Key points
- n8n is an automation platform that connects your apps: email, forms, spreadsheets, CRM, WhatsApp and more.
- Start with one repetitive, rule-based job that happens every week, such as enquiries saved and sent to your phone.
- Ask an agency who hosts it, who fixes it when an app changes and who owns the workflows.
n8n is a workflow automation platform that connects the apps a business already uses, such as email, website forms, Google Sheets, CRMs, calendars, Stripe and WhatsApp, so that work moves between them without anyone copying and pasting. An n8n automation agency maps a repetitive task, builds the workflow, tests it on real examples and keeps it running. This guide explains what to automate first, what it costs and how to choose who builds it.
What n8n is, in plain English
A workflow starts with a trigger, such as a new form submission, an email or a time of day. It then runs a series of steps: read the details, look something up, save a row, send a message. n8n can also call an AI model for steps that need judgement, such as sorting an email or reading an invoice. It can be self-hosted on a server you control or used as a cloud service.
What to automate first
The best first automation is a job that is repetitive, follows clear rules and happens often. Good candidates for a small business:
- Enquiry to lead: a website, WhatsApp or email enquiry saved to your sheet or CRM, an instant alert to your phone and a friendly reply to the customer.
- Reminders and follow-ups: appointment reminders, quote follow-ups after a few days, payment reminders.
- Reviews: a review request after each job, sent to every customer, with a separate route to contact you directly.
- Documents to spreadsheets: invoices or forms read and organised automatically.
- Reports: the week's enquiries, bookings or sales sent to you every Monday.
Where AI fits, and where it does not
AI is useful for reading and sorting: classifying emails, pulling details out of documents and drafting replies for you to approve. It should not send anything important without a check, make promises on prices or make decisions that need a person. A good agency will tell you when a plain rule is cheaper and more reliable than AI.
Hosting and your data
- Self-hosted n8n on a server in the UK or EU keeps your data close and avoids per-run fees, but someone has to look after the server.
- n8n Cloud is run by n8n itself, with plans priced by usage.
- Either way, ask for access through each app's own permissions (API keys or sign-in links) rather than handing over passwords.
- Customer data in a workflow is still covered by UK GDPR, so agree data-processing terms in writing.
What it costs
Agencies usually charge a one-off fee per workflow, with an optional monthly fee for hosting, monitoring and fixes when connected apps change. These are our packages:
Automation Workflow
Take a repetitive job off your plate.
£249 per workflow, one-off
- One automation of your choice, built and tested
- For example: enquiry alert with a friendly auto-reply, leads saved to your sheet or CRM, or booking reminders
- Connected to your website and email
- One-off price; if your workflow needs a paid app, we tell you the cost before you pay
- Live in about 5 working days
Automation Pack
Three automations, built, tested and connected.
£599 one-off
- Three automations of your choice
- Connected to your email, forms, sheets or CRM
- WhatsApp, email or Telegram alerts where useful
- 30 days of fixes after launch
- Plain-English guide to what runs and when
Automation Care
Hosting, monitoring and one improvement every month.
£149 /month
- Your automations hosted and monitored
- Fixed quickly when a connected app changes
- One new small automation or change each month
- Monthly report of what ran and what it saved
- Cancel at the end of any billing month
AI Agent Build
A custom AI workflow for a whole process.
from £1,490 one-off
- For example: an inbox assistant that sorts and drafts replies
- Or documents read into spreadsheets automatically
- Or a lead engine that finds and qualifies prospects
- Scoped and priced in writing before we start
- Pairs with Automation Care for ongoing running
Questions to ask an automation agency
- Will I get a fixed price for each workflow before you start?
- Who hosts it, and where are the servers?
- What happens when an app we use changes and the workflow breaks?
- Will I be alerted if a run fails?
- Do I own the workflows, and can I take them elsewhere?
- Will you write down in plain English what runs and when?
Getting started
Tell us the task that takes your time and the tools involved, and we will reply with a fixed price. See examples on our business automation page, or pair it with a WhatsApp AI assistant so enquiries are answered and logged while you work.