Fractional rate questions

Do you bill for breaks?

No. I only bill when I’m actively working. If I step away to cook, take a walk, or scroll social media, the clock stops. If I’m eating lunch while working, that time counts.

In what increments do you bill?

I bill in 15-minute increments, always rounding down.

How do you track your hours?

I track time using my calendar. If I have a company email, I use that calendar to add both meetings and individual work blocks. At the end of each week, I write a short wrap-up reflecting on what I accomplished that week and what’s ahead.

How do you bill and invoice?

I invoice monthly for the previous period, with each week listed as a separate line item. Payment is due within the same month the invoice is received.

How do you bill for hours?

We agree on a weekly cap—the maximum number of hours I’ll bill in a given week. I don’t exceed it without checking in first. If I worked under the cap the previous week, I might go a bit over the next to even things out, but it all stays reasonable and transparent.

Do unused hours roll over?

I often roll unused hours from a previous week into the next, but not always.

Can we set a maximum number of hours per week or month?

Yes. I always work within a defined weekly cap so you have predictable costs and I can balance time across clients.

Do you offer flat rates or retainers?

No. I only bill hourly, up to the agreed cap. Flat rates and retainers tend to create “always on” expectations or encourage overwork, which I intentionally avoid. My hourly rates already reflect the experience and efficiency I bring, so you pay only for the time I actually spend working.

What hours do you work, and how flexible are you?

I typically work between 10am and 6pm Eastern and organize my schedule around client needs and project flow. I value work–life balance and structure my workload intentionally, so I don’t take on engagements that exceed a full work week.

Do you bill for meetings?

Yes. Meetings are part of the work, whether I’m strategizing, reviewing, or collaborating, it all contributes to outcomes.

Can you work specific hours or align with our team’s schedule?

I’m flexible for key meetings and collaboration windows but may manage multiple clients, so I appreciate reciprocal flexibility.

Why shouldn’t I just hire someone full-time?

I can eventually help you hire my full-time replacement once the company is ready for that next step. But before then, I’m here to fill a gap that exists in a lot of early-stage tech companies—when you’re not quite ready for, or are between, full-time product leadership. Maybe there isn’t enough work yet, or the need isn’t steady enough to justify a hire. That’s where I fit best.

It’s often less expensive to hire me overall, since I work fewer hours and don’t have your in-house benefits. I also try to make working with me as low risk as possible. My contracts include a 7-day out, meaning you only need to give a week’s notice to end our engagement. It’s a much lighter lift than offboarding a full-time employee or ending a contractor agreement with a 30-day notice period.