Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can I work with you guys?
A: There are two ways we can establish a relationship. The first is through fixed bid contracts, the second is through an hourly rate. Both have advantages and disadvantages and we will be happy to work out the best solution for your needs.

Q: What does fixed bid mean?
A: Our fixed bid on a project proposal basically states that we will meet every objective with a solution free from errors or bugs for a known price. If the project scope changes or items are brought up later that were not covered in the initial contract then a change request will be made and may cause price changes either upwards or downwards. However, this requires upfront approval.

Q: What type of guaranty do you give?
A: We guaranty our work for a period of 90 days to be free from any defects. This excludes any changes to the system (such as replacing your database server) that you may make after our work is completed. If a problem arises within the guaranty period then we will fix it immediately on our dime. I challenge you to find anyone else giving that type of guaranty.

Q: Who owns the work when its done?
A: Typically we transfer all rights to work performed upon final payment. This includes rights to change, modify, and resell the work as well as rights to all documentation, emails, code, etc. The only thing we ask in return is the ability to show off our work in a portfolio setting (except for security restricted items) and to place certain small aspects of the code in our toolkit for later reuse. We take seriously your need for a competitive edge and will never redistribute your project for any reason.

Q: How do I know how much it will cost?
A: All work performed on a fixed bid has a fixed cost without any hidden fees, etc. Work performed on an hourly basis will be estimated prior to beginning work. If for some reason we are off by more than 10% with the estimate we will notify you before hand for approval. This way everyone knows exactly what is going on.

Q: How do I know what I'm going to get when you are done?
A: Every project we start has a contract spelling out exactly what the deliverables are. This is signed by us and you and is never executed until everyone has a clear picture of what to expect. We also use various support documentation such as diagrams and design books to illustrate what the final product will be.

During the project we will show work performed as part of regular status meetings. If something does not appear right, those are the times to bring it up and we will work with you to correct those. If items are added to the contract later, these will be executed via Change Requests with appropriate pricing or cost estimates and require the same signatures as with the main contract.

Q: What are your rates?
A: Our rates are job dependent. In other words the cost to harden a network server is much different from the costs of graphic design of a website. Please contact us today at chris@livelyconsulting.com or david@livelyconsulting.com to discuss your project.