Engagement models — from a standard product to a custom project
One partner, several ways to work together. Trades businesses buy standard software with a perpetual right of use and their own installation. Mid-market companies get custom development at a fixed price, built in-house, preceded by a paid analysis phase. And anyone who needs capacity inside their own team at short notice still gets it. Concrete terms live in your quote rather than on this page.
Engagement ModelsFive models — one quality promise
Every engagement with krafteq is built on the same core values: experienced engineering, clear accountability, and measurable benefit. What differs is what gets delivered and where the work happens. The first three models are our focus; capacity inside your team remains available but is not where we invest.
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Product licence (krafteq Handwerk)
TradesStandard software for trades businesses with 5 to 50 employees. You buy a perpetual right of use and get your own installation — your own database, your own domain, your own configuration, never a shared system. Billing is per business, not per head, so site access for your field staff is included. All updates in the first year are included; after that they run through maintenance. Whatever does not fit your business after go-live, we fine-tune — that is included.
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Project / Milestones
Mid-marketCustom development and modernisation for mid-market companies, built in-house at a fixed price per milestone. It is preceded by a short, paid analysis phase: we take on the specification and deliver a written scope together with a fixed-price quote. Then we build with our own toolchain while you steer via demos and milestone reviews. Whatever is inside the agreed scope gets built — new scope gets its own quote. After go-live, fine-tuning is included.
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IT Potential Analysis
TradesMid-marketEnterpriseThe entry point into any collaboration. In a free initial consultation (30 to 60 minutes) we place your situation and give an honest assessment — even if it is: you would solve this better in-house. Optionally a structured analysis follows (1 to 2 weeks) with prioritised measures; for a custom initiative it produces the written scope and the fixed-price quote. The report stays with you.
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Senior Staff Augmentation
EnterpriseMid-marketStill available, but not our focus: experienced specialists from our European network integrate into your existing team. They work in your processes, with your tools and to your priorities; krafteq is responsible for quality, rotation and continuity. Every specialist brings 10+ years of hands-on experience, and you get a dedicated German-speaking contact. The honest caveat: inside your environment our toolchain advantage does not apply — what you get is experienced capacity.
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Managed Squad
EnterpriseMid-marketA dedicated team of development, DevOps and QA works on your product under krafteq leadership. You steer the direction via backlog and regular demos; we take technical responsibility, team leadership and quality assurance — with a dedicated German-speaking contact and data in the EU. Transparent backlogs and 2-week sprints with demo and review keep everything traceable.
ComparisonModels at a glance
The table shows the key differences — sorted by what gets delivered and where the work happens. Staff Augmentation and Managed Squad are grouped here as engineering capacity.
| Product licence | Project / Milestones | IT Potential Analysis | Engineering capacity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you get | A standard system with your own installation | Custom-built software at a fixed price | An assessment, a plan of measures, on request a written scope | Experienced engineers inside your team |
| Where the work happens | With us — you receive your own installation | With us, using our toolchain | With us, based on your documents and interviews | With you, in your processes and tools |
| Steering | You configure, we adapt | Joint milestone planning, krafteq delivers | krafteq analyses and recommends | You lead — our engineers work in your team |
| Pricing model | One-off fixed price plus operations, per business rather than per head | Fixed price per milestone | Consultation free, analysis at a fixed price | Time and materials, or a fixed price per sprint |
| Right of use and source code | Perpetual right of use, your own instance; source code included when you self-host — no redistribution | Custom work — the source code can be handed over in full | The report and the written scope stay with you | Whatever is created inside your team stays with you |
| Typical duration | Set-up in days, right of use unlimited in time | 2 to 12 weeks per milestone | Consultation immediately, analysis 1 to 2 weeks | From 3 months |
| Ideal for | Trades businesses with 5 to 50 employees | Mid-market: one system instead of ten isolated tools | Orientation, assessment, building trust | Capacity bottlenecks and specialist knowledge |
Decision GuideWhich model is right for you?
Not sure which model fits? These typical sentences help with orientation. We are also happy to place your situation personally in a free initial consultation.
I run a trades business and want one system instead of notes and spreadsheets.
Product licence — standard software, bought not rented, fine-tuning included.
krafteq HandwerkI have ten tools and want one system.
Project / Milestones — entry via the IT potential analysis, then a fixed price.
Business SoftwareMy software runs on an ageing server.
Legacy-to-Cloud — phased migration with a rollback strategy.
Legacy-to-CloudOur cloud costs are rising and systems are unstable.
Stabilisation sprint — actionable results in 2 to 4 weeks.
Stabilisation & Cost ControlI do not yet know exactly what I need.
IT potential analysis — an honest assessment, initial consultation free.
IT Potential AnalysisI need capacity inside my own team at short notice.
Senior Staff Augmentation — ready to work in 14 days.
Senior Staff AugmentationReliabilityWhat applies in every model
For projects and capacity engagements: after contract signing the first krafteq engineers are working within 14 days. Within the first 14 days after the start you can end the engagement without giving reasons; work delivered up to that point is not invoiced. The exact terms are set out in your offer. For the product it is different — krafteq Handwerk is standard software, so fine-tuning after go-live takes the place of onboarding.
Start in 14 days
For projects and capacity engagements, the first krafteq engineers are working within 14 days of contract signature. No months-long recruiting, no waiting.
14-day exit after the start
Within the first 14 days after the start you can end the engagement without giving reasons; work delivered up to that point is not invoiced. The exact terms are set out in your offer.
For the product: fine-tuning after go-live
krafteq Handwerk is standard software, so you start with a running solution. Whatever does not fit your business in the first months, we fine-tune — included, with the extent recorded in your quote beforehand.
Terms upfront, no surcharges
What is agreed, stands. No hidden fees, no retroactive surcharges. New scope gets its own quote instead of quietly moving the deadline.
OnboardingTypical onboarding process
This process applies to projects and capacity engagements — it ensures krafteq engineers work productively from day one. For the product it does not apply: there you start with a test instance of your own, followed by set-up for your business.
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Kickoff
Access setup, meeting the people and systems involved, project start.
Day 1-3: Immediate start without delay
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Ramp-up
Familiarisation with codebase, architecture, and processes. First contributions.
Day 4-7: Productive collaboration from the first week
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Full integration
Independent task ownership. First feedback session.
Day 8-14: Full integration in under two weeks
Ready for the next step?
Let us find out together which model fits you best. In a free initial consultation we place your situation, answer your questions, and give an honest recommendation — even if the answer is: you can solve this better in-house. No sales pressure, no obligation.