Question 1

How do you determine project pricing?

Accepted Answer

Pricing is based on project scope, complexity, technology stack, team size, timeline, and support requirements. After our free consultation, we provide a detailed proposal with transparent cost breakdown. We work with you to find the right balance of scope and budget for your goals.

Question 2

Is there a minimum engagement size?

Accepted Answer

Our minimum engagement starts at $2,500 for the Engineering Audit (a 2-week entry point covering code review + architecture + test coverage + deployment readiness). Service engagements (Build tier) start at $5,000. For Product Team engagements, the minimum commitment is 3 months to allow proper onboarding and deliver meaningful results.

Question 3

How does combined engagement pricing work?

Accepted Answer

When you combine two or more services under one engagement, your team shares context across disciplines — which reduces handoff overhead and improves efficiency. We reflect those efficiency gains in combined engagement pricing, discussed during your consultation. The more services you bundle, the more context your team shares.

Question 4

Can I start with one service and add more later?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Many clients start with a focused engagement - like an Engineering Audit or a single Build tier - and expand as they see results. You can upgrade tiers or move to a Product Team engagement at any time. We handle transitions smoothly so there is no disruption to your team.

Question 5

What’s included in the add-on assessments?

Accepted Answer

Each add-on is a standalone engagement with clear deliverables. The Engineering Audit (2 weeks, $2,500) covers code review + architecture review + test coverage assessment + deployment readiness — broader than a QA-only audit. The Security Assessment covers penetration testing and OWASP Top 10 validation. The QA Coverage Sprint is a 2-week embedded engagement focused on test automation and CI/CD wiring. All add-ons include an actionable report and a follow-up consultation.

Question 6

Do you offer pricing advantages for long-term contracts?

Accepted Answer

Yes, long-term partnerships benefit from deeper team knowledge of your systems, which improves efficiency and reduces costs over time. We discuss engagement structures during the proposal phase that reflect the value of ongoing partnerships.

Question 7

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept bank transfers (ACH/wire), credit cards, and PayPal. Invoicing is typically monthly for ongoing engagements and milestone-based for projects. Net-30 payment terms are standard, with other arrangements available for enterprise clients.

Dimension	QAOcean Product Team	In-House Engineering Hire	Generic Dev Agency
Time to productive	1–2 weeks	3–6 months	Variable; mid-engagement substitutions
Quality engineering	Embedded by default	Separate hire	Often skipped or bolted on later
DevOps & cloud	Embedded by default	Separate hire / contractor	Junior-led, often template-driven
Seniority	5+ years experience minimum	Whatever you can hire at your offer	Junior offshore is common
Commitment	Month-to-month after 3-month minimum	Equity, benefits, severance exposure	Long contracts, costly to exit

Senior Engineering at Startup-Friendly Rates

Senior engineering pays for itself

QAOcean Product Team vs. the Alternatives

Build

Product Team

Enterprise

Standalone Audits & Add-Ons

Engineering Audit

Security Assessment

Performance Optimization

QA Coverage Sprint

AI Readiness Assessment

DevOps & Cloud

24/7 Priority Support

One Team, Multiple Surfaces

Web + Mobile

Build + AI

Full Lifecycle

Strategic Partner

What You Get With Every Engagement

Pricing FAQ

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