Short answer: $2,500 to $10,000 for a first process, $8,000 to $18,000 for a project covering 3 to 5 processes, and $12,000 to $30,000 and up to replace an entire system. These ranges come from prices actually published by Quebec providers in 2026 — mine included — not from an anonymous survey. The details, the sources and the decision rule are below.
An automation project should pay for itself in under twelve months with the hours it eliminates. Otherwise, turn it down — no matter who’s selling it.
Published prices checked in August 2026: a Quebec City provider lists $2,500–5,000 for a first process (2 to 4 weeks, tools like Make or Zapier); a Sherbrooke firm cites about $10,000 for a targeted automation. My sprints: from $4,500, fixed scope, 2 to 3 weeks — one chore eliminated, not a subscription.
The range published by the Quebec market for 2 to 3 months of work on several connected processes. This is where grants start to matter: an ESSOR 1B assessment can cover half the fees for the analysis phase.
My published replacements are done in phases of about $6,000 — each one delivered, used and paid back before the next — and most total between $12,000 and $30,000. Custom integrated platforms on the market sometimes exceed $100,000: at that level, insist on a phased breakdown, never a “big bang”.
Published hourly rate cards in Canada for automation and AI consulting range from $150 to $350/h. Cross-check: published Quebec web development rates sit at $60–120/h for freelancers and $120–250/h for agencies. Be wary of an hourly rate with no defined scope — a fixed price tied to an outcome protects both sides.
The number of systems involved (connecting two pieces of software costs less than connecting five), how clean the data is (PDFs and paper that need interpreting add a layer), and the human exception (the more “it depends” there is in the process, the bigger the project). That’s why any serious quote starts by looking at your real files, not with a price per square foot.
On the grants side: ESSOR component 1B/1C (50% of the assessment up to $20,000, 50% of implementation up to $50,000 — businesses with 250 employees or fewer and $2.5M or more in revenue) and the C3I tax credit (15 to 25% on equipment and management software, until the end of 2029). The details of the active programs are in the complete guide.
In 20 minutes on the phone, we put a number on your chore, I give you an honest range for eliminating it — and if the math doesn’t hold up, I’ll tell you and we’ll leave it there.