Making a decision

Five questions before hiring AI or tech help

A checklist for the result, price, ownership, privacy, and follow-up.

Editorial draft prepared for owner review · Updated 2026-11-12

Name the friction

Is a task taking too long, is a tool confusing, or is a device not working? Describe the situation in ordinary words.

Choose the type of help

Start with learning for confidence, a small setup project for a repeatable task, or repair when basic technology is failing.

Take one reversible step

Ask a question, try a safe practice exercise, or get a written estimate. Avoid subscriptions and large commitments until you understand the outcome.

Before you spend

Prepare your questions before spending. Ask for the full price and an explanation of alternatives.

A helpful professional can explain the work without pressure, guaranteed-result claims, or a demand for your passwords.

Questions to ask

  1. What will I learn or receive, and how will we check that it works?
  2. What is the total price, including subscriptions and follow-up?
  3. Can you show a relevant example without exposing another customer’s information?
  4. Will I own the accounts, files, and work when the project ends?
  5. What information do you need, and how will you protect it?

Take your next step

Build my starting plan