How We Work

We offer development in several flexible ways, designed to fit your project's needs:

• Pay-As-You-Go Development: Maximum flexibility for testing new ideas.
• Fixed-Price Projects: Budget certainty for well-defined projects and outcomes.

So what is Protoworks?

Protoworks is the trading name of John Taylor, an independent software developer operating as a UK sole trader. We provide software and hardware development and prototyping services for businesses and the general public. We're small and independent, and—when a project needs it—we'll collaborate with trusted practitioners on a clearly introduced, per-project basis.

Our Simple Onboarding Process

We like to keep things simple for us and our customers. Our process has two steps:

Step 1: The Free Consultation (15-30 minutes) - Every project begins with a free, no-obligation call. We'll discuss your goals and requirements, and determine which of our development models is the best fit for you.

Step 2: Choose Your Development Model Based on our consultation, we'll recommend one of two paths:

• Pay-As-You-Go: Perfect for maximum flexibility when you're starting out or your requirements might change. No contracts are needed; we operate on our standard terms and conditions. We'll activate your project after your first one-hour payment.
• Fixed-Price Project: Ideal for projects with a well-defined scope. If needed, we'll begin with a paid Scoping Session to create a detailed project blueprint. This blueprint forms the basis of a formal Statement of Work (SOW) with a fixed price and timeline.

Want to get started? Contact us on +44 7450 365446 or enquiries@protoworks.uk to book your free consultation.

Do you have terms and conditions?

Yes, If you head over to the legal section of this website you will find our terms and conditions [Legal Stuff] .

Pay-As-You-Go Development Questions

What's a payment account?

If you decide to go for the Pay-As-You-Go option we'll set up a payment account for you. This lets you pay for your ongoing development in 1-hour increments. If your balance hits zero then development on your project will stop until you top up once again (just like a mobile phone).

Is there a minimum payment?

If you don't yet have an active project with us, your first payment will be for your first hour of development time. If that's all you need for now, no problem — you can top up later with a minimum of one hour. Don't worry, we'll always make it clear what you're paying for and what result you can expect.

Do you have a maximum payment?

Yes. Initially, your payment account can hold up to 10 hours of development time at any one time. This protects both you and us from having to refund a large block of unused development time if your plans change.

Can I get refunds for unused Pay-As-You-Go development time?

Yes — we're happy to refund unused Pay-As-You-Go development time. If refunds are frequent, we may lower the maximum upfront balance to cover admin overhead. If it's an occasional one-off, no problem — we're all good.

What if my payment account runs out and my project isn't complete?

Just like a mobile phone — where you can't make calls until you top up — we pause development until your account is funded again. Your project stays active, and development resumes as soon as your account is topped up. No chasing. No stress. Just top up when you`re ready. We make no judgments — we know how things are, and we want to help you get your project off the ground. Your success is our success!

What if we go quiet for a while?

If we haven't heard from you in 90 days, we may archive your project. This typically involves backing up your code and design documents and disposing of any unclaimed physical prototypes in our workspace. We'll also refund any remaining unused development time.

However, if you notify us in advance of an extended break, we'll do our best to keep your project active — time and space allowing.

If your project has been archived and you wish to restart it, that may still be possible — but we'll need to set up a new project for you.

Fixed Price Project Questions

When is a Fixed-Price Project the right choice?

This model is ideal for projects with a clearly defined scope, features, and outcomes. If you know exactly what you want delivered and need budget certainty, this is the perfect option.

When is Pay-As-You-Go a better option?

The Pay-As-You-Go model is perfect for situations where flexibility is your top priority. We recommend it if:

• You're starting out and your requirements might change as we go.
• You want to test a new idea (like a prototype) without committing to a large, defined scope.
• You want to get started quickly and prefer to avoid a formal Scoping Session or Statement of Work.

What is a 'Scoping Session'?

If your idea is clear but the technical details aren't, we may start with a paid Scoping Session. This is a focused workshop where we create a detailed project blueprint. This blueprint ensures we both have a crystal-clear understanding of the deliverables before the main project begins.

If you don't have a Pay-As-You-Go payment account set up with us, we will create one for you. Typically a scoping session will cost 2-4 hours of Pay-As-You-Go development time depending on the complexity of your project.

What can I expect from a project blueprint?

