Step 1: Discovery Consultation (Free, 30 Minutes)

We discuss your needs, assess fit, and determine if custom development is the right solution. Sometimes we'll recommend an existing package or off-the-shelf tool instead—we'll be honest if custom development isn't the best use of your budget.

Step 2: Requirements & Scoping (Paid, $350-1,500)

If we're a good fit, we conduct a detailed requirements gathering process, create technical specifications, and develop a comprehensive project proposal with timeline and fixed-price quote.

Why paid discovery?

This ensures serious commitment from both parties and produces a detailed blueprint that protects you from scope creep and us from unrealistic expectations.

Deliverable:

Detailed requirements document, technical architecture plan, timeline with milestones, fixed-price quote

Step 3: Agreement & Development (50% Deposit)

Once you approve the quote, we require 50% deposit to begin development. We work in sprints with milestone reviews, keeping you updated throughout.

Timeline:

Varies by project complexity (typically 4-16 weeks)

Step 4: Testing & Refinement

You test the system, we address bugs and refinements within agreed scope. Any feature additions beyond original requirements are quoted separately.

Included:

Bug fixes, performance optimization, refinement within scope

Not Included:

New features, scope changes, "can you also add..."

Step 5: Delivery & Transition (Final 50% Payment)

We deliver all source code, documentation, and deployment instructions. You receive full ownership and all rights to the custom software.

Deliverable:

Working system, source code, documentation, deployment guide, 30-60 days post-launch bug support

Step 6: Ongoing Support (Optional)

We offer optional maintenance retainers for hosting, updates, feature additions, and technical support.

Pricing:

$500-2,000/month depending on scope

A: We're project-based, not a staff augmentation firm. We build complete systems and hand them off. For ongoing development, we offer maintenance retainers, but we don't embed developers on your team long-term.

A: We use a change order process. Small refinements within scope are included. Significant new features require re-scoping and additional budget. This protects both of us from scope creep.

A: You do. 100%. We transfer all source code, intellectual property rights, and documentation. You can maintain it yourself or hire anyone to work on it after delivery.

A: Yes, we offer optional maintenance retainers ($500-2,000/month) covering hosting, updates, bug fixes, and feature additions. Or you can self-host and maintain—it's your choice.

A: That's why we require paid discovery. We invest time upfront to eliminate uncertainty, document everything, and provide a confident fixed quote. If scope truly can't be defined, we'll recommend a phased approach (MVP first, then expand).

A: We follow industry-standard security practices, implement proper authentication/authorization, encrypt sensitive data, and can work within compliance frameworks (HIPAA, FERPA, etc.) as needed.