Frequently asked questions
The questions that come up before nearly every project. If yours is not here, email it — the answer may end up on this page.
Before you email
Most questions are about timeline, cost, ownership and what happens if something goes wrong. Those are answered below in full.
Anything specific to your situation is better answered directly, and usually in one reply.
- Fixed prices agreed before work starts
- You own all code and infrastructure
- Two weeks of post-launch support included
- NDAs signed as a matter of course
Frequently asked questions
How soon can you start?
Usually within one to three weeks. Two or three concurrent projects is the limit, so occasionally there is a short wait — we will tell you honestly rather than starting something we cannot give attention to.
Who owns the code?
You do, completely, on delivery and payment. It lives in your repository from the first commit, deployed to your accounts. No licensing conditions and no dependency on us.
What if the project fails or the approach does not work?
Some AI approaches do not survive contact with real data. That is why risky assumptions get tested in the first two weeks, on a small budget, before the main build is committed. If something cannot be made to work we say so early and we stop — that has happened, and clients were better off for it.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes, routinely, usually the same day. Your paper is fine.
Can you work with our existing team?
Often the best arrangement. Pull requests into your repository, your review process, your conventions, with us providing the AI-specific experience.
What time zones do you cover?
Overlap is arranged with the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. Work is asynchronous by default so progress does not depend on a shared clock.
What happens after launch?
Two weeks of support included, then either a retainer for continued work or a clean hand-over. Both are normal endings.
Do you offer maintenance?
Yes, monthly retainers from $3,000 covering monitoring, model updates, evaluation runs and a defined amount of iteration.
How do we pay?
Bank transfer, usually 40/30/30 across start, midpoint and delivery. Invoicing in USD, GBP, EUR or AED.
Can you fix a project another developer started?
Yes, beginning with an audit and an honest assessment of whether repairing or rebuilding is cheaper. We have recommended both.
Tell us what you are building.
Send a short description of the problem and we will reply within one business day with an honest view of scope, cost and whether we are the right person for it.
Or email directly: contact@hire-ai-dev.com