03Monthly retainer

Ongoing Stewardship

Once the digital baseline is set, keep me on retainer to administer the stack going forward. We set the priorities together, and I bring my judgment and execution to how the systems are run.

Best fitTeams whose foundation is in order and who want someone experienced to keep running it, set priorities with them and handle the decisions that keep arriving.

A laptop beside a notebook on a train window ledge
Working while travelling.

The problem

Keep the foundation in working order.

A foundation that nobody looks after drifts. Software renewals, vendor proposals and requests for new tools keep arriving, and each one needs a decision that fits what is already in place.

I administer the stack we set up, keep an eye on uptime and costs, and help you decide which changes deserve your budget and attention. We agree the priorities together and review them as the business changes.

Hands on
Judgment and execution on how the systems are run
Recurring
Priorities agreed together and reviewed as needs change
¥189,000+
Starting monthly rate plus tax, with agreed scope and cadence

What Stewardship can cover

Running the stack, not just advising on it.

  1. 01

    Stack administration

    Look after the systems set up in the digital baseline so they keep doing their job.

  2. 02

    Uptime and reliability

    Watch the services the business depends on and deal with problems before they spread.

  3. 03

    Cost review

    Keep subscriptions and vendor costs in line with what the business actually uses.

  4. 04

    Communications protocols

    Keep the rules for email, chat and shared channels clear as the team and tools change.

  5. 05

    Vendor oversight

    Review proposals, assumptions, delivery risk, scope changes, and whether promised work matches operating needs.

  6. 06

    Continuity

    Keep working with someone who knows your systems and the reasons behind earlier choices.

How it starts

Agree what I will look after.

Stewardship follows the Digital Baseline, so there is a known foundation to look after. We agree the priorities, the schedule and what the retainer covers before it starts.

  1. 01

    Set the priorities

    Agree what matters most for the systems and the business over the coming months.

  2. 02

    Agree the schedule

    Agree who joins, how often we meet and what I will review.

  3. 03

    Run and review

    Administer the stack, follow up on decisions and adjust the priorities as work progresses.

Questions

Common questions about Ongoing Stewardship.

What is paid separately?

Annual domain name registration or renewal, and your Squarespace subscription or an equivalent site subscription. You pay those directly.

Do I need a Digital Baseline first?

Yes. Stewardship starts once the digital baseline is set, so we both know what is being looked after.

What about larger additions?

New infrastructure, new workflows or new team members coming online are Operational Expansion, scoped and priced separately.

How is pricing determined?

Stewardship starts at ¥189,000 per month + tax. The final price depends on the systems, vendors and meeting schedule involved.

More about the work

Want to know more before choosing?

See my work, how engagements run and examples of the documents involved.

Evidence Selected work Websites, event systems, publishing tools and property research. Process How engagements work How we agree the work, build and test it, and get your team ready to use it. Buyer fit Working in Japan Working with your team and vendors across Japanese and international systems.

Want the stack looked after?

Tell me what is in place, which vendors or systems are involved, and where your team needs continuing support.

Ask about Ongoing Stewardship →