AI and operations advisory for businesses with $1M to $15M in revenue

Know where you stand before you spend on AI or a new platform.

Most growing businesses pick tools before they understand their own operations. We give you a clear, written picture in three weeks, a senior advisor to keep the plan moving, and a bounded build when you are ready. Fixed fees. One named consultant. No surprises.

Fixed fees, never hourlyWritten scope before you signBuilt for hand-off
Sound familiar?

AI and operations decisions are getting made faster than they are understood.

If any of these sound like your business, you are not behind. You are in the middle of the same shift as everyone else, and the first step is a clear starting point.

1

Everyone is asking about AI. Few have a starting point.

Your board, customers and staff want an answer. Most businesses do not yet know where they stand on data, process or governance.

2

Spending comes before understanding.

Tools and platform changes get approved before anyone has checked whether the operation, the data or the controls are ready for them.

3

Good plans stall without an owner.

A roadmap still needs a senior person to keep it moving and someone to build it, without hiring a full-time executive.

How we work together

Three ways to work with us. Start where you are.

Each step stands on its own, and each leads naturally to the next. Most people begin with the Diagnostic.

Start here
TIER 1 · DIAGNOSE

AI & Operations Readiness Diagnostic

Where do we really stand, and what should we fix first?
  • 3 weeks from start to finish
  • A scored picture of your operations and AI readiness
  • Your top 3 to 5 gaps in plain English, each with a recommended action
  • A Now / Next / Later roadmap you can use with or without us
  • No software cost and no long-term commitment
$8,500 fixedtypically $6,500 to $12,000 by company size · 50% at signing, 50% at delivery
 
TIER 2 · SUSTAIN

Fractional Transformation Leadership

Keep the roadmap moving with a senior advisor, without a full-time hire.
  • Two 60-minute working sessions a month
  • Quick questions answered between sessions
  • A written monthly progress report
  • A quarterly roadmap review
  • 3-month minimum, then month-to-month with 30 days' notice
From $4,500 a monthtypically $3,500 to $6,500 by size and scope · up to 12 hours a month · invoiced in advance
 
TIER 3 · BUILD

Platform or AI-Readiness Project

Design and build the foundation you need, then hand it over cleanly.
  • Typically 6 to 12 weeks, in three milestones
  • Built on Google Cloud, an open-source stack, or the platform you already own
  • Written scope and acceptance criteria before work starts
  • A documented hand-off your team can run without us
  • 30-day window to correct any defects
From $15,000fixed fee by scope, typically up to $40,000 · 30% kickoff, 30% midpoint, 40% final delivery

Licenses and cloud costs for a build are yours, and any chargeable add-on is flagged in writing before you sign.

Inside the Diagnostic

Five deliverables. One clear answer.

You do not get a vague report. You get specific findings, what each one costs you, and what to do about it.

1
Kickoff and alignmentWe confirm your objectives and scope, and set the interview schedule.
2
Current-state assessmentAbout 20 plain-language questions across 5 to 8 stakeholder interviews, plus a look at your tools and workflows.
3
Gap analysis and findings reportYour top 3 to 5 blockers, each with the business impact and a recommended action.
4
Executive readoutA live walkthrough of the findings with your leadership team.
5
Phased roadmapWhat to fix now (0 to 4 weeks), next (1 to 3 months) and later (3 to 6 months).
Illustrative example of one finding
Finding
Customer and job information lives in three places, so nobody has the full picture.
Business impact
Quotes slow down, follow-ups get missed, and any AI tool would learn from inconsistent data.
Recommended action
Choose one system of record for customer data and clean it before adding automation.
Roadmap slot
Now (0 to 4 weeks)

An example of the format, not a real client.

One yardstick

The same simple scale runs through every tier.

We score your business from 1 to 4 on two rubrics, so you can see progress in plain terms and compare where you were with where you are.

1CrawlAd hoc, informal
2WalkBasic and repeatable
3RunDefined and managed
4FlyOptimized and embedded

Operating Model Maturity · 4 dimensions

How the business actually runs.

  • Customer and value focus
  • Process discipline
  • Team alignment
  • Continuous improvement

AI Readiness · 6 domains

Whether the foundations are in place before you invest.

  • Governance
  • Data privacy
  • Risk assessment
  • Third-party AI
  • Training
  • Policy

The AI Readiness rubric is adapted from ISO/IEC 42001:2023 and the NIST AI Risk Management Framework 1.0, scaled for businesses your size. It is an adaptation of those frameworks, not a certification.

Who you will work with

Senior, independent and built for businesses your size.

Enterprise methods, without the enterprise price tag or the six-month study.

1

Built from real delivery

The method comes from real enterprise delivery work, then was right-sized for businesses with $1M to $15M in revenue. It was not drafted from theory.

2

One named lead

Mark Katanani, Principal Consultant, scopes, delivers and reports at every tier. No rotating bench and no hand-offs between account managers.

TOGAF certifiedLean Six Sigma Master Black BeltSAFe Release Train EngineerU.S. patent holder, AI/ML defect prediction
3

Honest about capacity

The work is hands-on, so capacity is limited on purpose. The monthly advisory includes up to 12 hours a month, and we take on no more than two build projects at a time. That is how you get real attention.

Built-in safeguards

Cost, scope and exit are clear before you sign.

You should know what you are buying and how to leave it. Every tier works the same way.

Fixed fees, never hourlyEvery tier has a fixed fee with a published typical range.
Written scopeDeliverables and acceptance criteria are in the agreement before work starts.
Capped hoursThe monthly advisory states its hours plainly, so expectations match.
Change-order disciplineBuild work outside the agreed milestones goes through a written change order.
Light commitmentsThe Diagnostic has no long-term commitment. The advisory is month-to-month after 3 months.
No surprise software billsNo software cost in the Diagnostic. Platform costs in a build are yours and flagged in writing.
Where to begin

Not sure which one fits? Pick the sentence that sounds like you.

A

"I am not sure where to begin."

Start with the Diagnostic. In three weeks you have a scored picture, your top gaps, and a roadmap. A good first step is the free assessment below.

B

"I already know what needs doing."

Go straight to the monthly advisory or a build. A short, condensed current-state step comes first, using the same rubrics as the Diagnostic.

C

"I have finished a Diagnostic."

Your roadmap carries forward. The advisory or a build starts from it directly, with no repeat assessment.

Questions

Straight answers

How long does the Diagnostic take?

Three weeks, start to finish, with five deliverables including a live readout with your leadership team.

Do we need to buy any software?

No. The Diagnostic has no software cost. In a build, licenses and cloud costs are yours, and any chargeable add-on is flagged in writing before you sign.

Who actually does the work?

Mark Katanani, the same named consultant, at every tier. There is no bench and no hand-off to someone you have not met.

Can we skip the Diagnostic?

Yes. If you already know what you need, you can start with the monthly advisory or a build. Those begin with a short, condensed current-state step that uses the same rubrics.

What if we want to stop?

The Diagnostic has no long-term commitment. The advisory has a 3-month minimum, then runs month-to-month with 30 days' notice. Builds are paid in three milestones.

How do payments work?

The Diagnostic is 50% at signing and 50% at delivery. The advisory is invoiced monthly in advance. Builds are 30% at kickoff, 30% at the midpoint and 40% at final delivery.

Your next step

See where your business stands, or get the full guide.

The quickest way to start is the free 5-minute assessment. You answer a few plain-language questions and get an instant score with a suggested focus.

Operations Maturity Assessment AI Readiness Assessment

Prefer to talk? Call (813) 816-0186 or email info@capabilitymethods.com.

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