LanceTek
Services

What I build, how it runs, and what it usually costs.

Prices below are ranges from the shape of the work, not a menu. Every project starts with a short fixed-price discovery stage, which ends in a firm quote — so you know the number before you commit to the build.

What you get

  • A web application that works on desktop, tablet and phone
  • Logins and permissions for your staff (and customers, if needed)
  • Imports from your existing spreadsheets, so you start with your own data
  • Connections to tools you already use, where they offer an API
  • Source code in a repository you own, plus a plain-English guide

Typical shape

  • Wk 1–2Discovery: process map, screen sketches, firm quote
  • Wk 3–4First working version on a test link
  • Wk 5–8Build out, with a demo every fortnight
  • Wk 9Your data imported, staff walkthrough, go-live
  • +30 daysFixes for anything that doesn't match the agreed plan, at no charge

Good fits: job and booking trackers, quoting tools, stock and order systems, customer portals, replacing a creaking Access database.

What you get

  • An automation that handles one well-defined job end to end
  • Clear rules for what the AI may do alone and what needs approval
  • A simple review screen for the cases it isn't sure about
  • A log of every input and decision, so you can check its work
  • A written note on where your data goes and which model provider sees it

Typical shape

  • Wk 1Collect real examples and agree what "correct" looks like
  • Wk 2–3Build and test against those examples
  • Wk 4Shadow mode: it runs alongside you, changing nothing
  • Wk 5–6Switch on, with approvals, then relax them as trust is earned

A straight answer on AI. Language models are good at reading messy text and drafting. They are not reliable enough to make unchecked decisions about money, customers or compliance. I design around that: the model does the reading, ordinary code applies your rules, and a person approves anything uncertain.

autonomy-ladderExample
Autonomy ladder for an automation Four stages from left to right: shadow mode, suggest, act with approval, act and report. Each step is only taken once the previous one has proved reliable on your own data. 1 · Shadow 2 · Suggest 3 · Act + approve 4 · Act + report watches only drafts for you you click approve low-risk jobs only Each step is taken only when the last one has proved itself on your own data.

What you get

  • Servers on UK hosting, or on hardware in your office, in your name
  • Automatic, encrypted, off-site backups — with a tested restore
  • Deployments that are one command or one click, not a ritual
  • Monitoring that alerts a person before customers notice
  • A runbook: how it fits together and what to do if I'm unavailable

Typical shape

  • Wk 1Audit what you run today, what it costs and what's at risk
  • Wk 2–3Build the new setup alongside the old one
  • Wk 4Move over out of hours, with a way back if needed
  • Wk 5Restore test, runbook and handover

Good fits: self-hosted file sharing, password managers, internal wikis, moving a website off an expensive or neglected host, setting up proper backups.

What you get

  • Security updates applied and checked
  • A monthly restore test from backup
  • A set number of hours for small changes each month
  • A short monthly report: what was done, anything to watch
  • Response to faults within one working day

Worth knowing

Care plans aren't required. If you'd rather take everything in-house, or hand it to another supplier, you'll get the code, the credentials and the runbook. I'd rather you stay because it's useful than because leaving is hard.

I'm one person, so this is business-hours support, not a 24/7 service desk. If you need round-the-clock cover, I'll tell you during discovery.

How pricing works

Fixed prices for defined stages. No surprise invoices.

Day rate is used only for open-ended work you ask for outside a quoted stage. All prices exclude VAT where applicable.

StagePrice shapeWhat it covers
First callFree45 minutes. Whether I'm the right fit, and whether software is the right answer.
Discovery£600 – £1,500 fixedProcess map, technical plan, diagram and a firm quote for the build. Yours to keep even if you go elsewhere.
BuildFixed quote from discoveryPaid in stages: 30% at start, 40% at midpoint demo, 30% on go-live.
ChangesQuoted before work startsIf you change your mind mid-build, I price the change in writing first.
Day rate£480 a dayAdvice, reviews, or small open-ended jobs.
Care£250 – £900 a monthUpdates, backups, monitoring and a block of change hours.

Ranges are indicative for planning, not an offer. Your quote comes after discovery, in writing.

Not sure which fits?

Describe the problem. I'll suggest the smallest useful first step.

Often that's a discovery stage. Sometimes it's an off-the-shelf tool and a bit of setup — in which case I'll say so.

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