When someone has to keep your software running, here is what you buy, what you get, and what you decide at each step — through to a clean exit.

Two ways in — same ladder

Rescue: the technical owner is already gone. Inside Discovery, access comes first.

Succession: the technical owner is still here and leaving. Inside Discovery, documentation comes first.

Both start at Enquiry and triage and climb the same ladder. Legacy Modernization is not a phase on this ladder.

0. 0 — Enquiry and triage

   Unpaid, and it takes minutes. You answer an Intake Form — a short picture of the situation. We decide whether this looks like a good fit.

   Your decision: wait for our fit answer, or walk away.

1. 1 — Orientation call

   Unpaid, about 30 minutes. We confirm the situation together. You leave with a Discovery Proposal — a fixed-price offer to look properly — or a clear decline.

   Your decision: accept Discovery, or stop.

2. 2 — Discovery

   Paid at a fixed price. Every paid Discovery produces a Discovery Report you keep whether or not you proceed. If we recommend proceed or proceed with conditions, you also get a Stabilization Proposal. If we recommend refuse or advise elsewhere, there is no Stabilization Proposal.

   Your decision: proceed to Stabilization, proceed with conditions, refuse, or advise elsewhere. You may stop after Discovery.

3. 3 — Stabilization

   Paid at a fixed price. We make the system known and recoverable, and we leave you a System Manual. Stabilization does not start without a paid Discovery.

   Your decision: move into Stewardship, or stop here with the System Manual.

4. 4 — Stewardship

   A paid recurring retainer to keep the system maintainable and recoverable. It does not include new behaviour. It does not start unless the quality bar is met. If the system falls below that bar and you refuse remediation, Stewardship ends.

   Your decision on notice: continue, or Exit.

5. 5 — Enhancement Design

   Paid at a fixed price when you want a change to what the software does. You get an Enhancement Proposal before anything is built. Never inside the Stewardship retainer. Build does not start here. It may run after Stabilization and before Stewardship, or during Stewardship, and it may repeat — only while the quality bar is met and maintained.

   Your decision: proceed to build, narrow the request, or stop.

6. 6 — Enhancement Build

   Paid at a fixed price. We make the change described in the Enhancement Proposal — and we do not start without that proposal.

   Your decision: accept, rework within scope, or stop.

7. 7 — Exit

   Runs on notice. You leave with a current System Manual so another competent person can take over.

Email us about your situation

You do not need a technical brief. Tell us what the system does, who used to look after it, and what is at risk — we will say what fits.