How it works
How engagements work.
Fixed-scope, fixed-price, 4 to 8 weeks. Free intro call up front, paid scoping session if there’s a fit.
01 / Intro and scoping
Intro call, then scoping session.
Every engagement starts with a free 15-minute intro call. Quick read on whether the methodology fits Valoren and whether the timing works for both sides. No work product, no pitch.
If there’s a fit, the next step is a paid 90-minute scoping session. Methodology, calculations, edge cases, all on the record. You walk away with a one-page tool spec, a pricing recommendation, and a timing estimate. Yours whether you book the build or not.
What you bring
- Your methodology in whatever form it currently lives (Excel, Notion, PowerPoint, head)
- One or two recent client examples where the methodology was applied
- The pain you are trying to solve
What you walk away with
- A one-page written spec describing the tool
- A pricing recommendation for the build
- A timing estimate
- An honest answer on whether Valoren is the right fit
The scoping fee is creditable against the build if you book within 30 days. If you don’t book, the spec is yours. Take it to another developer if that’s the right call.
02 / Engagement shapes
Three shapes, fixed scope, fixed price.
Most engagements land in the first two shapes. Bespoke is reserved for complex multi-user tools, integrations with existing systems, or methodologies with non-trivial mathematical models. The right shape is decided in the scoping session; exact build price arrives the day after and stays fixed once we sign.
Plus a £500 to £1,000 paid scoping session up front, creditable against the build if you book within 30 days.
One tool
4 weeks
£4-7k typical
One methodology, one tool, branded for your client. The shape most engagements take.
Best for: Solo consultants productising one calculator
Multi-step
6 weeks
£8-15k typical
Multi-step tool or live dashboard. More sophisticated calculation logic, deeper customisation.
Best for: Boutique firms productising a methodology family
Bespoke
8+ weeks
£20k+
Multi-user, integrations, custom infrastructure, non-trivial mathematical modelling.
Best for: Methodologies with complex models or systems integration
03 / Process
What happens after the scoping call.
Engagement contract signed
Fixed-scope, fixed-price contract with a template-rights carve-out. You own the deliverable; Valoren retains rights to underlying frameworks reused across clients. 50% on signing, 50% on handover. Milestones split into thirds for larger builds, agreed during scoping.
Discovery
Methodology absorption. Sit with you, walk through the calculations, ask the questions a sceptical client would ask, and produce a detailed technical spec that becomes the contract for the build phase. This is where the operations-fluent thing earns its keep.
Build
Iterative. Weekly written updates, working preview URL from week 1, working drafts you can click through from week 3. Bug fixes and scope adjustments handled within the fixed price as long as the spec doesn't expand.
Handover
Code in a repo of your choice. Tool deployed to your infrastructure or transferred. Knowledge-transfer session covering deploy, edit, and handoff to your future developer. Optional 3-month maintenance retainer if signed up, for the iteration that always shows up after live use.
04 / IP
What you own, what Valoren owns.
You own
- The deliverable (the actual web tool, your branding, your client experience)
- The source code on handover
- All client-specific IP and any methodology-specific calculations you bring
- All client data the tool collects in production
Valoren retains
- Reusable components, frameworks, and templates applied across multiple clients (UI patterns, calculation engines, deployment scaffolding)
- Anonymised case-study rights, subject to your written permission
This split is in the standard engagement contract. If your situation has unusual IP needs (a previous engagement granted exclusive rights to a third party, for example), flag during scoping and the contract adjusts.
05 / Common questions
Common questions.
Is Valoren a one-person business?
Yes, today. One named senior builder per engagement, never subcontracted. The person you scope the engagement with is the person who absorbs the methodology and writes the code. Engagement contracts include a knowledge-transfer clause and full code handover, so continuity isn't dependent on me. As Valoren grows, the model stays the same: one named senior builder per engagement.
Why not a freelance developer at half the rate?
Freelance devs ship code; most can't model your operational logic. You get a polished UI on a calculation that's subtly wrong, and you only catch it when a client does. That QA-correction time effectively doubles the rate. Valoren is for buyers who want the methodology right the first time.
Why is the scoping session paid when the intro call is free?
The intro is a 15-minute fit check. The 90-minute scoping session is a working session with a real deliverable: a one-page tool spec, a pricing recommendation, a timing estimate. Charging for it signals it's real work, not a pitch. The fee is creditable against the build if you book within 30 days.
How do I know your code is any good?
Live sample work, walkthrough on request under NDA. Code is yours to inspect on handover. Standard stack (Next.js, FastAPI, TypeScript, Python) so any developer can pick it up later.
What happens if you disappear?
Engagement contracts include a knowledge-transfer clause and full code handover. Your tool runs on your infrastructure, on standard tech, in a repo you own. If continuity matters, the contract can include a designated handover developer before the build starts.
Can you move faster than 4 weeks?
Sometimes. Compressed timelines (2 to 3 weeks) require working closely on a daily basis and limiting scope. Possible for smaller engagements, rare for complex multi-user builds. Discuss in the scoping call.
Can you work on a payment plan?
Standard terms are 50% on signing, 50% on handover. Larger engagements split into thirds. Cashflow accommodations beyond that are case-by-case.
Do you do equity or revenue-share deals?
No. Valoren is a paid build partner, not a co-founder. The cleanest commercial relationship is fixed-fee.
Who else are you working with right now?
One active engagement at a time so the live client gets full focus. If at capacity when you book the scoping call, expect an honest answer about start dates.
Do you sell ops advice as well?
No. Tools-only by design. If a client asks Valoren for ops advice, they get sent back to you, or to a peer ops-transformation consultant if you don't want the work.
Can I see the source code before the engagement starts?
Sample code from prior work is available on request under NDA. Production code from prior engagements stays private until the prior client gives written permission to share.
Ready to start?
Free 15-minute intro call. If there’s a fit, the next step is a paid 90-minute scoping session that produces a one-page tool spec and pricing recommendation. Yours either way.