AI automation agency with n8n/Make in 2026: real owner numbers
A 2026 reality check on the AI automation agency model: no-code workflows with n8n and Make for SMB back-office tasks, sold as setup fees of $1,000 to $5,000 plus retainers of $500 to $1,500 a month. One owner reports climbing from $0 to $10K a month, while a solo operator benchmark hit $25K ARR in four months and a niche agency reached $432K ARR by month fourteen. The ceiling for a solo operator sits around $10 to $15K MRR. All figures are self-reported and unverified.