Library › Data AI › Small business owners
Compare cleaning quotes priced three different ways
Practice: Giving the right context. About 5 minutes.
About this exercise
You need office cleaning twice a week, but you're closed 2 weeks a year, so you need 50 weeks (100 visits). Compare three quotes on yearly cost: write exactly 3 numbered lines, each showing the annual math including any fees, then one unnumbered last line: Pick: [vendor]. Plain text, under 70 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Assuming 52 weeks. The AI prices a full year of cleaning, and Brightside comes out cheapest. Try: Add: "We're closed 2 weeks: 50 weeks, 100 visits."
- Missing the fine print. The AI skips Clearwater's monthly supplies fee. Try: Add: "Include every fee in the yearly cost."
- Not asking to see the work. Three pricing styles are easy to mix up without the math. Try: Add a line to copy: "1. SparkPro: 100 x $95 = $9,500"
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 14 words."
- Forgetting where it goes. AI loves markdown tables and bold, which show up as clutter in an email to your business partner. Try: Add: "Plain text, no bold, headings or tables."
What a strong prompt includes
- Gives the weeks
- Includes fees
- Asks to show the math
- Sets a word limit
- Asks for plain text
Related exercises
- Announce a hybrid work policy change with clear actions (Writing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a new weekend rotation in three clear rules (Productivity AI · Managers and team leads)
- Announce a promotion with the right date and no pay details (Writing AI · HR and recruiting)
- Announce a team change and answer the first question (Writing AI · Managers and team leads)
- Answer a showing request for a home that's under contract (Writing AI · Real estate agents)