The verdict in three sentences
In 2026, business process automation for an SME in London runs between 12,000 and 40,000 GBP for the build, preceded by a 4,000-10,000 GBP audit. The typical timeline is 4 to 10 weeks, with a running cost of 200-700 GBP/month. The real metric isn't the price but the time returned: 20 to 40 hours per month freed, meaning payback in 4 to 8 months.
What you actually pay for
Automation isn't a licence you buy off the shelf: it's a blend of audit, connector development, testing and change management. The invisible part — mapping the real process, not the one in the quality manual — often accounts for 30 % of the value. Here are the 2026 ranges for the London market.
| Line item | 2026 range (GBP) | Timeline | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit and mapping | 4,000 - 10,000 | 1 - 2 wks | Flow analysis, quick wins, roadmap |
| Simple automation (1-3 tasks) | 12,000 - 20,000 | 4 - 6 wks | Follow-ups, exports, alerts |
| Advanced automation (multi-tool) | 20,000 - 40,000 | 6 - 10 wks | Orchestration, RPA, business rules |
| AI integration (extraction, sorting) | +5,000 - 15,000 | +2 - 4 wks | Document reading, classification |
| Run and monitoring | 200 - 700 / month | ongoing | Monitoring, fixes, evolutions |
An automation consultant's day rate in London sits between 550 and 950 GBP in 2026 depending on seniority and stack (n8n, Make, Power Automate, custom development).
Which processes pay off most
Not all tasks are equal. Prioritise those that are repetitive, time-consuming and low in cognitive value. Here are the typical targets and their return (2026 order-of-magnitude estimate).
| Process | Hours/month saved | Estimated annual gain (GBP)* | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer follow-ups and dunning | 8 - 12 | 5,300 - 8,000 | Low |
| Data entry and reconciliation | 10 - 18 | 6,600 - 11,900 | Medium |
| Automated monthly reporting | 6 - 10 | 4,000 - 6,600 | Medium |
| Supplier / client onboarding | 4 - 8 | 2,600 - 5,300 | High |
| Inbound email sorting and routing | 5 - 9 | 3,300 - 6,000 | Medium |
*Basis: loaded cost of 55 GBP/hour for an admin profile. Indicative figures.
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Mini case study
Sarah, COO of a 45-person manufacturing SME in East London, spends a combined 32 hours a month (across 3 people) chasing unpaid invoices, re-keying delivery notes and compiling an activity report. She invests 6,000 GBP in an audit then 22,000 GBP to automate the three flows, plus 350 GBP/month of run.
Gain: 28 hours/month freed, roughly 18,500 GBP/year of admin time (28 h x 55 GBP x 12). First-year cost: 28,000 GBP + 4,200 GBP run = 32,200 GBP. From year 2, the cost drops to 4,200 GBP for 18,500 GBP of value. Payback around month 7, before counting fewer errors and faster collections.
FAQ
How much to start with a simple automation? A first targeted build (1 to 3 tasks) runs between 12,000 and 20,000 GBP in 2026, delivered in 4 to 6 weeks. It's often the best way to prove ROI before scaling.
Do I need an audit first? Yes, in 90 % of cases. A 4,000-10,000 GBP audit stops you automating a bad process and pinpoints the quick wins that fund the rest.
No-code or custom development? No-code (Make, n8n) covers 60-70 % of SME needs at lower cost. Beyond a certain complexity or high volumes, custom becomes cheaper over time.
What's the monthly running cost? Budget 200-700 GBP/month in 2026 (platform licences, monitoring, small evolutions). This line is stable and predictable.
How does this compare to Paris or Lyon? An equivalent build costs 8,000-30,000 EUR in Lyon in 2026, with lower day rates but identical hour savings. The ROI logic is the same.
Let's scope your project. Tell us which processes drain you (follow-ups, data entry, reporting), your monthly volume and an indicative budget: we'll price the audit and the build. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
