Companies Are Panic Paying for This Skill. Here’s How to Get In

Companies Are Panic Paying for This Skill. Here’s How to Get In

Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast 1/8/2026

Use code KOERNER to get your .Online domain at just $0.99 for the first year:
https://get.online/tko5

Interview with Brandon Gadoci: From Startup to $80,000/Month AI Consulting Business in 5 Months

In this insightful interview, Brandon Gadoci shares his journey launching an AI consulting firm that reached an $80,000 monthly run rate in just five months. We dive into why companies are urgently seeking "AI Operators," how to price AI consulting services between $20,000 and $35,000 per month, and the technology stack involved in building AI-powered solutions.

Brandon's story and expertise highlight one of the biggest opportunities available today-helping businesses harness AI to unlock innovation and improve operations.

Who is Brandon Gadoci?

  • Owns an AI consulting and services company started about 4-5 months ago
  • Based in North Dallas, married 23 years with two kids (ages 16 and 15)
  • Has a broad entrepreneurial background with many ventures, including website development and product ideas since childhood
  • Taught himself to code and combines traditional skills with AI expertise-calling it a form of superpower

The Journey to AI Consulting

Early Exploration and AI Operations

  • Spent years experimenting with how to integrate AI meaningfully into business operations
  • Adopted the term AI Operations, coined by Rachel Woods from Austin, focused on practical AI use in enterprises
  • Launched the full consulting business about 5 months ago when the market demand aligned with his skills and passion

“If it’s the way you're supposed to be going, it’ll be hard but not complicated-a feeling of momentum and clarity.”

Month One AI Skill Set and Tools

  • Initially utilized well-known AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and APIs
  • Applied coding skills to create custom AI solutions and explore agentic AI concepts
  • Developed a mindset shift: AI is more human-like in communication, requiring nuanced conversations rather than keyword-driven queries like traditional search engines
  • Balanced broad but shallow skills augmented by AI’s superpower effect to do tasks faster and better

AI Solution Levels

Brandon categorizes AI solutions into three levels:

  1. Level 1: Using out-of-the-box AI features (e.g., a ChatGPT function streamlining a task)
  2. Level 2: Combining AI tools with automation platforms like Zapier, Make.com, N8, and Replit to connect systems
  3. Level 3: Building complex, custom solutions involving both probabilistic AI (AI’s uncertain, context-driven behavior) and deterministic code (traditional if-this-then-that logic)

Deterministic = predictable code
Probabilistic = AI outputs varying but directionally accurate responses

Typical Customers and Industries Served

  • Works with all company sizes: startups, mid-sized firms (400-500 employees), and large companies (6,000 employees)
  • AI adoption is nearly universal as leadership pressures teams to develop AI strategies
  • Also helps local small businesses (e.g., gyms) maximize efficiency with AI, though the focus is mostly mid-sized to larger enterprises due to budget and security constraints
  • Larger companies bring security and compliance challenges; smaller companies can move faster but often lack budgets for big AI projects

Client Engagement and Pricing

Discovery and Audit

  • Initial engagements often start with discovery calls and surveys to identify AI readiness and opportunity areas
  • Generates instant AI-powered reports summarizing company AI maturity and potential use cases
  • Pricing for an AI readiness audit typically ranges from $10,000 to $15,000 one-time

Monthly Retainer Services

  • Fractional AI consulting engagements priced between $20,000 and $35,000 per month
  • Includes training AI Operators within the company-employees who become AI champions and internal points of contact
  • Builds and delivers immediate AI solutions; often constructs 3-5 tangible tools within the first 30 days to create measurable value

Pricing Approach

  • Started with smaller one-time projects ($4,000–$5,000) to prove concept and value
  • Gradually increased fees as confidence and market understanding grew
  • Found clients willing to pay premium pricing given the scarcity and urgency for AI expertise
  • Views pricing research using tools like ChatGPT and Claude to benchmark consulting rates from major firms

The Role of the AI Operator

  • Inspired by Rachel Woods’ definition of the AI Operator role

  • This person is a curious, high-agency, systems-thinking communicator empowered to:

    • Discover AI use cases internally
    • Enter use cases into a standard AI solutions brief template
    • Help leadership monitor innovation pipeline and ROI potential

  • Building AI Operator teams drives adoption, reduces churn, and demystifies AI for employees

  • Often 5-10% of employees in a department will eagerly take on this role

Examples of AI Projects

Example 1: Training Application

  • Built a fully functional AI-powered training app for a complex subject area with only one meeting and information dump
  • Used a combination of AI research (Claude, ChatGPT) and custom code
  • Delivered a proof of concept in ~10 days, impressing the client

