Working with Exalynt
You buy engineering from Exalynt one block at a time. Each block ends with progress you can see and use, and then you decide what happens next. There is no long contract, retainer, or minimum number of blocks. This page walks through what that looks like in practice.
This page explains how Exalynt works. It is not a client agreement. Current prices and terms are on exalynt.com.
How an engagement works
- Buy a blockFlex, Core, or Dedicated, paid once and up front.
- Agree the goalThe most valuable slice we can finish this iteration.
- We buildUsually about a week. Risks are raised as soon as we see them.
- CheckpointWe show what we did and learned, and recommend what comes next.
Each block is paid once, up front, for one iteration: usually about a week, occasionally two. You're buying a bounded amount of Exalynt's attention and expertise, applied to the most valuable work we can do for you. You aren't buying hours, and you won't receive a timesheet.
Choosing a block
| Block | Exalynt Managed | Self Managed | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flex | $500 | $750 | Discovery, feasibility, technical investigation, architecture guidance, reviews, and small focused changes. |
| Core | $2,750 | $3,500 | The standard block. Covers feature development, integrations, automation, and ongoing iterative development. |
| Dedicated | $6,500 | $8,000 | Larger iterations, significant features, major integrations, and several related improvements at once. |
All three blocks provide the same engineering capabilities: discovery, architecture, development, integrations, and new features. The only difference is how much capacity we allocate. A small feature can be built with Flex, and discovery can happen inside Dedicated. Dedicated is a larger allocation of Exalynt's capacity; it doesn't reserve an engineer exclusively for you.
If you're just starting, a first, standalone Flex engagement ($750) is a good way to test an idea. "Don't build it" is a successful outcome: if a Flex block shows that an existing tool solves the problem, you've saved money.
At each checkpoint we recommend which block size fits the next piece of work. See Engineering Capacity for the full details.
What to expect in every iteration
- We confirm the goal at the start, in your language, not in technical terms.
- We raise risks as soon as we see them. Short iterations exist so a wrong direction shows up in days, not months.
- We stay inside what you bought. We never exceed the purchased capacity without your agreement. If more is worth doing, it belongs in the next block.
- At the checkpoint, we talk about outcomes: what changed, what we learned, what we recommend next, and which block size fits that work.
- Every iteration ends with something real, such as a working feature, a deployed improvement, a validated design, a clear recommendation, or an honest write-up of what we learned.
Who carries the risk
You risk only the block you bought. If the work needs more investigation or debugging than planned, the price doesn't change: Exalynt absorbs the overrun. You can stop after any iteration and keep everything built so far. Sharing risk explains why we work this way.
Choosing a plan
Separately from block size, you choose who runs your software once it's live.
- Exalynt Managed: we operate production (deployments, monitoring, backups, patching, certificates, scaling, and incidents) for a flat $199/month, starting only once the software is in real business use. Capacity is at preferred prices, and infrastructure is billed to you at cost, with no markup.
- Self Managed: your team operates production and arranges infrastructure directly. Capacity is at standard prices, with no monthly fee.
Each block on Managed costs less than on Self Managed: Flex $250, Core $750, Dedicated $1,500 less, against a $199 monthly fee. Infrastructure costs the same either way, and the fee starts only once the software is in production. This compares capacity prices only; it doesn't count the operations work Managed takes off your team.
The Managed fee keeps the software running. It doesn't cover new features or bug fixes; changing what the software does is always bought in blocks.
What you own
- Your software and source code. You own the custom software we build for you and receive its source code.
- Your data. You can leave at any time and take your code and data with you.
- Exalynt keeps its reusable IP: the libraries, tooling, and frameworks we bring to every engagement.
Leaving
You can stop after any iteration. There is no minimum term, exit fee, or buyout, and on Exalynt Managed a standard handoff is included. We'd rather keep you because the work is good than because leaving is hard.
Where your money goes
Exalynt publishes how every block payment splits between the engineer who delivers it and the company, and what the company's share pays for.
- Engineer payout $3,850 59%
- Exalynt retains $2,650 41%
- The engineer is paid first: $7,000 basis × 55% = $3,850. The client's price doesn't affect it.
- What's left is the contribution: $6,500 − $3,850 − direct costs.
- Exalynt retains the contribution, and pays for everything else from it.
See How the money flows for the full picture.
Frequently asked questions
Do you charge more if something takes longer than expected?
No. The price of a block doesn't change. That's the risk Exalynt accepts in exchange for being paid the same when things go faster than expected.
What if the work is bigger than one block?
We deliver the most valuable complete slice we can within the iteration, then explain at the checkpoint what remains and what it would take. You decide whether to buy the next block. If work regularly needs more than a block, we'll suggest a larger block or smaller iterations.
Will I see how many hours were spent?
No. You bought a block, not a timesheet. At the checkpoint we talk about outcomes: what changed, what we learned, and what we recommend next.
Does a Dedicated block give me a dedicated engineer?
No. Dedicated is a larger allocation of Exalynt's capacity, not an exclusive assignment of one engineer.