Common questions

No. Existing products are reviewed before a rescue is committed. MVPs need a real problem and enough signal to scope a production build. Automation is scoped only when the workflow is actually worth automating. If the work is not a fit, we say so rather than force it into a published price range.

Fill out the project form or email directly. We review what exists — code, designs, a prototype, or a brief — then write a scope and estimate. Work does not start against a vague request.

Schedule follows scope. A rescue sprint and an MVP are different jobs, and inherited code changes the picture. There is no universal four-week timeline. After review, you get a schedule that matches the actual work.

Typical project investment is $3.5k–$25k+. Product Rescue usually sits in the $3.5k–$7.5k range. MVP Development is typically $10k–$25k+ for an initial build. Business automation typically ranges from $3.5k–$15k+. Agency partner work is custom quoted. Final pricing depends on scope and technical requirements.

HPN Studio is a product engineering studio. The primary product work is MVP development, product rescue, and white-label builds for agencies. A separate lane — Business Automation — is for operating businesses that need repetitive workflows connected across existing systems. Mobile, backend, payments, AI, and infrastructure support those engagements.

Founders and small teams with something real to build or finish, agencies that need production engineering behind their client work, and operating businesses whose teams are still moving work between systems by hand. The fit is the buying situation — rescue, MVP, partner build, or business automation — not a claimed industry roster.

Product Rescue assumes something already exists — a prototype, repo, or unfinished app — and the job is to get it across the finish line. MVP Development is an initial production build from a validated idea, designs, or a serious brief. Rescue is typically $3.5k–$7.5k. Initial MVPs are typically $10k–$25k+.

Yes. We have inherited codebases in various states of health. We start with a brief audit, then either maintain and improve what is there or recommend a path forward if the code needs significant work.

No. AI is one implementation tool, used when the workflow actually needs interpretation — documents, unstructured email, exception classification. If a rule, an API, or an existing integration solves it, that is what ships.

Typical automation projects are $3.5k–$15k+. An Automation Sprint for one defined workflow is usually $3.5k–$7.5k. Connected Operations is typically $7.5k–$15k. A Custom Operations System starts at $15k+. Final pricing depends on scope and technical requirements.

Usually no. The starting point is the systems the business already uses. Replacement only comes up when the current stack cannot support the workflow, and that is a scoped decision — not a default.

Whichever is the simplest system that will hold up. An existing integration if that is enough. An automation platform when orchestration is the honest fit. Custom code or a purpose-built system when the workflow needs durable logic, APIs, audit trails, authentication, or a real UI.

Repetitive operational workflows: intake, approvals, routing, reconciliation, quoting, invoicing, reporting, document processing, system handoffs, exception handling, and follow-up. The fit is the workflow condition — information copied between systems, a spreadsheet acting as middleware, email acting as a work queue — not a particular industry.

By looking at frequency, human time, number of people and systems involved, failure cost, and which exceptions still need judgment. If the workflow is not expensive enough to automate, HPN will say so rather than sell a build.

Yes. Agency partner work is project delivery: frontend, backend, mobile, payments, integrations, and infrastructure behind the partner’s client relationship. White-label-capable and NDA-friendly. Terms are set per engagement.

Not in the traditional sense. We use retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) — the bot searches your content at query time rather than being retrained. Updates to your content are reflected immediately.

We build retrieval-augmented chatbots that answer questions from your own content, lead-qualification bots that collect information before handing off to a human, support bots that reduce ticket volume, and internal assistants.

We choose the provider and current production model that fit the workflow’s accuracy, cost, and privacy requirements, including OpenAI, Anthropic, or local models where appropriate.

Timeline depends on the workflow, number of systems involved, API quality, exception handling, and whether custom software is required. Narrowly scoped automation sprints generally move faster than connected or custom systems.

Common examples: lead routing and follow-up emails, client onboarding sequences, invoice and payment notifications, report generation, data sync between systems, scheduling and reminder workflows, and internal approval processes.

It depends on the use case. We use n8n or custom Node.js services for complex logic, integrate with Zapier or Make where simpler, and build direct API integrations between systems when needed.

We choose the stack based on your requirements. Typically React or Next.js on the frontend, Node.js or Java on the backend, PostgreSQL for the database, and AWS for infrastructure.

A platform is any custom web application that goes beyond a marketing site — booking systems, client portals, dashboards, internal tools, SaaS products, anything with user accounts, data management, or business logic.

Both. If your current site is structurally sound but looks dated or performs poorly, a redesign makes sense. If the codebase is a mess or the platform is limiting you, a clean rebuild is often faster and cheaper long-term.

Technical SEO is built in — correct metadata, structured data, fast load times, canonical URLs, and sitemaps. Content SEO (keyword strategy and ongoing content creation) is a separate engagement.

It depends on what you need. For content-heavy marketing sites, we use Astro for near-perfect performance and SEO. For sites needing more CMS control, we integrate headless CMS solutions.

Yes, with a brief onboarding audit. We need to understand what we are inheriting before committing to SLAs. Most inherited projects are straightforward; occasionally we recommend addressing technical debt first.

We work on monthly retainers with a three-month minimum for new clients. This gives us enough runway to understand your project and deliver consistent value. After that it is month-to-month.

Typically: bug fixes, dependency updates, performance improvements, small feature additions, content updates, uptime monitoring, and a dedicated point of contact. Scope is agreed upfront — no surprise invoices for small tasks.