AI for small business: a free course
Short lessons for shops, professional offices and small teams: what AI does well at work, the rules, the costs, ready-made requests for your trade. Each lesson ends with a quiz.
The course is free and needs no account: you read the lessons on this site and answer the quizzes in your browser. It does not lead to a recognized qualification.
This site is written with AI tools, including Claude by Anthropic, under one responsible editor: see the editorial policy.
Lessons
10 lessons online- Lesson 1
What can AI actually do for a small business?
Lesson 1 of a free course: five everyday jobs AI chatbots do well in a small business or office, ready-made requests, what not to hand over and how to check.
Done - Lesson 2
What rules apply when my business uses AI, and do I need certified training?
Lesson 2 of a free course: what AI Act Article 4 asks after the Digital Omnibus, why no certificate is needed, GDPR, professional secrecy and a training log.
Done - Lesson 3
Which AI plan does a small business need, and what does it cost?
Free, personal and business AI plans for a small firm: prices checked on the makers' pages, what business plans add, and when switching is worth it.
Done - Lesson 4
What can I ask AI in my line of work?
Requests to copy into ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot or Gemini for six small businesses, with what not to ask, what not to paste and how to check the answer.
Done - Lesson 5
How do I make AI remember how my business works?
Write your tone, products, prices and rules once and ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot or Gemini use them every time: what to write, what to leave out, which menus.
Done - Lesson 6
How do I get AI to do a job on its own every day?
Set an AI assistant to prepare a summary, a draft or a reminder list at a fixed time: menus, plans, limits, three requests to copy and what never to schedule.
Done - Lesson 7
How do I connect AI to my email, calendar and spreadsheets?
Let ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or Copilot read your email and files, or join apps with Zapier, Make or n8n: plans, permissions, prices and two safe examples.
Done - Lesson 8
What can an AI agent do for my small business, and what should I never let it do?
What ChatGPT Work, Claude, Gemini and Copilot agents can do for a shop or office, what each needs, four jobs to copy and what you must never delegate.
Done - Lesson 9
Can I run AI on my own computer so client data never leaves the office?
Run AI on your own computer so client files stay in the office: open-weight models and licences, LM Studio and Ollama, memory, first steps, limits.
Done - Lesson 10
Is AI worth it for a small business?
What studies measured about time saved with AI at work, how to work out whether it pays in your business, the hidden costs, and a 30-day plan to start.
Done