How we work
Discovery
What happens
We meet, usually by video call, and ask about the business, the people who will use the system and the problem it needs to solve. We look at any existing software, spreadsheets or paperwork the new system will replace or connect to.
What you receive
A short scoping document that sets out what the system will do, what it will not do, and the assumptions we have made. It comes with an estimate of cost and timescale, either a fixed price or a fixed monthly amount.
Design
What happens
We work out the architecture, the data model and the order in which things will be built. Where there is a choice of technology or hosting we explain the options and recommend one, with the reasons written down.
What you receive
A design document in plain language, walked through with you before anything is built. It includes the plan of work broken into cycles, so you can see what will arrive when and query anything that looks wrong.
Build
What happens
We build the system in cycles of one to two weeks, starting with the parts that carry the most risk or the most value. At the end of each cycle we show you what has been built and you can try it yourself.
What you receive
Working software at the end of every cycle, deployed somewhere you can reach it, with a short note on what changed. Feedback from each cycle goes into the next, so the system takes shape around real use rather than a specification alone.
Release
What happens
The system is tested end to end, documented and deployed into your environment. We set up monitoring and backups, train the people who will use and administer it, and agree a date to switch over from whatever came before.
What you receive
The live system, the source code, the documentation and full control of the infrastructure and accounts, all in your name. If you ever want another developer to take over, everything they need is already in your hands.
Support
What happens
After release we stay available under a monthly support agreement. We monitor the system, fix anything that breaks, apply security updates and make small improvements as the business changes around it.
What you receive
A fixed monthly agreement with a clear description of what it covers and how quickly we respond. Larger changes are scoped and estimated separately, so the support fee never quietly grows.
Commercial terms
- Fixed price or fixed monthly
- Agreed before work starts. No open-ended time and materials.
- You own everything we produce
- Source code, documentation, accounts and infrastructure.
- One point of contact
- The engineer doing the work, throughout.
- Written plans and estimates
- Reviewed with you before each stage.
Where the scope is clear we quote a fixed price. Where it is still being worked out we charge a fixed monthly amount against an agreed list of priorities, reviewed with you each month. In either case you own the source code, the documentation and the infrastructure from the first day. You are free to take them elsewhere at any time.
Our estimates, plans and invoices are written in ordinary English. If something changes during a project, you hear about it from us first.
Start with a short conversation.
Tell us what you need and we will say whether we can help, roughly what it would cost and how long it would take.