Frequently Asked Questions

Smartmates is a prepaid consulting company that specialises in software engineering and project management. Known for our team of experienced professionals, Smartmates is committed to delivering high-quality services. We focus on using our expertise to bring projects to successful completion, emphasising skill, efficiency, and client satisfaction in our approach.

Our billing model is straightforward and transparent. We bill based on the actual time our team spends on your project. This time-based approach ensures accuracy and fairness, avoiding the pitfalls of fixed-fee services. After understanding your needs, we'll suggest a prepaid consulting pack, debiting time from your balance as we work, with regular Smartmates Statements detailing our progress and time spent.

As a prepaid consulting company, Smartmates requires payment upfront through prepaid packs. This model underpins our commitment to transparent and honest billing. You can choose to prepay for a smaller phase of a larger project if you prefer, and we'll guide you on the best approach based on your project's specific needs.

Your Smartmates Statement, issued regularly, will provide a detailed account of the tasks completed and the time spent by our team. You'll have a clear record of all the work done towards your project, ensuring complete transparency and accountability.

Our billing covers a wide range of services, including project initiation, strategic consultation, quality assurance, post-implementation support, project management, and client-specific services. Each minute spent by our team in these areas is meticulously recorded and accounted for in our billing.

We provide educated estimates for our services, reflecting our extensive experience and historical data. These estimates offer a projection of delivery time and total cost, which may adjust based on actual hours worked due to the dynamic nature of software engineering.

Through our Smartmates Statements, you'll receive a detailed account of all tasks performed, the time spent, and the specific nature of each task. Reviewing these statements within 5 business days is crucial for transparency and agreement on the work done.

Yes, bug fixing and technical resolutions are billable services. These tasks are part of the ongoing development process and are essential for maintaining the quality and effectiveness of your software.

Any change in your instructions may impact the billing and timeline of your project. We're flexible and will work with you to adjust the project plan and costs, maintaining clear communication throughout the process to align with your evolving requirements. We’ll require you to cover any additional costs that your change in instructions may incur based on our time-based billing model.

Our Terms of Service are detailed in our comprehensive Service Agreement. This document covers various aspects including our mutual obligations, the scope of services, billing and payment terms, project management, client responsibilities, and intellectual property rights. It also outlines policies related to refunds, changes in client instructions, bug fixing, and technical resolutions, as well as our commitment to ethical principles and professional conduct. We encourage you to read the Service Agreement to understand the full extent of our terms and policies. For a complete view of our Terms of Service, please click here to access the full document.