How We Work:
Engagement Models and Pricing
Four engagement models, all fixed-scope and fixed-price. Discovery Sprint starts at $30K. Custom Build pricing is scoped after the Sprint. No hourly billing, no scope creep, no surprises.
You should know exactly what you're paying for before you write the check. That's the starting point for every engagement we run.
By Dr. Leigh Coney, Founder of WorkWise Solutions
Our Pricing Philosophy
Most consulting firms bill by the hour. That model works well for consultants. It works terribly for clients. When time is the product, there's no incentive to move fast or scope tight.
We do it differently. Every engagement has a fixed scope, a fixed price, and a defined timeline before you commit. You will never get a surprise invoice. Your Discovery Sprint fee credits 100% toward any build, so the Sprint is effectively free if you proceed.
PE firms, family offices, private credit teams, and independent sponsors all operate under the same constraint: time is the scarcest resource. Our pricing is built around that reality. You get a clear deliverable, a hard deadline, and a number that doesn't change.
Four Engagement Models
Choose the model that fits your stage. Most firms start with a Discovery Sprint and expand from there.
Discovery Sprint
Fixed fee. 2-3 weeks.
A focused deep dive into your workflows, data, and AI opportunity set. You walk away with a clear picture of what to build, what it will cost, and what returns to expect.
What You Get
- Workflow audit of your current processes
- Prioritized AI opportunity matrix
- Technical feasibility assessment
- 90-day implementation roadmap
- Executive briefing for your IC or board
- ROI projections by use case
Sprint fee credits 100% toward any Custom Build
Strategic Advisory
Quarterly retainer. Ongoing partnership.
For firms that want a long-term AI strategy partner. You get a dedicated advisor who knows your portfolio, your deal flow, and your operating model inside and out.
What You Get
- Firm-wide AI roadmap and prioritization
- AI governance structure and policies
- ROI projections across your portfolio
- Quarterly strategy sessions with your leadership
Custom Build
Scoped after Discovery Sprint. 6-8 weeks to MVP.
A production-ready AI system built for your specific workflows. Deal screening, portfolio monitoring, IC memo automation, LP reporting. You own everything we build.
What You Get
- Production-ready AI system
- Full source code and documentation
- Complete IP ownership transfers to you
- Team training and knowledge transfer
Ongoing Retainer
Custom retainer. Rolling sprints.
For firms building a pipeline of AI capabilities. You get a dedicated build team, priority access, and strategic advisory baked in. New features ship in rolling two-week sprints.
What You Get
- Dedicated build team assigned to your firm
- Priority access for urgent projects
- Strategic advisory included at no extra cost
- Rolling sprints with continuous delivery
How Most Firms Start
The pattern is straightforward. You start with a Discovery Sprint. In two to three weeks, you have a complete picture of where AI fits in your workflow, what it will cost to build, and what returns to expect.
If the numbers make sense, you move to a Custom Build. The Sprint fee credits toward the build, so you're not paying twice for discovery. Most builds reach MVP in six to eight weeks.
Firms that want to keep building after the first system typically move to an Ongoing Retainer. Rolling sprints, a dedicated team, and strategic advisory built in. That's the full path from "maybe AI" to "AI is how we operate."
Discovery Sprint
Map your workflows. Identify opportunities. Scope the build.
Custom Build
Build the system. Deploy to production. Transfer ownership.
Ongoing Retainer
Scale across the firm. Ship new features. Stay ahead.
Compare Engagement Models
| Discovery Sprint | Strategic Advisory | Custom Build | Ongoing Retainer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment | $30K fixed | Custom quarterly | Fixed price (scoped) | Monthly retainer |
| Timeline | 2-3 weeks | Ongoing | 6-8 weeks to MVP | Rolling sprints |
| Deliverable | Roadmap + ROI case | Strategy + governance | Production AI system | Continuous delivery |
| Best For | Firms exploring AI for the first time | Firms building a long-term AI strategy | Firms ready to deploy a specific solution | Firms scaling AI across the portfolio |
The consulting industry has trained clients to expect ambiguity around pricing. We think that's backwards. If you can't tell someone what a project will cost before it starts, you haven't done the work to understand the problem. That's on you, not the client.
Dr. Leigh Coney
Founder, WorkWise Solutions
Frequently Asked Questions
The Discovery Sprint is a fixed $30,000 engagement. That covers a 2-3 week deep dive into your workflows, a prioritized opportunity matrix, feasibility assessment, 90-day roadmap, executive briefing, and ROI projections. The full fee credits 100% toward any Custom Build engagement.
Custom Build pricing is scoped after the Discovery Sprint. Once we understand your workflows, data environment, and integration requirements, we provide a fixed price for the full build. No hourly rates, no variable costs, no surprises. The Sprint gives both sides the information needed to price accurately.
Yes. 100% of the Discovery Sprint fee applies as a credit toward any Custom Build engagement. If you proceed to a build, the Sprint is effectively free. We structure it this way because the Sprint work directly feeds the build. There's no wasted effort.
The Discovery Sprint at $30,000 is the minimum engagement. It is also the recommended starting point for every new client, because it gives both sides the information needed to scope a build accurately. We don't take on custom builds without first completing a Sprint.
No. Our quotes cover everything: strategy, design, development, testing, deployment, documentation, and knowledge transfer. Cloud infrastructure costs (Azure, AWS) are the only variable, and we estimate those upfront so you know what to expect.
No. Every engagement is fixed-scope, fixed-price. Hourly billing creates misaligned incentives. When a consultant bills by the hour, speed becomes a cost. We want speed to be a feature. Fixed pricing means we're rewarded for efficiency, not penalized by it.
Ready to Start?
Most firms begin with a 30-minute consultation. No pitch deck, no pressure. We'll discuss your workflows, identify where AI fits, and tell you honestly whether it's worth pursuing.
Schedule Your Consultation