Every VELA engagement starts with a paid diagnostic — a structured assessment of your current operations, the gaps, and what the system needs to do. Delivered in writing before any build begins.
No system is built before the diagnostic is complete. This protects both parties from scope drift, systems that don't solve the actual problem, and the cost of building something that turns out to be wrong. The diagnostic is paid because it has real value independent of whether a build follows — the written findings are yours to keep and act on, regardless of what happens next.
The diagnostic begins with a structured discovery call — typically 60–90 minutes — that maps your current operational reality. How are clients entering your business today? Where are enquiries being lost? What does your invoicing process look like? What manual tasks consume the most time each week? What data do you wish you had but don't?
From the discovery call, a written Phase 1 report is produced. The report documents: your current operational state, the specific gaps identified, the system architecture recommended to close those gaps, the realistic alternatives that were considered and why they weren't chosen, and the tradeoff being accepted by choosing the recommended path.
A free discovery call produces a sales pitch. A paid diagnostic produces a document. The difference is that the written findings have real value — you understand your operational gaps clearly, you have a documented recommendation from an independent perspective, and you have a blueprint you can act on whether or not you engage VELA for the build.
For businesses that proceed to Phase 2, the Phase 1 fee is credited against the Phase 2 project price. The diagnostic is the first investment — it determines whether Phase 2 investment is warranted and what it should produce.
Phase 1 diagnostic pricing is engagement-specific — it reflects the complexity of the operational environment, the number of service lines involved, and the depth of the assessment required. For most single-founder service businesses, Phase 1 is priced between BSD $300 and BSD $750. For multi-principal firms, institutionally-regulated entities, or engagements with significant compliance context, Phase 1 is priced accordingly.
The Phase 1 fee is always quoted and agreed before the discovery call is scheduled.
Every VELA engagement starts with a paid diagnostic — your operational reality documented before a single system is built.
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