Sebastian Inman

The blog

Notes on getting your hours back

Practical writing about automation, AI, and websites for small businesses. No hype, no jargon, and honest about what isn't worth doing.

A shop owner behind her counter, calmly sizing up a new device next to the card reader she already uses

August 29, 2026

Judge AI the way you judged your card reader

Two loud voices are selling you opposite stories about AI. Neither helps. The questions you already ask about any new tool work perfectly well on this one.

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Illustration of a business owner opening a small glowing chest at their desk

August 27, 2026

Before you buy another app, dig through the ones you already pay for

Most small businesses already own more automation than they use. Here's where to look in the software you have before spending a dollar on something new.

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Illustration of a salon owner at the counter while their phone exchanges messages with an arriving customer

August 27, 2026

The cheapest fix for no-shows is a reminder that asks for a reply

Most no-shows aren't flaky customers, they're busy ones. A reminder that asks for a one-word reply catches the forgetful before the slot goes empty.

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Illustration of a shop owner helping a customer while their phone sends a friendly reply on its own

August 27, 2026

The first automation I recommend to almost everyone

When someone can't reach you, they call the next business on the list. The missed-call text-back is the cheapest fix for the most expensive problem.

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Illustration of a business owner sorting paperwork into two trays at a desk

August 27, 2026

How to spot the busywork that's actually worth automating

Not every annoying task deserves automation. Here's the simple test I use to find the ones that pay for themselves, and the ones to leave alone.

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Not sure where to start? Let's figure that out together.

Tell me what's eating up your time, and I'll give you a straight answer about what's worth automating and what it would cost. No pressure, no jargon.

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