Library › Research & AI Search › Small business owners
Compare 3 card readers from the pages you found
- For Small business owners
- You practice Keeping the AI to your sources
- Time about 5 minutes
About this exercise
You run a coffee cart doing about $8,000 a month in card sales and found pages on 3 card readers. Write exactly 4 numbered lines: one per reader showing its monthly cost as math (monthly fee + fee rate x $8,000 = total), then Pick: with the cheapest one. Use the vendor's own page when it disagrees with a review site. Plain text, under 90 words.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Not saying which page wins. The AI mixes in the older review rates that make TapTill and MarketDot look cheaper. Try: Add: "Use the vendor's own page when it disagrees with a review."
- Not showing the math. The AI states a winner without numbers, so you can't check it. Try: Show the shape: "Kettle Pay: 15 + 2.5% x 8,000 = $215."
- Leaving the plan open. The AI compares the Pro plan or adds the reader price to the monthly cost. Try: Add: "Use the Starter plan; leave out one-time reader costs."
- Pick before the numbers. The AI leads with a recommendation and then justifies it. Try: Add: "Pick: goes last, after the 3 cost lines."
- Long answer in markdown. AI writes a bold-headed comparison with pros and cons. Try: Add: "Exactly 4 lines, each under 18 words, plain text."
What a strong prompt includes
- Says which source wins
- Asks to show the math
- Sets the plan and exclusions
- Puts the pick last
- Sets length and format
Related exercises
- Accept a job offer and confirm the exact terms (Writing AI · Job seekers)
- Alert sales to a competitor's price change, facts only (Research & AI Search · Product managers)
- Allocate shared rent by headcount using the right roster (Finance AI · Accountants)
- Announce a seasonal offer with its real terms and no fake scarcity (Sales AI · Small business owners)
- Answer a 'where is my order' email with the real new date (Writing AI · Customer support teams)