Example 2: Salesforce Automation

  • Automated a manual, one-and-a-half-hour research process into a 1-3 minute AI workflow
  • AI agents conduct detailed research, format data, and update Salesforce records automatically
  • Combines deterministic and probabilistic coding for effective orchestration

Smaller Projects

  • Digitizing paper-based trainings at regional grocery stores or service companies using simple web apps
  • Focus on understanding classical workflows first before deciding on development

Sales and Discovery Tactics

  • Focus on discovery by asking questions, not proposing solutions prematurely
  • Classic spin-selling approach: identify pains, implications, and outcomes if fixed/not fixed
  • Avoid early solutioning to uncover multiple use cases and gain better project scope
  • Build rapport by understanding prospect’s current experience and feeling about AI

“The best salespeople know all answers but still only ask questions.”

AI vs Automation in Solutions

  • About 70% of solutions involve AI features; 30% are automations made possible by AI’s rapid development capabilities
  • AI allows cheaper, faster custom software for small teams that was not economically feasible before
  • Some projects leverage AI-powered tooling to accelerate delivery even if the final output is mainly automation

ROI and Demonstrating Value

  • Tracks time and cost savings from solutions (e.g., how many hours saved per task multiplied by wage costs)
  • Educating employees on AI use is harder to quantify but improves employee joy, retention, and culture
  • Provides dashboards highlighting saved hours, cost reductions, and overall impact
  • Proof of value is crucial to reassuring leadership amidst pressure to "do something with AI"

Market Demand and Referrals

  • Demand for AI consulting is intense; receiving more referrals than can be handled
  • Engagements growing rapidly with few churns, as companies find increasing use cases
  • Larger firms often want to eventually bring consultants full-time as an AI transformation face
  • Some employees wary of AI fearing job loss, but successful communication shifts skeptics over time

Personal Impact and Philosophy

  • Business tripled his historical income in 5 months
  • Enjoys fast-paced innovation with short feedback loops
  • Finds motivation in evolving the next version of himself around AI and entrepreneurship
  • Believes authenticity, credibility, and honesty are critical in AI consulting to cut through hype and build trust

Recommended Tools and Tech Stack

  • Custom development: Cloud Code, Next.js, MongoDB, Tailwind CSS, Heroku deployment
  • Automation & Mid-level solutions: Zapier, Relevance AI, agent kits from OpenAI, N8, Make.com
  • Frontline AI features: ChatGPT (primary), Anthropic (secondary)
  • Emphasis on combining AI and deterministic code for robust workflows

Advice for Aspiring AI Consultants

  • Start by solving problems for others-even pro bono-to gain confidence and case studies
  • Look for use cases by active listening during conversations: identify manual, time-consuming workflows
  • Focus on building a culture of AI adoption through AI operators
  • Be honest about AI’s limitations and avoid chasing unready “agentic AI” hype
  • Learn enough coding and framework knowledge to build sustainable, maintainable solutions
  • Invest time in learning AI tools, APIs, and automation platforms to deliver fast, customized results

Common Personas in AI Adoption

Brandon identified six employee personas regarding AI adoption:

  • Enthusiastic Emma: Excited but needs guidance to avoid burnout
  • Traditionalist Tim: Resistant, requires more education and reassurance
  • Curious Chris: Open-minded and eager to explore
  • Principled Pat: Holds ethical concerns, needs to understand AI’s impact
  • Cautious Clara: Hesitant, requiring gradual introduction
  • Others not fully listed

Successful AI transformations tailor training and adoption strategies to these personas.

Insights on Industry and Company Targets

  • Ideal clients are those with low or manageable Personal Identifiable Information (PII) constraints
  • Forward-looking, curious companies are better fits
  • Industry less important than organizational readiness and openness to AI adoption
  • Revenue size varies; mid-sized companies around 400-500 employees and larger enterprises provide best pricing opportunities
  • Closing bigger companies can sometimes require less effort but more internal navigation

Final Thoughts

Brandon emphasizes the uniqueness of the AI consulting opportunity today:

  • High demand and premium pricing due to market scarcity
  • Ability to help clients develop AI-native cultures fueling pent-up innovation
  • Consulting no longer just about recommending AI tools but also building and delivering solutions
  • Continuous learning and adaptability essential due to rapid AI evolution

How to Find Brandon Gadoci

Additional Resources from the Video Host Chris Koerner

This interview offers no financial, business, or legal advice and is for educational purposes only. Results can vary.

Transform Your Videos into Articles

Convert any YouTube video into a well-structured, easy-to-read article in seconds. Perfect for learning, research, or content repurposing.

Convert a Video Explore Articles