Questions.

Every engagement is fixed-price and quoted before it starts. The price depends on the size of your business and the scope of the work, so I set it after the first conversation rather than publishing a rate card that would be wrong for most people. You get a written scope with a number in it, and that number does not move.

Most engagements run 1 to 3 weeks. An AI Fit & Readiness Assessment is 2 hours together, with analysis of your workflow beforehand. A Stack Review is about 2 weeks, 1 for review and 1 for renegotiation. Each service page states its own duration. Those are average minimums rather than fixed schedules, and I work around your calendar.

You describe what is actually costing you time or money. I ask questions and tell you whether I can help. If I cannot, I say so. If I can, you get a written scope with a fixed price within 2 business days. The conversation is free and there is no obligation attached to it.

That is a real and common result, and it should not cost you anything to find out. The first 30-minute call is free and decides whether AI is the right fit for your business. If it is not, we can talk about a Stack Review or Vendor Verification instead. Something is still costing you those hours, and it is usually the tooling you already have.

Access to the material the work depends on. For a Stack Review that is 12 months of recurring charges from card statements, bank debits and accounts payable. For an AI engagement it is real examples of the documents your business runs on. For advisory work it is your cash position and your actual plan. Expect to spend 2 to 4 hours total across an engagement.

No. I am paid by you and only by you, which is the only way vendor negotiation works in your favor. If I ever hold a financial interest in something relevant to your decision, you will be told before the recommendation, in writing.

Yes, and I work under them routinely. Client names never appear in my writing or on this site. Every figure published here comes from work I led, with the client anonymized.

You have the deliverable and you own it. There is no retainer and no monthly fee. I check in about a week after delivery to make sure it is running, and there is no scheduled call after that to sell you the next thing. If something comes up later, you can hire me again.

Yes, and in person across Southern California. Some work is better in a room, and most of it runs fine remotely.

Usually. If you only want the invoice review without the renegotiation, or the pricing model without the contractor roster, say so in the first conversation and the scope and price come down accordingly.