03 · Fractional partner · Advisory Retainer
A fractional AI ops partner — for a fraction of the cost of hiring one.
A standing monthly relationship where I’m the AI operator on call for your business: roadmap, tool selection, prioritization, light builds, and troubleshooting as questions come up. The steady hand that keeps your operation moving in the right direction without a full-time hire.
Growing studios & multi-location groups · Agencies · Professional-services firms · Owner-operators
What it is
Your fractional AI ops leadThink of it as having a senior AI operations lead on the team without the six-figure salary. Each month I hold the AI roadmap for your business — deciding what to build next, choosing the right tools, killing the ideas that won't pay off, shipping the small stuff directly, and being the person you message when something breaks or a new opportunity shows up.
It's the right tier when the audit is done, the first build is live, and what you really need is an ongoing partner who keeps momentum going — not a one-off project, and not a full-time employee you're not ready to hire.
You've started and want to keep going.
You've got a system or two live and a steady stream of "could we automate this?" questions that deserve a real owner.
You want expertise on tap.
A predictable monthly relationship beats scrambling for a freelancer every time something changes or breaks.
You're not ready to hire.
A full-time AI ops person is premature or overkill — but going without a strategic hand is costing you momentum.
What's included
8–12 hrs / month- Roadmap ownership — what to build next, in what order, and why — kept current as the business changes.
- Tool & vendor selection — I vet the AI tools so you don't buy the wrong thing or overpay.
- Prioritization — the judgment call on which automations actually move the needle this quarter.
- Light builds — the small automations and fixes shipped inside the retainer, no separate quote.
- Ad-hoc troubleshooting — the person you message when something breaks or a new question comes up.
- A standing monthly check-in — a real working session, plus availability between sessions.
Scoped at 8–12 hours a month, with 15 available as a soft ceiling in heavier stretches. Bigger builds run as their own Done-For-You engagement rather than eating the retainer.
The price
Monthly · cancel anytime8–12 hours of an operator who ships, every month — a fraction of a full-time hire and well below the standard fractional-lead band. Predictable, clearly scoped, and cancellable anytime.
Why it works
Proof over promisesMost people who'd sell you a retainer can only advise. I can also build — which means "light builds" in your retainer are real, shipped systems, not more meetings. I keep my own companies (Primal Moves' operator dashboard, my PRS command center) running on exactly this kind of ongoing attention, so I know what a system needs month to month to stay useful instead of going stale.
- Momentum — the roadmap keeps moving instead of stalling after the first build.
- One accountable partner — no juggling freelancers; one operator owns your AI ops direction.
- Cost control — expert judgment on tools and priorities so you spend on what pays off.
Questions
Short versionWhat if I need a big build one month?
The retainer covers roadmap, small builds and troubleshooting. A larger system runs as its own fixed-fee Done-For-You engagement — so a big month doesn't quietly consume your retainer hours, and you always know what you're paying for.
Is there a contract lock-in?
No. It's month to month, cancel anytime. The relationship should continue because it's worth it, not because you're trapped.
Do I need the audit first?
Usually. The audit (or a first build) gives us a shared map of your operation, which makes the retainer far more effective from day one. If you already have that clarity, we can start here.
What happens in the unused hours?
The retainer buys a relationship and priority access, not a strict timesheet. Quiet months bank goodwill; busy months flex up to the soft ceiling. It evens out — and you always have a partner on call.
Keep the momentum going.
Tell me what you’ve got running and where you keep getting stuck. If a monthly partnership is the right fit, I’ll tell you how it’d work — and if a one-off build serves you better, I’ll tell you that.
Book a call →Or email me directly — hello@irons.LA · Los Angeles