bay area small businesses

AI training and consulting for Bay Area small businesses

We're an AI training and consulting business based in Menlo Park, California, working with small businesses across San Francisco, the Peninsula, the South Bay, and the East Bay. Most sessions and team trainings happen on video, and visits around the Bay Area can be arranged when you need us in the room. It starts with a free 30-minute call, then it's $100 an hour online.

Running a business in the Bay Area is expensive, so every hour of busywork you get back is worth more here too.

Book your free 30-minute intro call

Where we work

San Francisco: San Francisco
The Peninsula: Daly City, South San Francisco, San Mateo, Burlingame, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto
The South Bay: Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Cupertino, San Jose, Milpitas
The East Bay: Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, San Leandro

And anywhere else by video.

california rules

California rules to know before your business uses AI

California has rules about AI and data that much of the country doesn't. This is the short list we walk Bay Area owners through. It's practical guidance, not legal advice; for your situation, ask your own attorney.

Chatbots have to admit they're bots

Since 2019 it's unlawful in California to hide that a chatbot is a bot when it's used to push a sale. A clear “this is AI” label is the safe harbor. Polaris, the agent on this site, says so up front.

Source: Business and Professions Code 17941

AI in hiring decisions

Since October 1, 2025, California's job-discrimination rules explicitly cover AI and automated tools used in hiring and other employment decisions, and the related records must be kept for four years. Keep a person making those calls.

Source: California Civil Rights Council

AI messages to patients

Health practices that send AI-written messages about a patient's clinical information must say AI wrote them and tell patients how to reach a person, unless a licensed provider reviewed the message first.

Source: Health and Safety Code 1339.75 (AB 3030)

Edited real estate photos

Since 2026, real estate ads with digitally altered or virtually staged photos need a disclosure, and online listings must also show the original photo.

Source: AB 723 (2025)

Customer privacy

California's main privacy law covers businesses that meet one of its thresholds, such as more than $26,625,000 in yearly revenue, so many small businesses aren't covered. Your customers still expect their details to stay out of free AI tools, and so should you.

Source: California Privacy Protection Agency

Free local help worth knowing about

The Bay Area's Small Business Development Centers give free one-on-one advice on running a business, and San Francisco has its own office for small businesses. We're the hands-on AI step: your accounts, your team, your real tasks.

Questions about this

Is there an AI consultant near me in the Bay Area?

Yes: North Star AI Consultation is based in Menlo Park, California and works with small businesses across San Francisco, the Peninsula, the South Bay, and the East Bay. Most sessions run on video, visits can be arranged, and the first 30-minute call is free.

Do you work with businesses in San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland?

Yes, and the cities in between: the Peninsula from Daly City to Palo Alto, the South Bay from Mountain View to Milpitas, and the East Bay from Berkeley to Fremont. Video sessions work from anywhere.

Can you train my team in person at our office?

Yes, around the Bay Area. Most team trainings run on video because they're easier to schedule and cost less, but when your team needs someone in the room, we set that up on the free call.

What California rules apply when my business uses AI?

The big ones: everyone's consent before a call is recorded, chatbots that admit they're bots, AI in hiring decisions, AI-written messages to patients, and edited real estate photos. We walk every client through the ones that apply to them. It's practical guidance, not legal advice.

Where to go next

ready when you are

Start with a free 30-minute call.

Two minutes of quick questions so we come prepared, then we reach out to set up your free phone call. No pitch, no jargon: we hear how your business runs and point you the right way.

Why is the first call free?

We'd rather prove it than pitch it. The first 30-minute call is free so you can hear what's possible for your business before spending a dollar. After that it's $100 an hour for online sessions, training, and builds, low for the Bay Area on purpose: the AI does the heavy lifting. You'll know the price of anything before we touch it.