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Level 147

Client Engagement

Engagement lifecycle

Initial contact
  → Discovery call (30–60 min)
    → Proposal / quote
      → SOW or acceptance
        → Delivery
          → Review and close
            → Ongoing / retainer (optional)

Stage 1 — Initial contact

The client contacts Level 147 via email (admin@level147.net) or referral.

Response time: 1 business day.

Goal: Understand the problem at a high level and determine if there is a fit.

Stage 2 — Discovery call

A 30–60 minute call to understand:

  • The problem and its context
  • Timeline and urgency
  • Budget range (avoid wasting both parties’ time)
  • Technical environment and constraints
  • Key stakeholders and decision makers

Output: Either a proposal is warranted, or a polite decline with a referral if possible.

Stage 3 — Proposal / quote

Written proposal delivered within 3 business days of the discovery call.

Contents: see Proposal template.

For engagements > 20 hours or $5,000, a full Statement of Work (SOW) replaces the proposal at this stage, or follows immediately on acceptance.

Stage 4 — Agreement

The client accepts by:

  1. Signing the SOW (preferred for any engagement > $2,000), or
  2. Responding to a proposal by email with explicit written acceptance

No work begins until agreement is signed and (for new clients) a deposit is received.

Deposit policy

Engagement sizeDeposit
< $2,00050% upfront
$2,000–$10,00030% upfront
> $10,00020% upfront; milestone-based remainder

Stage 5 — Delivery

Work is organised into sprints or milestones as defined in the SOW.

Communication during delivery

  • Weekly written status update (email or shared doc) for engagements > 2 weeks
  • Ad-hoc questions via email; response within 1 business day
  • Scope changes documented in writing and require a SOW amendment if material

Deliverable acceptance

Each deliverable has acceptance criteria defined in the SOW. The client has 5 business days to review and accept or raise issues. Silence after 5 days is deemed acceptance.

Stage 6 — Close

On completion:

  1. Final deliverables handed over
  2. Final invoice issued (due 14 days)
  3. Knowledge transfer / handover documentation provided
  4. 30-day warranty period for defect fixes (scope-limited — not new features)
  5. Post-engagement retrospective offered (optional 30-min call)

Stage 7 — Ongoing / retainer (optional)

If ongoing support is desired, transition to a monthly retainer. Define:

  • Hours per month reserved
  • Scope (support only, or continued development)
  • Rate (retainer rate may differ from project rate)
  • Rolling monthly agreement with 30-day notice for termination

Client onboarding checklist

  • Discovery call notes saved (MEETING-{date}-{client}-discovery.md)
  • Proposal drafted and sent
  • SOW signed by both parties
  • Deposit invoice issued and paid
  • Project folder created
  • Shared communication channel established
  • Access credentials / repository access granted as needed
  • NDA signed (if required by client or engagement nature)

Conflict of interest

Level 147 does not simultaneously engage clients who are direct competitors without disclosure and written consent from both parties.

Referral policy

[placeholder — define referral fee structure if applicable]