How We Charge: Hourly Rates and Prepaid Time Blocks

Our Rates at a Glance

eXcelisys bills hourly. Our standard rate is $195 per hour for single hours. Prepay a block of 5 hours or more and your rate drops, to as low as $135 per hour with a 100-hour block. Unused prepaid time is refundable at any point, or can stay on account for future work, which most clients choose. Every project starts with a free consultation and estimate, Contact Us.

Working with a nonprofit? Ask about our nonprofit rates.

How the Retainer Works

You buy a “bank” of our time up front, and we draw it down as we work. You get detailed reports showing exactly how your hours were spent. Prepaid time also keeps your project at high priority in our production queue.

Any prepaid time you don’t use is yours. We’re happy to refund the remaining balance at any point, most often once your solution is complete, or you can leave it on account for future work. We don’t take your dollars; we earn them.

We accept checks, ACH bank transfers, and Visa, American Express, Discover and Mastercard. Wire transfers are welcome too, though a fee may apply. (We no longer accept farm animals or used personal items in lieu of payment.)

Why We Bill Hourly Instead of Fixed Price

Fixed-price quotes sound comforting, but in custom development someone usually loses, and it’s usually the client. To protect their margin, fixed-price shops pad the quote, low-ball it and make it up in change orders, or recycle a solution built for someone else. When the best answer turns out to take longer than predicted, or a better idea appears mid-project, a fixed price forces corners to be cut.

Hourly billing means you pay only for the work that’s done and needed. It isn’t a free pass to rack up hours: we give you an estimate up front, work to stay within it, and tell you early if something changes. Our clients say it best: “they get the work done quickly without milking us for hours!” Andy Haenszel, CIO.

What Will My Project Cost?

It depends on what you need, which is why every engagement starts with a free initial consultation. We’ll ask about your goals, users and existing systems, then give you a rough estimate and timeline based on similar projects. Larger projects get a detailed blueprint with a refined estimate. See how we work.

Support and Maintenance

Ongoing support and maintenance for FileMaker, Airtable and WordPress solutions is billed from the same prepaid time blocks. Any suggested maintenance plans are simply recommended block sizes, not separate packages.

Nonprofit Pricing

We offer discounted rates for nonprofit organizations. Your Solutions Services Consultant will walk you through the details.

Common Questions About Pricing

Answers about refunds, turnaround and fixed quotes are in our FAQ.