How I Work
Every engagement begins with clarity — not a contract. Most work starts with a fixed-scope technical audit designed to surface real findings fast. From there, it continues only if it earns the next step. No retainers locked in upfront, no vague promises of value. Just structured, senior-level thinking applied where it matters most.
Technical Audit — The Entry Point
A focused, time-boxed engagement that gives you a clear picture of where your systems stand — and what to do next.
Fixed Fee
Starting from $5,000 for a one-to-two week deep dive. Predictable cost, no scope creep.
Focused Scope
Architecture, infrastructure, cloud cost, and security — reviewed with senior eyes and no agenda other than the truth.
Yours to Keep
You receive a prioritized set of findings and a roadmap you own — whether or not we work together afterward.
Day Rate & Project Work
Not every problem requires an ongoing engagement. Some challenges are well-defined enough to scope, price, and deliver as a standalone project — with clear outcomes and a hard end date.
Migrations
Move infrastructure, databases, or workloads with minimal disruption and a plan built for your team to own afterward.
Scaling Plans
Identify the bottlenecks before they become incidents. Get a concrete technical plan for where you're going, not just where you are.
Cloud Cost Reduction
A focused review of spend, waste, and architecture decisions driving your AWS or GCP bill — with prioritized actions that deliver measurable savings.
Technical Due Diligence
Investment-grade technical review for founders, operators, or investors who need to know what they're actually buying or building on.
Fractional Retainer
For companies that need senior technical judgment on an ongoing basis — without the cost or commitment of a full-time CTO hire.
How It Works
Monthly, embedded leadership with real availability. Priced after the audit proves value — so you know what you're getting before you commit. A deliberately small number of clients at any one time, so each gets genuine attention rather than a slot on a calendar.
Terms & Structure
  • Ongoing senior judgment — architecture, hiring, vendor decisions, incident response
  • Monthly retainer, scoped after the audit phase
  • Equity considered as a partial fee offset on reduced cash — never as a substitute for cash entirely
  • Selective by design — limited client count ensures depth over breadth
Start With the Audit
One conversation to scope the work. No commitment beyond that call. If it makes sense, you'll have a fixed fee, a clear timeline, and findings that are yours regardless of what comes next.
01
Book a Call
A focused 30-minute conversation to understand your current stack, key concerns, and what a useful audit would look like for your situation.
02
Scope the Audit
Agree on the specific areas to review — architecture, infrastructure, cloud cost, security — and confirm the fixed fee and timeline.
03
Receive Your Findings
A prioritized set of findings and a roadmap you own. Clear, actionable, and yours — whether or not the engagement continues.
© 2026 Cyril Bouthors. All rights reserved.