What does the monthly platform fee cover?
The platform fee covers everything needed to keep the system running after launch: Retell AI hosting, call routing infrastructure, analytics dashboard access, monitoring, and routine maintenance. Think of the setup fee as the build cost and the platform fee as the operational cost. You can cancel the platform fee if you want to self-host, but I find most clients prefer the managed option.
Do I own the system after the build?
Yes, fully. All accounts (Retell AI, HubSpot, Airtable, Make.com, or whichever tools your system uses) are set up in your name from day one. I build on your infrastructure, not mine. If you cancel the retainer, you keep everything. I hand over full documentation and credentials at launch regardless of what happens next.
How long does a build actually take?
Answering Agent: 7 business days. Smart Receptionist: 14 business days. Full Call System: 21 business days. Automation projects: 5 to 30 business days depending on scope. These are delivery commitments, not estimates. The clock starts at kickoff, which typically happens within 48 hours of deposit.
What if I need changes after launch?
Post-launch support is included in each tier (14, 30, or 60 days). Changes within scope are covered. After the support window, changes are either included in your retainer or billed as hourly work at $150/hr. For clients on retainers, I scope and deliver one meaningful feature or improvement per month.
Is there a minimum contract length?
No annual lock-in. Setup fees are one-time. Platform and retainer fees are month-to-month. I do ask for 30 days notice to cancel a retainer so I can wind down gracefully. If a system isn't performing, I want to fix it before you leave, not after.
Can I start with one tier and expand?
Yes. Several clients started with an Answering Agent and later upgraded to a Full Call System as their call volume grew. I credit a portion of the original setup fee toward the upgrade. I'll tell you at kickoff if I think you're starting too small or spending more than you need to.
What's different about the HIPAA tier?
The HIPAA tier requires a signed BAA before kickoff. I architect the system so patient data is encrypted in transit and at rest, access is role-based with full audit logs, and nothing passes through infrastructure that is not covered by my BAA. The build is also more complex because I integrate directly with EHRs (Athena Health, Epic, and others), which require credentialing and test environments. That is why the starting price is higher and the timeline is longer.
Do you work on automation projects that don't involve voice AI?
Yes. About half my project work is pure automation: outbound pipelines, audit generators, lead qualification systems, signal pipelines, and content systems. Voice AI is one tool in the stack, not a requirement. If your problem is a manual process that eats time and creates errors, I can probably build a system that fixes it. Book a call and describe what you're dealing with.