Five stages, no surprises.

Discovery

You share the current setup, the outcome you need, the deadline, and anything already built. Existing systems get reviewed first, because poor structure, outdated dependencies, missing documentation, or unstable integrations all change what the work actually involves.

The result is a shared understanding of the real problem, which is often different from the first version of the brief.

Scope

The work is divided into deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, and milestones. Exclusions matter as much as deliverables: writing down what is not included is what stops a project drifting.

You get a fixed quote against that scope. If the scope changes later, the quote changes with it, in writing, before the work happens.

Build

Work starts once the first milestone is funded and the required access is in place. Each milestone ends with something you can open, use, and respond to, not just a status update.

Larger systems are sequenced so the risky parts (integrations, data migrations, anything depending on a third party) are proven early rather than left until the end.

Launch

Testing, deployment, and handover. You receive the running system, the accounts and credentials in your own name, and documentation covering how it is deployed and how to change it.

Ownership transfers to you on final payment. Nothing is held hostage on infrastructure only I can reach.

Support

Ongoing maintenance, improvements, and technical support are available monthly, or hourly where a retainer does not fit. Support is optional; the handover is complete without it.