for customer replies, social posts, job ads, reviews and decisions. Fill in the brackets and go.
A running example
Follow Jane, owner of Jane’s Landscaping, as she takes one project from first try to first automation.
A goals checklist
Track your progress chapter by chapter, and revisit it at day 30, 60 and 90.
A taste of the book
A vague question gets a vague answer
Most people type something short, get something bland back and decide AI isn’t for them. Chapter 4 shows you how to brief AI the way you’d brief a new employee.
You type · weak
Write a follow-up email for a quote.
You type · strong
I run a residential landscaping company. Last Tuesday I sent a quote for $4,800 to a homeowner named Dana for a backyard patio and planting project. I haven’t heard back. Act as a friendly but professional small business owner. Write a short follow-up email (under 120 words) that checks whether she has questions, mentions we have openings in early spring, and makes it easy to say yes or no. No pushy sales language.
It takes 45 more seconds to type and produces something you can send after a quick read.
Who it’s for
Good at what you do. Short on time.
This book is for the owner of a bakery, a bookkeeping practice, a plumbing company, a salon, a landscaping business, an online shop, a two-person marketing agency or a solo consultancy.
You don’t need a technical background. If you can send an email and use a web browser, you have every skill you need.
What this book is not
- A book about how AI works or which tech company will win
- Hype about AI running your business while you sleep
- Advice to fire your staff
- A list of fifty tools to buy
About the author
Casey Li
Casey is a software engineer and the founder and CEO of BiteSite Inc., an Ottawa company that builds custom web and mobile apps. He manages a small team and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa.
Despite working in tech, he came to AI late, in early 2026, and felt just as behind as many of the owners this book is written for. Within months, it had changed how he works.
From my experience
“When I started using AI in early 2026, I wasn’t unhappy in my work, but it had become routine. Working with AI has almost given me a complete reinvigoration for my job. It’s like being given a super good employee who can do amazing things. I’ve ended up doing things I always wanted to do, and coming up with ideas I never thought I could pull off. Even the most mundane jobs, like my expense management, now run on organized, nice-looking tools that I’m genuinely excited about.
AI still constantly surprises me with how good it is. I’ve only been using it for a handful of months, and I’m nowhere near an expert, but I already get so much benefit, and so much excitement, from it. That excitement alone is worth it.”
Written with AI, and honest about it
A book about using AI should be honest about how it was made. Casey worked with Claude throughout: it researched, drafted and designed. Casey chose who the book is for, reviewed every chapter, made every final decision and wrote every personal story. That’s exactly the method the book teaches: AI does the heavy lifting, you stay in charge of the judgment.
Questions
Frequently asked
What format is the book?
A 47-page PDF ebook that you can read on any computer, tablet or phone, and print if you like. The checklists, templates and prompts are yours to copy for use in your own business.
How do I pay?
Checkout is handled securely by Stripe through Link, which also sends your receipt. You can pay by card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and other local methods. You may see the price in your own currency, and any sales tax is calculated at checkout.
How do I get it after I buy?
Right after you pay, you’ll see a download button, and we’ll email you a download link too.
Do I need any technical skills?
No. If you can send an email and use a web browser, you have everything you need.
Which AI tool does it use?
The method works with any of the main assistants: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot. Chapter 3 helps you choose one in five minutes, and shows where the important settings are in each.
Will it be out of date by the time I read it?
It was written in late 2026. AI tools change quickly, so screens, prices and features may look a little different. The steps still work, and the method won’t go out of date.
Is this legal, financial or tax advice?
No. The book provides general information. For anything in those areas, it shows you how to use AI to prepare good questions for a qualified professional.
What if I have a problem with my purchase?
Email contact@caseyli.com and we’ll sort it out. See the refund policy for details.