Our Pricing Philosophy
Pricing should help you make decisions, not create more confusion.
You should know what you are paying for, why it matters and how it helps your business. That is especially important when you are a founder, business owner or leader without a deep technical background.
My approach is simple. People before technology. First, we understand the people, decisions and risks. Then we choose the right technical support.
All pricing is in Australian dollars and exludes GST.
Pricing Overview
My pricing is designed around one simple idea: choose the smallest useful level of support first.
That might be a quick hourly session, a fixed-price review, or a monthly retainer if you need regular guidance. Either way, you will know what is included before the work starts.
You can work with me in three ways:
- Retainer packages. Best when you want regular access to senior technology advice.
- Hourly consulting. Best for one-off questions, reviews or focused problem-solving.
- Fixed-price advisory packages. Best when you want a defined outcome, such as a review, audit, document pack or hiring support.
Not sure which option fits? Book a free consultation and we can work it out together.
Retainer Pricing Packages
Retainer pricing is best when you want regular access to senior technology advice without hiring a full-time CTO, CIO or delivery leader.
You get reserved time each month, faster access when questions come up, and a steady hand across strategy, delivery, governance and team support.
Hours can be used across any service.
Starter
$5,500 per month + GST
Best for:
Startups and small teams that need strategic guidance without heavy hands-on support.
Includes:
- One deep-dive strategy session per month.
- Up to 8 to 10 hours of total support.
- Meetings, research, email and Slack Q&A.
- High-level architecture and process reviews.
- Vendor and tool recommendations.
Outcome:
You get a clear roadmap and more confidence in your technical decisions, without taking on a full-time role.
Growth
$9,500 per month + GST
Best for:
Growing companies that are juggling multiple projects and need regular technical leadership.
Includes:
- Fortnightly strategy and planning meetings.
- Up to 15 to 18 hours of support.
- Technical planning, backlog grooming and vendor evaluation.
- Slack and email support with a one-business-day response window.
- Process coaching for agile development, lean practices and team communication.
Outcome:
You get better alignment across projects, smoother delivery and a trusted partner who helps you stay ahead of problems.
Enterprise
$14,500 per month + GST
Best for:
Established firms with complex projects, multiple development streams or higher delivery risk.
Includes:
- Weekly leadership and planning sessions.
- Up to 25 to 30 hours of support.
- Sprint planning, code reviews and architecture reviews.
- Vendor negotiation support.
- Mentoring for engineering or product leads.
- Priority response for critical questions or issues.
Outcomes:
You get a senior technical advisor embedded with your team to improve delivery, reduce risk and support confident scaling.
Extra Notes on Retainers
- Hour rollover. Unused hours roll over for one month to help smooth peaks and troughs.
- Flexibility. Need more time? Additional hours are billed at your package’s discounted rate.
- Mix and match. Use your hours for strategy, governance, delivery support, dashboards, risk reviews or leadership coaching.
Discounted Hourly Rates for Additional Retainer Work
These rates apply to extra time beyond the hours included in your monthly retainer.
- Advisor – $160 per hour + GST
- Growth Partner – $170 per hour + GST
- Enterprise – $180 per hour + GST
Need Something Different?
If the tiers above do not fit, we can tailor an engagement around your objectives, timeline and budget.
For example, you may need support for a complex transformation, a leadership program, a security review or a specific delivery challenge.
Book a free consultation and we can shape the right option together.
Hourly Pricing Details
Hourly pricing works well when you only need a short burst of help.
You might have a tricky technical problem, a proposal to review, an integration question or a decision that needs a second pair of eyes.
My standard rate is $200 per hour plus GST. I bill in 30-minute increments, so you only pay for the time you use.
Hourly consulting can help with:
- Troubleshooting a technical issue.
- Reviewing an architecture or proposal.
- Planning your next technology decision.
- Sense-checking a vendor recommendation.
This is a simple way to test the waters before moving into a larger package.
If you later need ongoing support, we can discuss a monthly retainer. Either way, you will leave with clear guidance, practical next steps and, hopefully, one less headache.
Fixed-Price Advisory Packages
Fixed-price pricing works best when you want a clear outcome and a known cost upfront.
These packages are useful when you need a second opinion, a practical document set, a focused review or a small advisory engagement before committing to bigger work.
You get experienced advice, useful deliverables and a clearer view of your current risks, gaps or next steps.
Business Resilience Document Pack
$5,500 + GST
Best for: Growing businesses that need core operational and security documents, but do not have time to create them properly.
This package gives you a tailored set of documents and procedures to improve resilience, reduce risk and bring more structure to your operations.
Includes:
- Business Continuity Plan
- Disaster Recovery Plan
- Incident Report Template
- Incident Response Plan
- Change Management Procedure
- Access Control Policy
- Password and Authentication Standard
- Backup and Recovery Policy
Outcome: You get a practical document pack that helps your team respond with more confidence when something goes wrong.
