Why We Refuse to Bill by the Hour (And Why You Should Refuse to Pay It)

Incentives Matter

The billable hour is the enemy of efficiency. You want it done fast. They get paid more if it is slow. See the problem?

The Math

In an AI world, a task that took 4 hours now takes 10 minutes. If we billed by the hour, we would starve. Or worse, we would artificially slow down to maintain revenue. Neither is good for you.

The Perverse Incentive

When you pay by the hour:

• Complexity is rewarded (more hours)
• Efficiency is punished (fewer hours)
• Scope creep is profitable (more hours)
• Quick wins are undervalued (too fast to bill)

The Alternative Models

1. Fixed project pricing — Agree on scope and price upfront. The provider is incentivized to be efficient. You know exactly what you will pay.
2. Monthly retainer — Pay a flat fee for ongoing work. The provider is incentivized to solve problems quickly so they can handle more requests within the same budget.
3. Value-based pricing — Pay based on outcomes (revenue generated, costs saved). This is the most aligned model but requires trust and good measurement.

When Hourly Makes Sense

Hourly billing can work for genuinely unpredictable work like debugging production outages or exploratory research. But for defined projects with clear deliverables? Never.

Our Model

Flat monthly fees or fixed-project costs. No surprises. You know what you are paying, what you are getting, and when you will get it.

We bill for value, not time. Our incentive is to solve your problem as efficiently as possible and move on to the next one.