No retainers, no inflated SOWs. We propose the model that puts our incentives next to yours — and we're transparent about what each one costs.
Best for: a specific outcome with a defined scope. RAG system in 6 weeks. SOC 2 audit prep. Cost-cut sprint.
depending on scope · fixed price
Best for: open-ended advisory, embedded engineering, or when scope is still emerging. Most clients start here.
$280/hr at 80+hrs/mo · $250/hr at 160+hrs/mo
Best for: high-confidence cost optimization on inference, GPU spend, or cloud waste. We only get paid if you do.
12-month measurement · third-party audited
| If you need… | Project | Hourly | % Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| A defined deliverable on a fixed deadline | ★★★ | ★★ | — |
| Embedded engineering for ongoing work | ★ | ★★★ | — |
| Strategic advisory or architecture review | ★★ | ★★★ | — |
| Cloud / inference cost optimization | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★ |
| Compliance prep (SOC 2, HIPAA, EU AI Act) | ★★★ | ★★ | — |
| No internal AI / ML platform team yet | ★★ | ★★★ | ★ |
No. Hourly is our flexible model — same billing rhythm as a retainer, but you only pay for hours used. We send a monthly summary and adjust together.
We lock a baseline at engagement start (last 90 days of cloud / inference bills, usage-normalized). Savings = baseline run-rate − new run-rate, measured monthly, reconciled quarterly. We can bring in a third party to audit if you'd like.
Yes — both, before any technical conversation. We also carry $5M E&O insurance and can sign vendor security questionnaires (SIG, CAIQ).
Yours. Always. We get scoped, time-bounded IAM access. We never run production workloads in MLOPS-owned accounts.
Great — that's the goal. We document, train your engineers, and run a structured handoff. Many clients move from project → hourly → "call us when something breaks" within 18 months. We consider that a win.
Tell us what you're trying to do — we'll recommend the engagement model that aligns our incentives with your goal. No commitment.
Book a 30-min call →