Back to Home

how it works

From first conversation to go-live — here is exactly what happens

No surprises. No hidden steps. No commitment until you have seen the full scope and agreed every penny of the cost. Here is the complete process from start to finish.

Before we start

Read this page before your consultation. Every client who arrives knowing what to expect gets more from the meeting — and gets a better build as a result.

01

Free consultation — we come to you

I come to your business — your office, your site, your showroom — and spend about an hour understanding how you work. I will ask you to walk me through a typical working day. What happens from the moment an enquiry comes in to the moment a job is invoiced and paid. Where you lose time. What you are doing manually that you shouldn't be. What tool you're using that doesn't quite fit. I record the conversation on Otter so nothing gets missed. The recording stays private and is only used to build your scope.

No cost. No commitment. Just a straight conversation about whether we can help.

02

Scope of works and fixed price proposal

Within a few days of the consultation, I send you a full written scope of works. Every feature listed. Every deliverable named. Everything that is not included clearly stated. And a fixed build fee — not an estimate, not a range. A number. You read it, ask questions, push back on anything that doesn't look right. Nothing moves forward until you are completely happy with what is being built and what it costs. Scope changes after approval are quoted separately. Nothing outside the agreed scope gets built without a written agreement first.

Fixed price. No surprises. You know the full cost before committing.

03

Stage 1 deposit — build begins

Once you approve the scope, I invoice for the Stage 1 deposit — typically one third of the build fee. Build begins on receipt. You nominate one point of contact for feedback and sign-off during the build.

Stage 1 deposit. Build starts. Typically one third of the agreed build fee.

04

Two-week demo — you see it working

Two weeks into the build, I show you a working demo. Not a mockup or a wireframe — the actual platform, live, with your branding, your job types, and your pricing logic built in. You test it. You give feedback. If something isn't right, we fix it before the final delivery. The second payment is only triggered when you are happy with the demo.

Stage 2 payment triggered when you sign off the demo.

05

Full delivery and go-live

The complete build is delivered. We walk through everything together — every feature, every workflow, every setting. Your team gets shown how to use it. You go live. The final payment is triggered on go-live. Monthly subscription starts from this date.

Stage 3 payment on go-live. Monthly subscription begins.

06

Ongoing partnership — not a one-off build

This is where most software companies leave you. OpsDeck doesn't. The monthly subscription covers hosting, bug fixes, and minor updates. As your business grows and changes, the platform evolves with it. New job types, integrations, or features are quoted as add-ons. You always know what something costs before it gets built.

Monthly subscription from go-live. Ongoing support, hosting, and evolution included.

What is and isn't included in the monthly subscription

Included

  • Bug fixes on our code
  • Hosting costs covered
  • Price and rate updates to existing config
  • Email support within 24 hours on weekdays
  • Minor updates and improvements

Charged separately

  • New job types or automations
  • New document templates
  • New integrations
  • Additional user seats — £49 per month
  • On-site training beyond initial onboarding

One rule we never break

We never quote a build fee before a fact-find. Scope first, price second. Any company that quotes you a price before understanding exactly what you need is guessing — and you will pay for that guess one way or another. We will always understand your business before we give you a number.

Common questions about the process

Ready to start?

Book a free consultation. We will come to you, understand your business, and tell you honestly what we can build — and what it will cost.

Book a free consultation