Own it outright
We build the system and hand over the code, and you take it from there. A good fit if you have your own people to look after it.
Three ways to work with us, side by side.
Every business has a different budget, a different team, and a different appetite for looking after software. So we offer three ways to work together. The software is built the same way in each one. What changes is how you pay for it and who takes care of it after launch.
The options
Own it, own it with us on call, or subscribe.
Own it, with us on retainer
You own the code and keep us on retainer, so changes, fixes, and support are there when you need them without starting a new project each time.
Subscribe to it
We build it for a nominal up-front fee and you pay a monthly subscription. It's your own custom system, and we host, run, and maintain it like a SaaS product.
Side by side
How the three compare.
| Own it outright | Own it, with us on retainer | Subscribe to it | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up front | The full build, paid as a project. | The full build, paid as a project. | A nominal up-front fee instead of a large capital outlay. |
| Ongoing cost | Nothing to us unless you bring us back for new work. | Your retainer. | A manageable monthly subscription. |
| Who owns the code | You. We hand it over. | You. | We own it and maintain it for you. |
| Hosting | Your own hosting. We highly encourage Microsoft Azure. | We prefer to host it, since we're the ones supporting it. | We host it. |
| Changes and fixes | Your own team makes them, or you start a new project with us. | We handle them when you need them, without a new project each time. | Included. No arguing over whether a request is "maintenance" or "new scope." |
| After launch | You take it from there. | We're on call for changes, fixes, and support. | We keep improving it in small steps, so year three isn't a rebuild. |
| A good fit if | You have your own developers or IT staff to look after software. | You want to own the code and keep an experienced developer on call. | A full build isn't in the budget, or you'd rather not maintain or host software at all. |
How to choose
Three questions usually settle it.
You don't have to decide before we talk. We'll work through these with you and tell you honestly which option we think fits.
- ✓Who will look after it? If you have people who can maintain and host software, owning it outright may be all you need. If not, a retainer or subscription keeps us involved, and we can host it for you.
- ✓How does the cost need to land? Some businesses would rather pay for a project once. Others would rather spread the cost into a predictable monthly amount.
- ✓How often will it change? Software that runs daily operations usually keeps evolving with the business. The more changes you expect, the more a retainer or subscription makes sense.
Switching later
Your needs can change, and you're not locked in. You can move from one option to another later, though switching will usually involve some cost.
How much depends on how your system is built. Single sign-on from our shared application ecosystem is available whichever option you choose. Other ecosystem features may or may not carry over to a version you own and run yourself, and where they don't, that part would need to be built into your version.
If you think you may want to switch someday, tell us early. We'll work through what's involved for your system before anything changes.
Whichever you choose
The software is built the same way every time.
It starts with how you actually work
We map the real process, including the rules and exceptions that only live in someone's head, before we design anything.
Maintainable by anyone who follows
Code Mason, our development tool, keeps everything built to consistent standards, so the software can be understood and changed by us or by any developer you bring on.
You work with the person building it
An experienced developer and architect, from the first conversation through launch, who starts by understanding why the software is needed.
Start with a conversation
Not sure which fits? That's what the first call is for.
A 20-minute call, no deck and no pressure. Tell us how the business runs today and what you're hoping to change. We'll talk through which way of working makes sense for you.