In short
- Where small business should start: one task for the first bot, not automating everything at once.
- Budgets in Ukraine: a simple FAQ and lead bot $300-600 in 1-2 weeks, booking or catalog $600-1,200 in 2-4 weeks, loyalty or AI $1,200-2,500 in 4-8 weeks.
- For most small businesses the default platform is Telegram: mass audience and a free API.
- The first month after launch decides the outcome: collect unanswered questions, cut extra steps. Darobots includes a month of support in the base package.
Step 1: Define One Task
One bot, one task to start. Expansion comes after you see results.
Step 2: Choose a Platform
For most small businesses in Ukraine, the answer is Telegram: a large audience, a convenient interface, a free API. If your customers are mostly on Instagram, consider Instagram Messaging. If you have a website with traffic, consider a web chat.
For a detailed comparison, see our article on the top 5 chatbot platforms.
Step 3: Find a Vendor with a Portfolio
Don’t jump straight to the most expensive agency. But the cheapest freelancer with no case studies is a risk too. Look for a team that can show live bots and share results for a similar business.
Darobots, for example, has case studies in beauty, retail, services, and hotlines. We can tailor a solution to a small-business budget starting from $300.
Step 4: Launch and Measure
After launch, track a few simple metrics:
- how many people started a conversation with the bot;
- how many reached the target action (request, booking, purchase);
- how many questions the bot resolved without an operator.
Even without complex analytics, these numbers will show whether the bot is working and where to go next.
Step 5: Optimize
Darobots includes one month of support and optimization in the base package - specifically so the bot settles into your business instead of just going live.
Budget for Small Business
| Bot type | Budget | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Simple (FAQ, requests) | $300-600 | 1-2 weeks |
| With booking / catalog | $600-1,200 | 2-4 weeks |
| With loyalty or AI | $1,200-2,500 | 4-8 weeks |
