# How we pick tools

> How BusyWorkBots finds and checks AI tools for small businesses, how hours saved are labeled, and our rules on sponsored and affiliate links.

Source: https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/
Publisher: BusyWorkBots (run by TimeGentic LLC). Written by the BusyWorkBots Editorial Team: https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/

Where our listings come from, what we check, and how we label hours and money.

By [BusyWorkBots Editorial Team](https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/) · Updated Oct 25, 2026

## Who we are

The BusyWorkBots Editorial Team finds, checks, and writes up every listing on this site. BusyWorkBots is run by TimeGentic LLC.

## Where we find tools

Every day we scan posts on X, Reddit, YouTube, and GitHub for AI tools and automations that real small businesses use. We look for owners and builders who say what a tool did for them. We also read maker websites, news stories, and case studies.

## What we check before we list a tool

- It does a real busywork job for a small business, like answering calls, following up, booking, or billing.
- There is a real source we can link to: a post, a case study, a news story, or the maker's own page.
- We can say in plain words what it does, who it is for, and how to set it up.
- We write down what it costs, from the maker or the source. The directory is free to search; prices come from each maker.
- We rate how hard it is to set up: Easy, Medium, or Needs setup.

## How we label hours saved

- **Hours from a source** come from the post, case study, or page we link to. We show them the way the source states them.
- **Maker claim** means the number comes from the company that sells the tool. Treat it as a claim, not a test result.
- **est.** means it is our own rough estimate for that kind of job, not a measured result.
- If there is no number, we say so. Right now 67 of 155 listings have no hours number.

## Sponsored and affiliate rules

- Sponsored listings are always labeled. Right now 0 listings are sponsored.
- Some links may be affiliate links. If you buy through one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we list or how we rank it. See our [disclosure](https://busyworkbots.com/sponsor/#disclosure).
- No one can pay to change a listing's words, its hours number, or its labels.

## We don't test every tool

We do not test every tool ourselves. We link to the source for each listing so you can check it. Always check the maker's current price and terms before you buy.

## Corrections

See something wrong or out of date? Email [hello@busyworkbots.com](mailto:hello@busyworkbots.com) and we will check it and fix it.

## See the numbers

Read our [Small Business AI Tools in 2026](https://busyworkbots.com/reports/small-business-ai-tools-2026/) report, built from all 155 listings.