Two ways to engage. One measure of success.
Start with a question, agree the outcome and its test, then choose the scope and the pricing basis. Each stage ends with a decision you make.
The commitments
Three things hold in every engagement.
- The test comes before the buildEach outcome, its test, its threshold, and the person who checks it are agreed in writing before work begins.
- A person on your side approvesAgents work inside agreed permissions. Consequential actions and every release wait for your named approver.
- Cost is measured per accepted outcomeWe report what the work cost against the outcomes you accepted, with review effort and rejected work shown alongside.
Pricing basis
Fixed price or hourly.
Both are measured the same way. The difference is how settled the scope is when work begins.
| Feature | Fixed price | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | A defined outcome with agreed acceptance tests | Advisory work, discovery, or evolving scope |
| Scope | Agreed deliverables and acceptance tests | An agreed backlog and time budget |
| Reporting | Evidence against each acceptance criterion | Time used, work completed, and the remaining budget |
| Changes | Review the change before work proceeds | Review priorities and the remaining budget |
| Rate | Quoted for the agreed work | $375 / hour |
The two can be combined. Hourly work can settle an open question, and the defined outcome that follows can be priced and accepted as fixed-price work.
The measure
Cost per accepted outcome.
An outcome counts once your approver accepts it against the test you signed. Work that was delivered and not accepted stays in the cost, so the figure reflects what acceptance took.
Review effort and rejected work are recorded alongside the result. That keeps the conversation on outcomes you can check, rather than hours or activity.
The Acceptance Charter
The written definition of done.
The Charter lists each outcome and how it will be accepted. Your approver signs it before the build, and the build is priced against it.
- CriteriaName each outcome, its test, and the person who evaluates it.
- MeasurementState the dataset, the threshold, and the conditions the test runs under.
- Acceptance windowAgree the review period in the engagement documents.
- ChangesApprove a change in scope before the work changes, and update the Charter.
- LanguageReport measured outcomes against agreed criteria, and nothing beyond them.
The path
An engagement, start to finish.
Each step is scoped and priced before it begins. You can end the engagement between any two steps.
- 01Ask an engineerA free fifteen-minute conversation about your question. You leave knowing whether AI fits and what to do first.
- 02Diagnostic$750 for one hour of agent coding on one workflow, the code delivered to you, an Agentic AI Blueprint, and one hour of consultation.
- 03Blueprint and CharterAgree the architecture, the systems of record, the human approvers, and the acceptance criteria. The build is priced against them.
- 04Pilot, build, and acceptTest one workflow under real conditions, or build the full system. Your approver accepts each release against the Charter.
- 05Improve and operateChoose Iteration Sprints to improve one metric at a time, AI Stewardship for ongoing care, or hand the system to your team.
Who does what
Your team decides. We engineer.
Your team
- Names one owner who can make decisions and approve releases
- Provides representative examples and access to the systems involved
- Agrees the acceptance criteria before the build
- Reviews the evidence and accepts, or declines, each outcome
- Decides each next step
Sophrono
- A senior engineer sets the architecture and directs the work
- Specialized agents execute inside agreed permissions
- Runs the agreed tests and reports every criterion, including misses
- Documents the system, its limits, and how to operate it
- States the effect of any change before work proceeds
Changes
How a change is handled.
Scope changes as you learn. Each change is decided before the work moves.
- Raise itEither side names the change and the reason for it.
- Assess itWe state its effect on scope, schedule, fees, and the acceptance criteria.
- Decide itYour owner approves or declines the change.
- Record itThe Charter and the plan are updated, and work continues on the new basis.
Public fees
All published amounts are in US dollars.
- Ask an engineer
- Free
- One AI workload evaluation
- Free
- Diagnostic
- $750
- Senior engineering
- $375 / hour
Stewardship scope and capacity are agreed for your operating requirements. View AI Stewardship. For every price and pricing basis, see what AI implementation costs.
What the agreement covers
The website describes how we work. The agreement sets the terms.
- Delivered code, configurations, models, data, and runbooks.
- Responsibilities for access, review, and release approval.
- Ownership, payment, cancellation, and acceptance terms.
Read a sample Acceptance Charter
A sample shows the structure. Your engagement documents contain the agreed terms.
Questions
What happens if an outcome does not meet the criteria?
We review the failed criterion and the evidence with your approver. The engagement agreement sets the acceptance process, including what happens next.
How are changes handled?
We assess each change for its effect on scope, schedule, and fees, and your owner approves it before work proceeds. The Charter is updated to match.
Can we start hourly?
Yes. Senior engineering is $375 / hour. We agree a backlog, a time budget, and a review cadence.
Can we pause between stages?
Yes. Each stage is scoped and priced on its own, and it ends with a decision. Moving to the next stage is your choice.
Do we need our own engineers?
No. You need an owner who knows the workflow and can approve releases. If you have an engineering team, we agree interfaces and responsibilities with them.
Who owns the delivered work?
Delivered code, configurations, models, data, and runbooks are handed over with documentation. Full engagement terms are finalized in a Master Services Agreement.
Can we switch from hourly to fixed price?
Yes, once the scope settles. A defined outcome can then be priced and accepted as a fixed engagement.
Testing one workflow under real conditions first? See the Production Pilot. Questions about terms? Contact us.