How much written work does a small business have, and what can AI take over?
In 67 analyses of Dutch small and medium-sized businesses (October and November 2026), written work came to 21 hours a month per business (median). AI could take over an estimated 13 of those hours. Almost a third of the hours go to customer questions and enquiries, 17 per cent to appointments and bookings and 15 per cent to quotes.
By business size
Written work is everything you type or read to help a customer or to record work: questions, quotes, appointments, invoices.
21hours of written work a month, the median of 67 businesses
| Business size | Hours a month (median) | AI can take over | Middle half | Analyses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 13 | 8 hours | 6 to 19 | 23 |
| 2 or 3 people | 23 | 14 hours | 17 to 32 | 25 |
| 4 to 9 people | 35 | 22 hours | 24 to 43 | 17 |
| 10 or more | 80 | 49 hours | — | 2 |
| All businesses | 21 | 13 hours | 13 to 32 | 67 |
Where the hours go
All tasks from the 67 analyses, grouped by type of work.
| Type of work | Share of the hours | AI takes over | Occurs in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer questions and enquiries | 31% | 64% | 66 of 67 |
| Appointments and bookings | 17% | 68% | 47 |
| Quotes | 15% | 51% | 36 |
| Invoices and payment reminders | 11% | 66% | 56 |
| Confirmations, reminders and status updates | 10% | 67% | 44 |
| Orders and deliveries | 5% | 65% | 14 |
| Copy and newsletters | 4% | 55% | 26 |
| Reviews | 3% | 65% | 56 |
| Reports, recruitment and other | 4% | 58% | — |
What owners report themselves
Nine owners gave their own weekly numbers. For them, written work came to 9 hours a month (median); seven of them work alone. Our estimates based on a website come out higher: 22 hours a month. So calculate with your own numbers; the analysis does the sums for you.
When it pays
Since 10 November 2026 we only make a proposal if it pays for itself: the management costs at most a third of what the hours taken over are worth, and the setup must be earned back within twelve months. Of the first thirteen analyses under this rule, nine received a proposal and four did not.
How this was calculated
- Each analysis describes the recurring written tasks of one business: how often a week, how many minutes each time and which part AI can prepare. Hours a month are hours a week times 46 working weeks, divided by 12.
- 58 analyses work from what is on the company website, 9 from the owner's own numbers. They are estimates, not measurements on the shop floor.
- "AI can take over" is the realistic estimate: the part AI prepares and you only approve. Phone calls, work on site and your own judgement are not counted.
- The analyses were made between 25 October and 11 November 2026, for businesses that asked for one. The first seventeen used four or five processes, the later ones seven. We do not name the businesses.
- The median is the middle value; the middle half runs from the first to the third quartile.
Updated on 11 November 2026. Ashwin Sheobaran, founder of BizzKitt.
Frequently asked questions
Do these figures apply to my business?
As a direction. Your own numbers decide the outcome: the analysis at bizzkitt.ai works with what you enter yourself and is free.
What counts as written work?
Everything you type or read to help a customer or to record work: answering questions, quotes, confirmations, appointments, invoices, reminders, orders and reviews.
May I quote these figures?
Yes, with the source: BizzKitt, analyses of 67 small and medium-sized businesses, November 2026, bizzkitt.ai/en/research/.
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