Not a shop window. A working machine.

Because a number invented before the requirements exist is either padded to protect us or too low and becomes a fight later. The discovery stage exists so the figure is real. It costs you nothing, and the document is yours whether or not you hire us.

You do. Ownership of the delivered source code transfers to you on final payment, and the data is yours throughout. You get the repository, the server credentials and a database export. Standard open-source libraries keep their own licences, as they must.

They usually do — that's normal. Anything outside the signed specification is written up as a change request with its own price and time impact, and you approve it before we build it. Nothing appears on an invoice that you haven't agreed to in advance.

Sometimes. We start with a paid technical audit of what exists — usually a few days — and then tell you honestly whether continuing or rebuilding is cheaper. We won't pretend a rescue is simple if it isn't.

You pay for completed stages and receive everything produced up to that point — code, documentation, designs and database. No penalty, no lock-in. Stage-based payment exists precisely so stopping is possible without a dispute.

We build the technical side to comply: minimal data collection, encryption in transit, access controls, and working export and deletion tools. The organisational side — your own privacy notice, your legal basis for processing, and your retention policy — remains your responsibility as data controller, and we'll tell you exactly what you need to have in place.

Per stage, invoiced as each one is delivered and approved. Typically an advance of 30% on the first stage, then payment on completion of each subsequent stage. Bank transfer, proper invoice, no VAT.