A Free 30-Minute Fit Call

No commitment, no pitch. An honest conversation about the manual process that’s hurting you and whether it’s worth doing something about.

This call is a fit check, not a diagnosis. We figure out together whether there’s a real problem here, whether custom software is even the right answer (sometimes it isn’t, and I’ll say so), and whether the paid Operations Diagnostic is the right next step. I don’t hand over the fix, a scope, a timeline, or a price on a free call. That’s what the Diagnostic is for.

The one question to come ready for:

Walk me through the manual process that’s costing your team the most time right now.

If you can answer that, the rest of the call takes care of itself.

What the Call Covers

  • The process that hurts most: what it is, and roughly what it’s costing you in time or money
  • Whether software is even the answer: some problems aren’t worth automating, and I’ll tell you when that’s one of them
  • Whether we’re a fit: how I work and how you work, and whether the two line up
  • The next step, if there is one: how the paid Operations Diagnostic works and what it produces

Schedule Your Fit Call

Note: Each call includes a Google Meet link automatically generated when you book your appointment.

If you want to come prepared: the process itself, how often it happens, who touches it, and what tools are already in the mix. That’s enough for a productive first call. We can fill in the rest together.

The Operations Diagnostic — $1,500

The fit call decides whether there’s a problem worth solving. The Diagnostic is where I actually do the thinking.

It’s a fixed-scope, paid engagement that produces a written roadmap you own:

  • A map of your current process, step by step, with the handoffs, the tools, and the people involved
  • Where the time and money are leaking, and roughly how much
  • What’s worth automating and what should stay human
  • A sequenced build plan with ballpark costs, so you know what it would take and in what order

Think of it as the doctor’s exam before the prescription. You walk away with a real plan, and it’s yours whether or not you build it with me.

The $1,500 is credited 100% toward your build if you move forward. For a client who’s serious about fixing the problem, it ends up costing nothing. It mainly filters out the people who want the thinking for free.

How I Work

Bespoke and owned: I build the system to your exact process, and you own it outright. Documented, maintainable, and running on your own accounts.

Weeks, not months (for most builds): I build with AI as a force multiplier, which is how a solo senior engineer delivers a single workflow or complete process in weeks. Larger back-office systems take longer — see the Services page for the full breakdown.

Simple engagement structure: a written proposal with fixed scope and fixed price, one invoice, standard contract paperwork. I run a US-based LLC and keep US-Eastern business hours. No hiring, no payroll, no procurement dance.

After the Diagnostic, the build usually takes one of these shapes:

Build (2-12 weeks): Your custom operational system, end to end, with documentation and handoff.

Short Engagement (2-4 weeks): A specific infrastructure problem, migration, or proof of concept.

Ongoing Support: Monthly retainer for continuous improvements, new automations, and strategic guidance.

All engagements include:

  • Software and infrastructure that just works
  • Documentation your team can follow
  • Runbooks for when things go wrong
  • Knowledge transfer so you’re not dependent on me forever

On the fit call I’ll be straight with you. If your problem doesn’t need custom software, I’ll say so and you’ve spent nothing but half an hour. If it does, the Operations Diagnostic is where we turn it into a real plan.

Schedule a time

Questions before booking? Email blake@virtualexponent.com or connect on LinkedIn.

Currently taking on new clients. Book a call and bring your worst manual process.