How We Work

The path from call to live system.

  1. Discovery Call

    30 min · free

    Short intro. We talk about what you’re trying to fix or build, and whether Automatic is the right partner. No deck. No architecture recommendations yet — that’s the Audit.

    Book a Discovery Call

  2. AI Audit

    paid kickoff · $2,500

    Before anything gets built, this is where we figure out what should get built. We audit the operation, map the workflows, recommend the architecture, and scope the first build. You leave with a real plan you can act on — with us or without.

    • Full audit of your platforms, data, APIs, and integrations
    • Workflow mapping — where the hours actually go
    • Architecture recommendation (private/local, Claude Enterprise, custom)
    • AI Opportunity Report with prioritized roadmap
    • Systems map + first build spec with success metrics
    Start the AI Audit ($2,500)

  3. Managed Retainer

    ongoing · month to month

    Where the system earns its keep. Same work, same David — three tiers calibrated by depth of involvement, not a meter.

    Steady

    ~5 hrs/week

    $2,500/ mo

    Reliable technical execution. You drive priorities, I ship.

    Most teams

    Embedded

    ~10 hrs/week

    $5,000/ mo

    Thinking partner plus builder. Where most teams land.

    Fractional CTO

    ~15–20+ hrs/week

    $9,000/ mo

    Tech person on staff. I own direction and stay in the day-to-day.

Outside the path

Just want my brain for an hour?

Paid Office Hours — specific question, real answer, no full engagement.

1-hour
2-hour
// Principles

How we work, no matter the tier.

  • Setup is real work and gets paid for. Discovery is never free strategy in disguise.
  • Access, not hours. Retainer tiers calibrate depth, not a meter.
  • Same David across tiers. What changes is involvement, not who's doing the work.
  • Month to month. 60-day check-ins. Scope grows with the partnership.
Common questions

A few things people ask.

Why is the Audit paid?+

Because it's real work. Platform audit, workflow mapping, architecture recommendation — hours of focused thinking and listening, not a sales pitch. The free Discovery Call is for fit; the Audit is for substance. If you don't continue with us, you still keep a systems map and architecture recommendation you can hand to anyone.

Private/local AI or Claude Enterprise — which do I need?+

Depends on data, team, and budget. Some clients can't have data leave the building — they need a private local deployment. Some are best served by Claude Enterprise with custom skills and MCP wired into their stack. Most have a mix. We figure out which path fits inside the Audit, not on a sales call.

Do I have to do all three steps?+

No. The path is a menu, not a script. Some clients skip the Audit and go straight to a retainer when scope is already clear. Some stop after the Audit with just the map. Most walk the full path.

What if I just want an hour of your time?+

Paid Office Hours are for that — 1-hour or 2-hour consultations, pay-to-book via Cal.com. For when you have a specific question and don't want a full engagement around it.

Start with a Discovery Call.

30 minutes, free, no deck.

Book a Discovery Call