Rapid Software Security Review
$2,500 + GST
Best for: Businesses that want to spot obvious software security issues before they become expensive problems.
This focused review looks at dependency risks, code quality signals and common web application security concerns.
It can include checks using tools such as dependency scanning, SonarQube and OWASP ZAP.
Outcome: You get a clear summary of key security risks, practical recommendations and suggested next steps.
Proposal and Proof of Concept Review
$2,000 + GST
Best for: Founders and business owners who want an experienced review before spending more money on a build.
This package reviews a software, website, mobile app, product or project proposal.
Where relevant, I also review proof of concept work, feasibility, delivery risk, likely gaps and whether the proposed approach makes sense for your business goals.
Outcome: You get an independent view before you commit more budget.
Software Architecture Health Check
$4,000 + GST
Best for: Businesses that want to know whether their software is ready to scale, perform and stay maintainable.
This package reviews the current structure of your application or platform.
It highlights risks, bottlenecks, design concerns and improvement opportunities.
Outcome: You get a clearer view of what is working, what is fragile and what should be improved next.
Process and Procedure Review
$3,000 + GST
Best for: Teams where work feels messy, inconsistent or too dependent on a few people remembering how things are done.
I review your current delivery, support or internal operating processes.
Then I identify bottlenecks, weak spots and practical ways to improve consistency.
Outcome: You get clearer ways of working, fewer handover gaps and better structure for a growing team.
Candidate Screening Pack
$250 + GST
Best for: Businesses hiring for a technical role that need help filtering candidates early.
Hiring the wrong person is expensive. Hiring the right person starts with asking better questions and spotting risks sooner.
Includes:
- Review of up to 5 resumes.
- Pre-screen phone calls with shortlisted candidates.
- Short written summary of strengths, risks and overall fit.
Outcome: You get a clearer shortlist and more confidence before interviews.
What’s Included in Every Package
Every package includes the work needed to create a useful outcome, not just the final deliverable.
That may include onboarding, initial review, access to systems or documents, analysis time and delivery of the agreed output.
No mystery maths. No surprise extras. No awkward invoice moment where everyone suddenly studies the carpet.
A Good Way to Start
These packages are designed to be a simple first step.
You can get expert advice, useful documentation or an independent review without committing to a longer engagement from day one.
If the work uncovers bigger risks or opportunities, we can discuss the best next step together.
Nice and sensible. Very little drama. My favourite kind.
How This Pricing Reduces Risk
- Hidden fees. Rates and inclusions are shown upfront.
- Unpredictable costs. Retainers make monthly spend easier to plan.
- Locked-in services. Retainer hours can be used across different services.
- Commitment anxiety. Start small, then scale up if the work proves useful.
- Complex terms. Pricing is explained in plain English.
- Value concerns. The goal is faster progress, fewer mistakes and reduced risk.
- Changing priorities. If your needs shift, your engagement can shift too.
- Personal attention. You work directly with Iain, not a revolving door of consultants.
- Need for proof. Case studies show how this approach has helped real businesses.
Benefits of Transparent Pricing
Transparent pricing helps you choose the right level of support without second-guessing every decision.
You get:
- Budget clarity, so you can plan with confidence.
- Priority access when you choose a retainer.
- Flexible support based on your workload.
- Senior guidance without hiring a full-time executive.
- Cross-functional help across strategy, governance, security, delivery and leadership.
- A people-first approach, where culture, communication and adoption are treated as part of the work.
Good technology decisions start with people. The pricing should support that, not get in the way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pricing
No. Prices are shown excluding GST. GST is added where applicable.
Unused retainer hours roll over for one month.
After that, they expire so you get the best value within your current engagement.
You can purchase additional hours at your package’s discounted rate.
If you need regular extra support, we can also move you to a larger package.
Yes. Packages are billed monthly.
You can adjust or cancel with one month’s notice.
Yes. I offer incentives for six-month and yearly engagements.
Contact me and we can discuss the best option.
Yes. Meetings, preparation, research and follow-up work all count towards your hours.
You will know what is being worked on, so there are no surprises.
Priority support is included in Enterprise retainers.
Emergency support can also be arranged for an additional fee.
Yes. There is a 30-minute minimum for hourly sessions.
After that, you only pay for the time you use.
Book a free consultation or contact me with a short summary of what you need.
I’ll help you choose the pricing option that makes the most sense.
Ready to Choose the Right Pricing Option?
Pricing should feel clear before you commit.
If you are not sure whether hourly consulting, a fixed-price package or a retainer is the best fit, book a free consultation.
We’ll talk through your goals, risks and budget, then choose the simplest option that gets you moving.