Here is the path from first contact to long-term care — and a clean exit when you need one. You always know what you are buying, what you get, and what decision comes next.
0 — Enquiry and triage
Unpaid, and it takes minutes. You answer an Intake Form. We decide whether this looks like a good fit.
1 — Orientation call
Unpaid, about 30 minutes. We confirm the situation together. You leave with a Discovery Proposal — a fixed-price offer to look properly — or a clear decline.
2 — Discovery
Paid at a fixed price. Every paid Discovery produces a Discovery Report you keep whether or not you proceed.
If we recommend proceed or proceed with conditions, you also get a Stabilization Proposal. If we recommend refuse or advise elsewhere, there is no Stabilization Proposal.
Your decision here: proceed to Stabilization, proceed with conditions, refuse, or advise elsewhere. You may stop after Discovery.
3 — Stabilization
Paid at a fixed price. We make the system known and recoverable, and we leave you a System Manual. Then you decide whether to move into Stewardship.
4 — Stewardship
A paid recurring retainer. We keep the system maintainable and recoverable. It does not include new behaviour.
Stewardship names no document of its own.
If the system falls below the quality bar, we ask you to remediate — or Stewardship ends if remediation is refused.
On notice, you choose: continue, or Exit.
5 — Enhancement Design
Paid at a fixed price when you want a change. You get an Enhancement Proposal before anything is built. You may proceed, narrow the request, or stop.
This is never inside the retainer. Build does not start here. It may run after Stabilization and before Stewardship, or during Stewardship, and it may repeat.
6 — Enhancement Build
Paid at a fixed price. We make the change described in the Enhancement Proposal — and we do not start without that proposal.
You decide to accept, rework within scope, or stop. No further document is named at this step.
7 — Exit
Runs on notice. You leave with a current System Manual so another competent person can take over.
Rules we do not bend
No Stabilization without a paid Discovery.
No Enhancement unless the quality bar is met and maintained.
No Enhancement Build without an Enhancement Proposal.
No Stewardship unless the quality bar is met.
Stewardship ends if the system falls below the quality bar and you refuse remediation.
Two ways in — same ladder
Rescue: the technical owner is already gone. Inside Discovery, access comes first.
Succession: the technical owner is still here and leaving. Inside Discovery, documentation comes first.
Both start at Enquiry and triage and climb the same ladder. Legacy Modernization is not a phase on this ladder.
Start with the Intake Form pathYou do not need a technical brief. Describe the situation; we will say what fits.