Frequently Asked Questions
Everything founders ask before hiring a Fractional CTO. Can't find your answer? Book a free strategy call.
Getting Started
How do I get started with a project?
Book a free 30-minute consultation where we discuss your requirements, timeline, and budget. After that, you receive a detailed proposal with project scope, timeline, and fixed pricing.
What information do you need to provide a quote?
I need: project description, timeline requirements, budget range, current tech stack (if any), expected user volume, and any specific integrations needed. The more details you provide, the more accurate the quote.
How quickly can you start on my project?
Most projects can start within 3-5 business days. For urgent requirements, same-day start is possible if I have availability. I maintain a small client base to ensure quality and fast turnaround.
Do you work with international clients?
Yes. The majority of my work is with US, EU, and APAC founders. I collaborate via Slack, email, Notion, and video calls, and I overlap with US and EU hours every working day.
Pricing & Payment
How do you structure your pricing?
All projects are fixed-price based on scope and complexity. No hourly rates, no hidden costs. You know exactly what you'll pay upfront. Payment is typically 50% to start, 50% on completion.
What if the project scope changes during development?
Minor changes are included. For significant scope changes, you get a clear estimate for the additional work. All changes are discussed and approved before implementation.
Do you offer payment plans for larger projects?
Yes. For projects over $3,000, I can structure milestone-based payments. Typically 40% upfront, 30% at midpoint, 30% on completion.
What are your starting prices?
MVP Build Sprints start from $3,500. System Architecture Audits start from $1,499. Fractional CTO engagements start from $2,999/month. All scopes are fixed-price and quoted after the discovery call.
What payment methods do you accept?
Stripe, PayPal, Wise, and direct bank transfer (SWIFT/ACH/SEPA) for international clients. Crypto on request. All payments are invoiced and receipted.
Technical & Process
What technologies do you work with?
Full-stack: Next.js, React, Node.js, Python, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB, AWS, Docker, and Kubernetes. I choose the best stack for your specific needs and scale requirements.
How do you ensure code quality?
Code reviews, automated testing, type-safe contracts, version control with Git, and CI/CD pipelines. All code is production-ready, documented, and maintainable by your team.
Can you work with our existing development team?
Yes. I can integrate as a Fractional CTO, lead architect, or senior contributor. I also mentor junior developers and establish coding standards that outlast the engagement.
How do you handle project communication?
Async-first updates via Slack and a shared dashboard, weekly progress calls, and recorded loom walkthroughs. You always know the current status and the next milestone.
What if our current system needs to be migrated?
I specialize in zero-downtime migrations. I analyze your current setup, design a phased migration plan, and execute it with strangler-pattern rollouts to minimize business disruption.
Support & Maintenance
What's included in post-launch support?
Every project includes 30 days of free support for bug fixes and minor adjustments. You also get documentation and training so your team can take over confidently.
Do you offer ongoing maintenance?
Yes. Maintenance retainers start at $299/month and include security updates, performance monitoring, backup management, and priority support.
What if something breaks after the project is complete?
All code ships with a 30-day warranty. If something breaks due to my code (not third-party changes), I fix it for free. Beyond 30 days, support is available on retainer or hourly.
Can you train our team on the new system?
Yes. Training is included in every engagement. You get hands-on sessions, written documentation, and recorded walkthroughs. Your team owns the system, not the consultant.
Security & Compliance
How do you handle sensitive data and security?
I follow enterprise-grade practices: encryption in transit and at rest, secret management, secure APIs, regular dependency audits, GDPR-friendly defaults, and signed NDAs on every project.
Can you help with compliance requirements?
Yes. I have shipped systems that meet GDPR, SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS requirements, and I design for compliance from day one rather than retrofitting it later.
Do you sign NDAs?
Yes. I sign comprehensive NDAs and maintain strict confidentiality. Your business ideas, customer data, and technical details are completely secure.
How do you ensure data backup and recovery?
Automated backups, point-in-time recovery, multi-AZ redundancy, and tested disaster recovery runbooks. Your data is always protected and recoverable.
Scaling & Performance
How do you ensure systems can handle growth?
Scale is a design choice, not a feature you bolt on. I use boring, proven patterns: stateless services, queue-backed workloads, smart caching, and database design that holds up at 10x growth.
What if my user base grows unexpectedly fast?
Systems I build typically handle 10x growth without major changes. For extreme growth, I provide rapid-response consulting and hands-on scaling sprints.
How do you optimize for performance?
Database query optimization, edge caching, code splitting, lazy loading, CDN tuning, and real-user monitoring. Most engagements deliver measurable, double-digit performance gains.
Can you help reduce our infrastructure costs?
Yes. I regularly help clients cut infra costs by 40-70% through right-sizing, spot pricing, smarter caching, and removing services they didn't need in the first place.
Working hours: 9am-6pm GMT+5:30 (overlaps US/EU/APAC). Emergency support available 24/7 for retainer clients.
Why Choose Krishan K Agarwal
10+ years of senior architecture experience scaling startups and enterprises
Fixed Pricing
No hourly rates, no surprises. You know exactly what you'll pay upfront.
Fast Delivery
Most engagements ship in 1-2 weeks. Quality without compromise.
Expert Support
30 days of free support and ongoing maintenance retainers.
Proven Track Record
150+ projects, $60M+ revenue generated, 99.99% uptime.
Still Have Questions?
Book a free 30-minute strategy call. Personalized recommendations, direct answers, no sales pressure.