The front door to everything we do
When your developer or vendor is gone, the first question is not what to fix. It is what you actually have. Where does it run? Who can log in? Is there a backup, and has anyone ever restored it? What does it cost, and what happens if the person who last touched it stays gone?
The Takeover Assessment answers those questions in about two weeks, for a fixed price, in plain English. It is how every retainer client starts, and it is available on its own if you only want the answers.
What happens during the two weeks
- Kickoff call. We agree the scope in writing, tell you how AI is used in the work, and list what access we need. Nothing is touched without your written approval.
- Learn the system. We read the code, the hosting setup and the configuration. We map the components, the data flows and the integrations.
- Put things in your hands. Backups, hosting and access move into accounts you own. Where there is no code repository, we set one up. Where backups exist but were never tested, we restore one and note the result.
- Document. We write the runbook that does not exist yet: how it is deployed, how it is restored, who holds which login, what each part does.
- Report and readout. You receive a plain-English report and a 45 to 60 minute readout. A verbal-only readout is available if you prefer no written report. You then have 14 days for questions.
Proposals for fixes and a retainer are sent after the readout, not during it. We do not pressure anyone at the meeting.
What is in the report
The same structure is used on every assessment, and the small tier uses the key sections in plain English. See the full outline on What You Get. In short:
- A one-page summary: what the software does, who supports it today, what breaks if the old vendor stays gone, the top five items, the total priced fix cost and a 30/60/90 day plan.
- A system map and the documentation we wrote.
- What we stabilized: backups, hosting, access custody and monitoring.
- Stack and dependency health, including end-of-life dates and hosting or license cost waste.
- A priced list of findings, each with the evidence behind it.
- A modernization and AI opportunity map: fix in place, replace in stages, or rebuild.
- A retainer proposal with the credit statement.
Deliverables are a PDF, a JSON export, a ticket repository you own and an access and credential inventory.
Pricing
| Tier | Scope | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Common stack, under 25,000 lines of custom code, one environment | $3,500 |
| Standard | 25,000 to 150,000 lines of custom code, one environment, up to 3 integrations | $7,500 |
| Design partner (first three only) | Small-tier scope, pre-paid, up to 75,000 lines, written consent to cite an anonymized outcome | $1,500 |
All prices are in USD with a fixed scope. Larger systems and unusual stacks are quoted before work starts.
The credit
100% of the Takeover Assessment fee is credited toward your first three months of any Keep-Alive, Support Plus or Own-It retainer if you sign within 90 days of the report. The credit is non-cash, non-refundable and non-transferable, and it cannot exceed the assessment fee. The $5,000 retainer onboarding fee is waived against the credit.
What the assessment is not
The assessment is about continuity: can this software keep running, and who can look after it? It is not a security review of any kind, and we state that on the cover of every report. Scanner output, when included, sits in an appendix labeled as tooling findings. We do not offer security assessments or security testing, and if you need one we will refer you to a specialist firm.
Findings are as of the stated date. This is not a guarantee, a security assessment or a penetration test.
Handling of your code
Your code is used only for the engagement. Unless you move to a retainer, we delete our copy within 30 days of the final report. If you would rather no code reach an AI model at all, there is a no-LLM option at 50% above the tier price. In that case the work is fully manual.
Who this is for
Businesses with a custom portal, application or website built by someone who has left. Aging software companies whose last developer is leaving. Owners who just bought a business and want to know what came with it. If that sounds like you, tell us about your software and we will confirm the right tier by email. You can also compare the other entry points on the pricing page, or read about Rescue if something is down right now.
