Working on an SBIR / STTR project? Start with a $249 software plan.
If your project depends on software, get a flat-fee review from the engineer who would build it before you lock a budget or hire a developer: a written plan for the software side, and terms that fit how federal R&D awards actually pay out.
$249, flat
One price, no hourly meter, and credited toward the build if you go ahead.
The review covers software: what to build or buy, how it fits together, and who should build it. The science, the commercialization plan, and the rest of the business stay with your team and your advisors.
The software in your work plan
Whether the software your project depends on can realistically be built in the phase and timeline you're proposing, and what to cut if it can't.
How it fits together
Which systems you need, how they connect, where your data lives, and making sure your company owns the code and the accounts. Cheap to get right now, painful to untangle later.
Who should build it
A freelance developer, an agency, an in-house engineer, or an off-the-shelf tool? What fair rates look like for the work, how to judge a developer before you hire, and the red flags to walk away from.
A software budget
An itemized estimate covering what the build costs, what the engineering time costs, and the monthly bills people forget (hosting, domains, subscriptions), clear enough to carry into your proposal budget.
A second opinion on quotes
Already have proposals from other developers? I'll read them and tell you plainly whether the price and scope make sense.
A written plan you keep
What to build, what to skip, and in what order. Take it to your team, your advisor, or any other developer.
Built around how R&D awards get paid
The $249 counts toward the build
If you hire me for the project within 90 days of your review, the full $249 comes off the first invoice.
Quotes that wait for your award
Your fixed quote holds until your award decision, so you can put it in a proposal without the price moving underneath you.
Nothing billable before you're cleared
If your award can't cover work done before it starts, we don't start until you say you're clear.
Paid in stages, not up front
No more than 25% to start. The rest is billed as finished pieces are delivered, which is easier on cash flow and easier to document.
Paperwork built for federal awards
Itemized invoices, a written scope, and proof of what was delivered, ready for your grants administrator or your accountant.
Scoped to your phase
Early-phase work is scoped to prove the idea works, not to build everything. Later work builds on it instead of starting over.
Straight answers, no handoffs
You work directly with the engineer who builds it: me. No salespeople, no handoffs, and a straight answer about what's worth building.
If an advisor pointed you here, I'm glad to send them a short summary of the review and the software budget, with your permission, so everyone helping you is working from the same numbers.
Nobody gets paid for sending you here, and you're free to compare me with any other developer. The written review is useful either way.
Questions before you book? Email hello@xandcorp.com or call (518) 760-0464.
Common questions
We haven't submitted yet. Is it too early?
No, it's the best time. A software estimate is most useful before your budget is locked, and changing a plan costs nothing compared with changing software you've already paid for.
Do I need a referral?
No. If someone pointed you here, mention them when you get in touch, but these terms are for any small business with software in an SBIR or STTR project.
Will you review our proposal?
Only the software parts: what you'll build, how it fits together, who will build it, and what that will cost. The science, the commercialization plan, and the rest of the proposal are outside what I do.
Is the plan review a sales pitch?
No. Sometimes the honest answer is "don't build this yet" or "a $30-a-month tool already does it," and that's what you'll hear. The written review is yours whether or not we ever work together.
Can award money pay for the work?
Often, but it depends on the agency, the phase, and your award terms. SBIR and STTR set limits on how much of the work can go to outside parties, and rules differ on work done before an award. Check with your program officer or grants administrator before signing anything, and I'll hold off on billable work until you have.
Do you work remotely?
Yes. Most of this work happens over video calls and shared documents. Teams near Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs, or Albany can meet in person.
What does a full project cost?
Every project gets a fixed quote. Typical ranges: marketing websites $3,500–$8,000, automation sprints $2,500–$5,000, internal tools $8,000–$20,000. The plan review is where your real number comes from.
Are you affiliated with the SBIR or STTR programs?
No. Xandcorp is an independent business, not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, any funding agency, or anyone who refers you. The $249 review is my fee, paid to me, and nobody earns anything for sending you here.
Request your plan review
Tell me about the project and where you are in the process. I'll reply within three business days to set up a time.
Have a draft work plan, a software budget, or quotes from other developers? Mention them and bring them to the session. Nothing is too early or too rough.