Pricing
What it costs
I’m taking on five founding clients this fall. The build and the first month it runs are free. In return, you use it, tell me honestly what works and what doesn’t, and if it helps, you let me write it up as an example. After that it’s a monthly fee, and we’ll agree on the amount in writing before I start.
We talk for about 30 minutes, by phone or Zoom, about what’s taking your team the most time. Sometimes the software you already have can do it and I’ll show you where. If not, I’ll send you a plan for what I’d build and what it would cost per month.
How long a build takes depends on what it is, so I’ll give you a timeline after our first conversation. If it’s a bigger one I’ll ship it in parts, so your team can use the first part while I finish the rest.
The fee covers hosting, running costs, monitoring, fixes, and small changes, like adding a field or moving the time a reminder goes out. It’s month to month and you can cancel any time.
Every plan I write says how fast I’ll respond when something breaks, what happens if you cancel or I stop, and what it costs to buy the software outright. I can also get on a call with a partner or your board before you sign.
Before you sign anything, we’ll run the numbers below using your own hours and pay rates.
An example chart. At 6 hours a week and $25 an hour, retyping orders costs $650 a month in staff time. With the software it’s $45 of staff time plus a $200 monthly fee, $245 in all, which is about $400 a month less.
Questions
What happens if it breaks?
It depends on what it is and how much your business relies on it. Before I build anything we’ll agree in writing on how fast I respond when something goes wrong, and that’s part of what sets the monthly fee. What I build runs on its own servers, so if it has a problem your main system keeps working, and I get an alert when something fails.
When do you work on this?
I do it in the evenings and on weekends, since I have a full-time job, and that’s also why I only take a few builds at a time. If an alert comes in during the day I can usually roll back to the last working version from my phone, then do the proper fix that night.
Where does our data live?
I follow industry best practices for security. Everything I build runs on Amazon Web Services, and each client gets their own AWS account. That keeps your data separate from everyone else’s, and you can see exactly what it costs to run.
Your data isn’t sent to any AI service unless you’ve said yes in writing. If you cancel and want to keep your data, I’ll send it to you in a format you can use.
We handle confidential client information. Can you work with that?
Yes, including client files, tax records, SSNs, tenant applications, and donor lists. I’ll sign your NDA or confidentiality agreement before you show me anything. I don’t take on work with patient health records like charts, treatment notes, or insurance claims. A clinic can still use me for things like staff schedules or supply orders, and if you’re not sure where something falls, ask me.
Why don’t you charge for the build?
I think what I build will be worth a monthly fee to you, and this way you don’t take on any risk to find out. I do the work up front, and you start paying once your team has had it for a month. After that you pay while it’s helping you, and you can cancel any time.
For my first five clients I’m also asking for something back. Use what I build, tell me honestly what works and what doesn’t, and if it helps your business, let me write it up as an example I can show other owners. The write-up is up to you, and the deal is the same if you say no.
Who owns the software?
You own your data. Any accounts it’s stored in, like QuickBooks or Shopify, stay in your name. I own the code while you’re paying the monthly fee. If you want to own it, you can buy it for the price in your plan.