Solutions architect
The data model, the integrations, and the build order are decided before a line of code, so the scope you see is the scope you get.
Freelancers on Upwork, Toptal, or direct referral often bill by the hour, work across multiple projects simultaneously, and vary widely in seniority. The best freelancers are excellent. The median freelancer charges $60–$120/hr for work that takes longer than estimated and leaves the scope management to you. Lab Twelve is a fixed-scope, fixed-price model: one number before you pay, one person accountable, scope locked before build. If you have been burned by a freelancer who went over hours, this is what that experience looks like solved.
One fixed price buys a whole product team in one: architect, designer, and AI-native engineer.
The data model, the integrations, and the build order are decided before a line of code, so the scope you see is the scope you get.
Interface, flow, and brand are designed for this build, not dropped onto a template. The finished app looks like it was meant to ship.
Senior execution at AI speed, in production with the source code in your hands. One builder with the range of a whole product team.
| Fixed price before build starts | Included |
|---|---|
| Scoped deliverables in writing | Included |
| Production deployment included | Included |
| Two revision rounds per tier | Included |
| Source code, no lock-in | Included |
Fixed price before build starts: Not hourly, not a range
Scoped deliverables in writing: Screen list, data model, integrations named before checkout
Production deployment included: No 'setup by you' at handoff
Two revision rounds per tier: Not open-ended back-and-forth
Source code, no lock-in: Full ownership from day one
| Open-ended hourly engagement | Not in base scope |
|---|---|
| On-demand availability | Not in base scope |
| Staff augmentation | Not in base scope |
Open-ended hourly engagement: Lab Twelve is scope-first only
On-demand availability: One active build at a time; queue via dev lane
Staff augmentation: Lab Twelve builds products, not capacity
A representative ScopeSpec ticket. Yours is assembled live from the scope chat, priced by the engine, and locked before you pay.
Find, vet, contract
Days to weeks of interviewing before a start date.
AI scope in one session
Fixed quote today, start date confirmed same week.
Hourly billing
Invoice surprises when complexity is higher than estimated.
Fixed price, no overages
The quote you approved is the invoice you pay.
A dev lane is a good parallel option: use your freelancer for one stream and Lab Twelve for another, or replace a stalled engagement with a fixed-scope restart.
Often not — a $50/hr freelancer who takes 80 hours for a project you expected in 40 costs $4,000. A Micro App at $1,950 covers a focused scope with deployment. Compare total cost, not rate.
The dev lane is the ongoing engagement model: monthly async at a flat rate. No hire, no equity, no headcount overhead.
No agency to manage, no roster to assemble. The whole team, one number, source code in your hands.