Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

General Questions

What are your hours of operation?

For emergencies and urgent issues, we are open 24 hours a day. If we need to schedule a conference call outside our normal business hours, I will do my best to accommodate you. We are normally very flexible when engaging customers.

We are open Monday through Friday, 9:00AM to 6PM Central time. We are closed on all standard U.S. Holidays.

Where are you located?

We are located in a suburb of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

How long has Agave Mountain been in business?

Agave Mountain, Inc., was founded the company in 2007 and has been continually in business since then.

Is Agave Mountain a USA-based company?

Yes, we are a U.S. corporation, incorporated in Delaware, registered to do business in Minnesota, and are in good standing. We will furnish our DUNS number on request.

How long does it take to get started?

It depends on our workload, but usually we can start within 2 weeks.

Can we meet in person, or is this done over the phone?

Yes, we can meet before, during, and/or after the project. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to spend every day at a client's site. Travel, lodging, meal expenses, time and materials will be billed to client.

Who owns the right to the software you create?

Due to billing issues we've had in the past, with one client, we retain the copyright until the last payment is made. Once the all the work has been paid for, you own it free and clear, forever.

Will offshore programmers be working on my project?

Currently, we do not have any offshore developers.

However, if you absolutely must have offshore programmers working on your project, we can find some, and we would be more than happy to do the design and act as project managers.

Do you provide source code?

Yes, we provide all source code. This is standard industry practice.

I used a developer overseas who didn't finish the project. The code is broken. Can you help?

Yes can help you recover from your failed outsourcing attempts. We've done quite a lot of that lately. We will evaluate how much they've done and then give you an estimate on how much it will cost for us to fix it.

You weren't the lowest bidder. Can you match this price?

Sometimes we can negotiate, but mostly no. You may find the other vender is offering the deal of a lifetime. However, it is more likely they are underestimating the effort and time required. Please keep our contact information and give us a call if the developers don't perform as expected. We would like to help.

I am a small/medium size business. Do you work with only large corporations?

No, we work with businesses of any size.

iOS, iPhone and iPad Questions

I want a simple iPhone application that only has a few screens. Can you do it, and how fast can you get it done?

Simple iPhone applications can be done in as little as one week. It really depends on how much time you want to spend on design. If you know exactly what you want, we can bring it together quickly. If you want database or network connectivity, twitter, or GPS features, it will take considerably longer.

How do I get my application into the iTunes store?

You will need to sign up as a developer, wait to be verified by Apple, and pay the $99/year fee. You will have to generate the certificates, compile the application and upload it to apple's server. You will also have to write the application's description and post screenshots.

Can you post our iPhone application to iTunes under your corporate developer account?

Yes, if your application is free, we can post it under our developer account. For most businesses that are using iPhone/iPad applications for marketing purposes, this shouldn't be a problem.

However, if you want to charge for the application, we won't host it under our account. We simply don't want to deal with the headaches of collecting money from Apple and the forward it onwards to a third-party.

You are hosting a free iPhone app for us under your account. Can we transfer it to us or our developer?

Yes, not a problem. We will have to get their apple account information in order to transfer the application to them.

I want to get my iPhone app into the store. Can you just handle everything?

Yes, we can handle everything or help you through the process.

I want to see the application working on my iPhone before it goes to the store. Is that possible?

Yes, we can step you through the process of getting the credentials setup and can release it to you in an adhoc manner for you to test.

Payment Questions

What payment options do you offer?

We accept checks, MasterCard, Visa, and American Express. There is a penalty for late payment.

Can you except equity in our startup in leu of payment?

We are happy to discuss equity in startup projects, but in most cases we would prefer payment.

How much do you require up front?

For fixed-price projects, we require 25%-50% up front before we start work. For time and materials projects, we usually require a retainer covering the first 80 hours of work.

Do you offer financing?

Not normally. Usually the payment is spread out throughout a project in a way that is manageable for most clients. Since every client is different, this is negotiated on a client-by-client basis at the start of the project. For time and materials basis, we bill twice per month.

We now offer a very limited number of clients financing based on credit and we require a personal guarantee from the principals of the business. Rates start at 19.99% A.P.R.