The Field Manual / Pricing & engagement
What AI operations costs, and how to start small
The short answer
AI Operations Snapshot: Free. AI Operations Diagnostic: $1,000 once for 1 week, documents only; no implementation is included. Partnership Tiers: Direct Advisory at $2,500/month with 4 engineering hours a month; Strategic Partner at $4,500/month with 8 engineering hours a month; Fractional Product Lead at $7,500/month with 15 engineering hours a month. Each tier has a 3-month commitment and no onboarding fee. Sprint Add-Ons cost extra and require an active Partnership Tier.
What can we try for free?
The AI Operations Snapshot takes about 15 minutes and helps you examine one workflow. The free DIY kits let your team work through an operating problem on its own. The Agent Readiness Kit adds templates for a website knowledge catalog; it downloads directly without an email address.
What does the paid Diagnostic cover?
The AI Operations Diagnostic costs $1,000 once and runs for 1 week. It maps one workflow, measures the problem and writes the scope for the first fix. Nothing is built during the Diagnostic. See its page for the full set of documents and participation requirements.
The $1,000 Diagnostic fee is credited against the first tier month when you submit the pre-work within 48 hours of booking, attend both live sessions, start a Partnership Tier's 3-month term within 30 days of the readout. The credit does not stack with other offers.
Is ongoing work project-based or monthly?
Implementation continues through a monthly Partnership Tier after the Diagnostic. Included engineering hours depend on the tier. Larger scoped work can use a month-to-month Sprint Add-On on top of an active tier; an add-on cannot be bought by itself.
The full pricing page lists included hours, response windows, banking rules and add-on prices. Use that page for the current terms before you commit. A Diagnostic payment is not a purchase of a completed automation.
What is the lowest-risk first step?
If you do not yet know which workflow to fix, start with the free Snapshot. If the problem is clear but the build is not, use the Diagnostic to document the scope before a larger commitment. A free conversation can clarify fit without assuming your current tools all need replacing.