Why a setup fee plus a retainer?
The setup fee covers the custom build, integrations, voice training, and approval rounds — work that happens once. The retainer covers everything that has to happen every week after launch: monitoring, prompt tuning, volume changes, capability expansion. Bundling both into one number tends to either underprice the build or overprice the ongoing work.
Can I start small and scale up?
Yes — that's what Starter is for. Run one system in production, see the numbers, then add the next. We credit the full Starter setup fee toward Growth or Scale if you upgrade within the first 90 days.
What if my volume is way above or below average?
Usage-driven costs (call minutes, email sends, prospect lookups) are passed through at cost on top of the retainer, with a clear line-item invoice. If you're an outlier in either direction, we'll quote a custom retainer on the audit call so the math actually works.
Is there a contract?
A standard MSA + per-engagement SOW. Setup is paid 50% up front, 50% at launch. The monthly retainer is month-to-month after the first 60 days, cancellable with 30 days notice.
What does the outcome guarantee actually cover?
Each system has a measurable target we agree on before launch (e.g., percent of after-hours calls captured, percent of inbox triaged, percent of replies booked). If the system misses the target after a 60-day burn-in, we either rebuild the failing component at no charge or refund the setup fee. We've never had to refund yet.
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