Monthly retainer
Agreed monthly hours of architecture, development or technical advisory. Without explaining the context from scratch every time. Without the cost of a full-time employee.
Who is the retainer for?
Startup with own technical team
They have devs but need validation of architecture decisions, code review of critical PRs and someone to ask the hard questions before the problem becomes expensive.
Company without a technical CTO
The CEO or founder makes technical decisions without the judgment to evaluate them well. The retainer works as a fractional CTO — without the salary of one.
Team in scaling stage
The product grew and the technical decisions of the first months no longer apply. They need an external eye to help navigate the transition without rewriting everything.
Post Madariaga SAS project
The project ended, the client's team operates the system, but they want access to technical judgment for decisions that come up.
What's included
Basic
USD 1,500 – 2,000/month
8–10 hrs/month
- Code review of critical PRs (up to 4/month)
- Async technical queries (email / message)
- Monthly 60-min status review meeting
- Guaranteed response in 24–48 business hours
Good for
Teams that need a specific external technical eye, without intensive support.
Standard
USD 2,500 – 3,500/month
15–20 hrs/month
- Everything in Basic tier
- Participation in architecture decisions
- Technical document review (ADRs, specs)
- Biweekly 30-min sync meeting
- Guaranteed response in 8–12 business hours
Good for
Growing startups that want technical judgment integrated into their development process.
Intensive
USD 4,000 – 6,000/month
30–40 hrs/month
- Everything in Standard tier
- Hands-on development of critical components
- Onboarding and mentoring of new devs
- Availability for technical emergencies
- Guaranteed response in 4 business hours
Good for
Teams that need additional senior technical capacity in a flexible way.
How it works
First conversation
We understand the team context, stack, current challenges and what type of support they need.
Proposal and agreement
We define hours, SLA, scope and communication method. Minimum 3 months. Cancellable with 30 days notice.
Technical kickoff
We review the current system: repository, architecture, existing documentation. Starting point documented.
Monthly operation
Hours distributed as needed during the month. Hours consumed visible to the client.
Monthly review
Month-end meeting: hours consumed, decisions made, next focus areas.
What's not included
- Development of complete features (quotable separately as a project)
- 24/7 production support — the retainer operates during business hours (GMT-3)
- Client team management — the retainer is advisory, not management
- Unused hours in the month — they don't accumulate or transfer
Frequently asked questions
Can I change tiers after starting?
Yes, with 30 days notice. You can go up or down depending on current needs.
Do unused hours accumulate?
No. Hours are monthly and don't accumulate. If you consistently use fewer hours than agreed, it makes sense to move to a lower tier.
Can you handle technical emergencies?
In the Standard and Intensive tiers, yes. In the Basic tier, emergencies are handled in the next available window. If you need on-call support, we quote it separately.
Does the retainer replace a CTO?
It depends on the stage of the company. For pre-Series A startups without a CTO, the retainer covers most strategic technical decisions. For companies that need a CTO in day-to-day operations, it's not a replacement.
Can you start with a project and then move to retainer?
Yes, it's the most common flow. The project ends, the client's team operates the system, and the retainer gives them access to technical judgment for whatever comes up.
Is your team making important technical decisions without an external eye to validate them?
The retainer is not a support subscription — it's continuous access to senior technical judgment. First conversation is commitment-free.
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