Frequently asked questions
Straight answers about business automation projects.
The questions buyers actually ask before hiring an independent automation consultant — on pricing, contracts, code ownership, and how AI fits into delivery.
Have you worked in my industry?
I have 17 years inside real business operations — financial planning, reporting, and industrial operations — before writing production code. Manual reconciliation, spreadsheet limits, and disconnected systems repeat across industries, so I learn the domain quickly.
Why you and not an agency?
One senior person owns the outcome end to end. There is no account manager relaying messages to a junior, and less overhead. I take on few projects at a time so each gets full attention.
How do you price and how long does it take?
Small, defined tasks are fixed-price. Larger projects begin with paid discovery and a fixed or milestone-based proposal. An audit is usually 1–2 weeks, workflow automation 2–8 weeks, and an internal system 2–6 months. I will say when a budget is out of reach rather than underbid and drift.
How do we start?
Start with a free 20-minute fit call. We identify your operational bottlenecks and decide whether software is even the right answer. If there is a fit, a paid Operations & Data Audit produces a fixed scope, architecture blueprint, and price.
Can you contract with a US or EU company?
Yes. I operate as a Georgian Sole Proprietor and invoice properly. US clients receive a W-8BEN; EU invoices use reverse-charge VAT. Engagements use an English MSA and SOW under Delaware or Irish governing law, as appropriate.
How does payment work?
Payments are typically milestone-based at 30/40/30 and released when a milestone is accepted. Escrow is available for a first project; the deposit is due on the signed SOW.
Who owns the code?
You do. The repository lives in your account from day one, and intellectual property transfers to you on full payment. Nothing is held hostage.
Can you sign an NDA?
Yes. A mutual NDA is available before discovery, and EU clients can request a GDPR Article 28 Data Processing Addendum.
Do you use AI to write the code?
Yes, transparently. AI drafts; I review architecture and every line of code. It accelerates delivery but does not replace senior judgment or responsibility. The full process is on How I work with AI.
What happens after launch?
A 30-day warranty covers bugs, not new features. I hand over documentation, deployment steps, and observability. Support is available but never required — the system is yours.
What if we are not ready to build?
The review and discovery exist for exactly that decision. If a spreadsheet formula is enough or the business is not ready, I will say so. Trust matters more than an unwanted project.
Can you work with our existing team and tools?
Yes. The work starts with the actual process and the people who run it. I can connect or gradually replace your existing spreadsheets, Shopify, AppSheet, email, accounting, and internal systems — without forcing your team to change everything at once.
How do you reduce the risk of a migration?
We first pin down the source of truth, data quality, and acceptance criteria. Then we rehearse on a copy, cut over in controlled stages, and plan a rollback path. A migration should be neither blind nor disruptive to operations.
Working with me
Hiring an independent consultant you found online is a trust decision. Here is the concrete shape of an engagement — so you know what you are buying before the first call.
- Georgian Sole ProprietorA properly invoiced legal entity — W-8BEN-ready for US clients, reverse-charge VAT for EU.
- English MSA + SOWContracts under US (Delaware) or EU (Irish law) governing law — whichever your team knows.
- Milestone paymentsTypically 30/40/30 — you only release funds when a milestone is accepted.
- Escrow on the first projectSo you risk far less while we establish trust.
- You keep repo accessCode lives in your account from day one — never held hostage.
- IP transfers on paymentFull ownership is yours once the invoice is settled.
- Mutual NDA on requestPlus a GDPR Data Processing Addendum for EU clients.