Read our Statement of Work before the first call.

1 · SCOPE — IN

Product scoping workshop and written v1 cut; system architecture and deliberate stack decision (documented rationale); data model; UX for 8 core modules; application build; 2 external integrations (CRM, payments); SSO with role-based access; instrumentation for activation, retention, and unit economics; deployment to client-owned cloud; launch support and 2-week stabilization.

2 · SCOPE — OUT

Native mobile apps; more than 2 integrations; data migration from legacy systems beyond CSV import; ongoing operation post-stabilization (available under a separate Operate retainer, $4,000–$15,000/mo); marketing site. Out-of-scope items are listed to protect the timeline — each can be added via change order with published pricing.

3 · MILESTONES & PAYMENT

M1 Discovery & architecture — $9,400 (15%) · M2 Core build — $28,100 (45%) · M3 Integrations & data — $15,600 (25%) · M4 Hardening & launch — $9,300 (15%). Each invoice issues on acceptance, not on elapsed time. No deposit beyond M1.

4 · ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Each milestone has written, testable criteria agreed at M1 (e.g., M2: all 8 modules deployed to staging, demo executed against the agreed script, critical-path tests passing). Client has 5 business days to accept or itemize gaps; Provider remedies gaps at no charge before the milestone bills.

5 · GO/NO-GO GATES

Client may terminate at any milestone boundary for any reason, paying only for accepted milestones, and keeps all work product produced to date. This clause exists because a partner should be re-chosen at every gate, not locked in at signature.

6 · IP ASSIGNMENT

All work product — source code, infrastructure definitions, designs, documentation — is assigned to Client upon payment of the corresponding milestone. Provider retains no license beyond portfolio reference rights (anonymized unless Client approves naming).

7 · OUTCOME GUARANTEE

Within 90 days of M4 acceptance, the baseline metric agreed at M1 (e.g., activation rate, cycle-time reduction, manual-effort elimination) is inspected against its day-0 measurement. If no measurable improvement: 50% of total fees refunded. The metric and method are written into Exhibit A before work begins — mechanical, not rhetorical.

8 · CHANGE CONTROL

Scope changes are written, priced from the published rate table, and approved before work — protecting Client's budget and Provider's timeline equally. The most common change order in our history is adding integration #3 (typ. $4,500).

9 · TEAM & ASSUMPTIONS

Senior architect leads throughout; the practitioners who scope deliver. Client provides one decision-empowered product owner (~4 hrs/week) and timely access to systems. Delivery is dual-shore; all client-facing leadership is US-based.