You don't need a big AI plan. You need one annoying job off your plate this week, then another one next week.
Here are twelve that Claude does well for small businesses. Each has a prompt you can copy. Change the details in the prompt to fit your business, and paste in anything it asks for.
Step 1: Reply to an unhappy customer

A customer sent this. Help me reply. I want to apologize without groveling, fix it this week, and keep them as a customer. Keep it short and sign it with my first name. Here's their email:
Paste their email after the prompt. The email replies guide walks through this one step by step.
Step 2: Answer an online review
Write a short public reply to this review of my business. Thank them by first name, mention one specific thing from their review, and keep it under 60 words. If it's a bad review, stay calm, don't argue, and offer to talk offline. Here's the review:
Step 3: Chase an unpaid invoice
Write a friendly but firm reminder to a customer whose invoice is 30 days past due. Include the invoice number, amount and due date I give you, one easy way to pay, and a clear next date. Don't sound angry. Invoice: [number], amount: [amount], due: [date].
Step 4: Write a job post
I need a job post for [job title] at my [type of business]. Before you write anything, ask me the 3 to 5 questions you need answered to make it good.
The how to ask guide explains why asking Claude to ask you questions first works so well.
Step 5: Turn meeting notes into a to-do list

Here are my rough notes from a meeting. Turn them into: 1) real commitments, with who and when, 2) ideas we talked about but did not agree to, 3) a short recap I can send. Don't invent names or dates that aren't in the notes.
The meeting notes guide covers this in full.
Step 6: Explain a contract or lease in plain English
Attach the document with the + button (files guide), then:
Explain this document in plain English for a small-business owner. What am I agreeing to, what does it cost me, how do I get out of it, and what should I ask about before signing?
Step 7: Announce a price increase
Write a short, friendly note to my customers explaining that prices go up [amount or percent] on [date]. Give the honest reason in one sentence, thank them for their business, and tell them who to call with questions. No corporate language.
Step 8: Turn a job photo into a social post
Attach a before-and-after photo from a job, then:
Write a short Facebook post about this job for my business page. Two or three sentences, friendly, no hashtag pile. End with one line inviting people to call for a quote.
Step 9: Write down how a job is done
Explain the task out loud or type it messily, the way you'd tell a new hire. Then:
Turn what I just described into a simple step-by-step checklist a new employee could follow on their first day. Number the steps, keep each one short, and add a "don't forget" list at the end.
Step 10: Compare two quotes from suppliers
Attach both quotes, then:
Compare these two quotes side by side in a simple table: price, what's included, what's missing, delivery time, and payment terms. Then tell me which questions I should ask each supplier before I decide.
Step 11: Plan your week
Here's everything on my plate this week, in no order. Sort it into: must do this week, can wait, and could hand to someone else. Then suggest a simple day-by-day plan. Here's the list:
Step 12: Ask happy customers for a referral
Write a short, warm note to a customer who's been happy with our work. Thank them, and ask if they know one neighbor or friend who could use our help. Make it easy to say no. Sign it with my first name.
Screenshots taken September 24, 2026. Claude changes its look now and then. If a button has moved, look for the same words nearby.