The blueprint, or Scoping Session outcome, is a detailed document that serves as the foundation for the project. While it varies by project, it typically includes:

• Clear Objectives: What the project must achieve.
• Feature & Function List: A breakdown of all features to be built.
• Key Deliverables: A list of exactly what you will receive (e.g., source code, design files, a deployed application).
• Technical Approach: The recommended technologies (languages, platforms) we'll use.
• Timeline & Milestones: An estimated schedule for development and key delivery dates.

This document ensures we are in complete agreement on the scope before we write the Statement of Work (SOW) and begin development.

What is a Statement of Work (SOW)?

The Statement of Work (or SOW) is the formal agreement for the project. It's based on the project blueprint (from our consultation or Scoping Session) and details:

• The project objectives
• A detailed list of all deliverables
• The project timeline
• The total fixed fee for the work

How does payment work for a Fixed-Price Project?

Payment is typically split into two stages to secure the work and align with delivery:

1. A 50% non-refundable deposit is due when you sign the SOW to book the development time and start the project.
2. The final 50% is due upon your acceptance of the completed project, before the final files are delivered.

What if my requirements change part-way through?

We understand that ideas can evolve. Any work that falls outside the original, agreed-upon SOW is handled through a formal 'Change Request'. We will provide a separate quote detailing the cost and timeline impact of the new request. We will only begin the new work after you have approved the change.

What happens when the project is finished?

Once we notify you of completion, you have a 10-business-day 'Acceptance Period' to review and test the deliverables.

Side Note: If you need more time to review, just tell us—we’re flexible.

Is there a warranty?

Yes. We provide a 30-day warranty after final acceptance. During this period, we will correct any bugs or defects (that were part of the original SOW) at no additional charge.

Please note, this does not cover third-party changes after delivery.

What if I need to cancel my Fixed-Price Project?

You can cancel a project at any time by providing written notice. Please note that the initial 50% deposit is non-refundable, as it reserves your development time in our schedule. If you cancel after work has started, you'll also be responsible for payment for all work completed up to that point, billed at our standard Pay-As-You-Go hourly rate. The total amount due will never be less than your deposit or more than the agreed fixed price for the project.

General Questions

What development languages do you use?

We use the best tool for the job. John, our lead developer, brings 20 years of experience and has written and deployed code in many different languages. These days, he has been known to work with C#, C++, Python, Go, TypeScript, n8n and Node-RED but he is comfortable picking up others when needed or when working with existing client codebases. With extensive experience, there's not much he hasn't seen before.

Ask our automated assistant for further information (bottom right) or feel free to contact us on +44 7450 365446 or enquiries@protoworks.uk.

How is work delivered or tracked?

We'll keep you updated on your project through email or messaging apps (like Signal or WhatsApp). We respect your time, so we reserve phone calls for urgent matters only.

If development is paused due to an issue, we'll resume after we've spoken with you.

In the future, you'll also receive access to our customer portal (in development) where you can track your project at every stage of development.

Do I own the code and design files?

Yes. Once you've paid for the work, any custom code and design files created specifically for your project are yours — to keep, modify, or pass on to another developer. To keep our services efficient and cost-effective, we may include general-purpose libraries or templates developed in-house. These remain our property, but you are fully licensed to use them as part of your project with no restrictions.

Will you sign an NDA?

In general, we're happy to sign an NDA — as long as it meets our terms and we've confirmed we're a good mutual fit. To ensure fairness and avoid misunderstandings, here are our basic principles:

• NDAs that are overly broad, perpetual, or restrict us from working on similar projects in the future will likely be rejected.
• NDAs that restrict us from working with other clients in the same field will likely be rejected.
• We'll usually request a mutual NDA.
• NDAs presented before substantial information is shared will likely be declined.

Are you insured?

Yes, Protoworks holds active Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance (UK-based policy). Evidence of this can be made available on request.

What about IR35? (UK clients)

IR35 is UK tax legislation that assesses if a contractor is effectively an employee. Our engagement models are designed as true business-to-business services, ensuring a clear relationship that falls outside the scope of IR35. Key factors include:

• Control: We determine how the work is delivered to achieve your requested result.
• Substitution: We may involve a suitable specialist if the project needs it.
• Mutuality of Obligation: You are not obliged to provide ongoing work, and we are not obliged to accept it. Engagements are project-based. Whether you use our Pay-As-You-Go model or a Fixed-Price contract, you are paying for a service outcome, not a person's time on a recurring basis.
• Equipment: We use our own tools and infrastructure to complete the work.

For clarity and your protection, nothing in our relationship will create an employer-employee arrangement. We retain the right to assign or substitute staff as needed and manage our own delivery process.