Pricing
You keep most of what we save you
We don't bill by the hour. We charge a percentage of the documented savings we create for your business. If we don't save you money, you don't pay.
How it works
1. Free intro call
30-minute conversation to see if we're the right fit. No pitch, no deliverables — just an honest chat about what you're dealing with.
2. Deep-dive consultation
$195 for a 1-hour session where we audit your current tools, map your workflows, and identify the quick wins. This fee credits back to your service agreement.
3. You keep most of the savings
We take a share of the documented savings — 40% for starter engagements, dropping to 30% and then 20% as scope grows. The more we automate, the better your rate gets, and the more we both make.
Service tiers
Every engagement starts with your existing tools. We optimize what you have before suggesting anything new.
Workflow Automation
For small teams with clear bottlenecks
$3k/mo minimum · 40% of documented savings
- Audit of your current tools and workflows
- 1-2 core workflow automations
- Integration between your existing platforms
- Monthly reporting on time saved
- Up to $150/mo AI usage included
Systems Integration
For growing teams ready to scale
30% of documented savings · you keep 70%
- Everything in Workflow Automation
- Multi-platform integration & data sync
- AI-powered workflow pipelines
- Custom dashboard if your operation warrants it
- Ongoing optimization & support
- Up to $500/mo AI usage included
Full Automation Partner
For operations that need a systems overhaul
20% of documented savings · you keep 80%
- Everything in Systems Integration
- Full workflow architecture & rebuild
- Custom internal tools & dashboards
- Team training & documentation
- Priority support & strategic advisory
- Tech stack recommendations & migration
- Up to $1,000/mo AI usage included
See what it looks like for you
Adjust the sliders to estimate your savings, our fee, and what you keep. We charge based on how much we save you — not by the automation, not by the task, not by the iteration.
How many hours per week could automation save your team?
Not sure? Try our Automation Savings Calculator or AI Workflow Waste Calculator first.
Average fully-loaded hourly cost?
Include salary, benefits, and overhead. $40-60/hr is typical.
How AI-intensive are your workflows?
This affects estimated AI API costs. Text-based tasks are cheap. Image/video/media processing costs more.
Your automation investment breakdown
Estimated tier: Workflow Automation · 40% share · you keep 60%
Your monthly savings
0 hours × $45/hr ÷ 12
Annual savings
0 hours back per year
Here's how it breaks down
Arcate monthly fee
$3k/mo minimum
Est. AI costs
$150 included · $150 overage at cost
You keep monthly
net benefit to you
return on investment
annual net benefit
hours freed per year
*AI usage allowance depends on tier. Overage passed through at cost, no markup.
We work with what you've got
You're probably already paying for the right tools — you're just not getting everything out of them. We start by optimizing what's already in place before recommending anything new.
Your existing platforms, supercharged
Most teams use 20% of their tools' capabilities. We dig into what you already have — your CRM, project management, communication tools, spreadsheets — and wire them together so data flows automatically and nothing falls through the cracks.
Smarter suggestions, not upsells
If a better tool exists for your use case, we'll tell you. But we're not in anyone's pocket — our recommendations are based on what actually fits your workflow and budget, not what pays us a referral fee.
Custom dashboards when it makes sense
For larger operations, off-the-shelf tools start holding you back. When the complexity warrants it, we'll build you a custom dashboard that gives your team exactly the view they need — no more bouncing between five tabs to get a status update.
No vendor lock-in
Everything we build, you own. If we part ways, your automations keep running. We document everything and build on open standards so you're never stuck depending on us.
Common questions
How do you measure "documented savings"?
We establish a baseline during the consultation — current hours spent, error rates, manual steps. After automation, we measure the same metrics. The difference is your savings. We share this report with you monthly so there's full transparency on what you're paying for.
Does the $195 consultation fee really come off my agreement?
Yes. If you move forward with any service tier, the $195 gets credited to your first month. If you don't move forward, you still walk away with a clear picture of your quick wins and a prioritized automation roadmap.
Do you charge per automation or per task?
No. We don't charge per automation, per task, or per iteration. Your automations can run thousands of times a month — the price doesn't change. We charge based on the savings those automations create, not the volume they process. The only variable cost is AI usage if your workflows are heavily media-intensive (image generation, video processing) and exceed the included allowance.
What if the savings aren't as high as projected?
Your fee is always based on actual, documented savings — not projections. If we save you less than expected, you pay less. We're incentivized to maximize your results because that's how we get paid.
What's the minimum engagement?
We ask for a 3-month initial commitment. Automations need time to stabilize and show their full impact. After that, it's month-to-month based on continued value.
What does "AI usage included" mean?
Most of the automations we build use AI under the hood — classifying emails, extracting data from documents, generating reports, and more. Each tier includes a monthly AI usage allowance that covers the API costs for running these models. For text-based tasks we use efficient models that keep costs low. Image generation and analysis, video processing, or other media-heavy workflows cost more per call — we'll flag this during the consultation so there are no surprises. If your usage exceeds the allowance, overage is passed through at cost with no markup.
Do I need to switch tools to work with you?
Almost never. We start with your existing stack and make it work harder. If we recommend a change, it's because the ROI is clear and the migration is worth it — not because we have a preference.
Let's find out what you're leaving on the table
Book a free 30-minute intro call. No pitch, no pressure — just an honest conversation about whether automation makes sense for your business.
Book a Free Intro Call