A simple process, from question to answer.
Everything starts in writing. Sending an enquiry is free and creates no obligation. No paid work begins until you have seen and accepted the proposed scope, fee and timing.
1. Tell me what you need
Describe the problem, what you hope to achieve, any deadline and your maximum budget if you have one. You can write in your own language. Initially, a short description is enough; please don't send passwords, private access details or sensitive files just to make an enquiry.
2. I assess the request
I'll consider whether the task fits my experience, whether the expected result is clear and whether it can be done within a sensible scope and budget. I may ask questions or request a brief, non-sensitive sample. I may also decline a request that isn't a good fit.
3. We agree before any paid work
I'll explain what I propose to do, what you'll receive, the price, expected timing, payment terms and any limits or exclusions. Nothing costs you anything until you accept an agreed job. If we can't agree, we stop there and you owe nothing for the enquiry or assessment.
4. Track progress and ask questions
For accepted jobs, the planned job-progress feature will give you a private page showing the current status, dated updates and messages, so you can ask questions without searching through email. If the portal isn't available for a particular job, we'll agree a simple alternative such as email updates.
5. Receive the agreed result
Depending on the task, this could be a short written response, recommendations, annotated comments, a revised document or another agreed deliverable. Revisions are included only where agreed in advance.
A practical example: Excel rescue
If a spreadsheet is difficult to use or no longer does what you need, you can start by describing the problem and, if useful, providing a copy with dummy or anonymised data. Please don't send confidential business or personal information in an initial enquiry.
After reviewing the example, I'll explain what I can realistically do and agree the scope, price and timing with you before starting. Depending on the job, I may repair the existing workbook or create a cleaner replacement.
Where the workbook needs to be used again with new data, the agreed deliverable can also include straightforward handover instructions: what to update, how to transfer or paste data, which formulas or areas not to change, and how to check the results.
The aim is to give you a useful workbook you can continue using yourself. You'll be able to test it with a small sample of your own data before relying on it for normal work.
Pricing and payment
Small, well-defined tasks may suit a fixed fee. Larger or less predictable work is quoted after review. You can tell me the maximum you're comfortable spending; if that budget is too low for the full request, we may suggest a smaller scope.
- Small jobs: payment terms are agreed before work starts and may be payable on completion.
- Jobs of €50 or more: the usual proposal is 50% upfront and 50% on delivery, unless we agree otherwise in writing.
- Every job: no work begins until you accept the scope, price and payment terms.
What this is not
- Not an instant-response or emergency service.
- Not an open-ended retainer or ongoing contract.
- Not a promise to accept every request or fix every problem.
- Not a substitute for regulated legal, medical, financial or other professional advice.