Yes. Retainer engagements are designed for ongoing maintenance, bug fixes, feature additions, and continuous improvement. Many clients maintain a retainer specifically for ongoing platform maintenance alongside periodic project-based work for larger initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Comprehensive answers to common questions about Creatos, the Creatos DaaS™ model, services, pricing, and engagement process. If your question is not answered here, reach out directly.
About Creatos
Creatos Inc. is a Canadian corporation providing Developer-as-a-Service (Creatos DaaS™) for software agencies, startups, and mid-market companies. The service delivers embedded, senior-level development capacity through pre-negotiated rates and a streamlined engagement model — combining the reliability of an internal team member with the flexibility of an external resource.
Developer-as-a-Service means you get ongoing access to senior development expertise through a subscription-style engagement. Rather than hiring full-time, sourcing freelancers project-by-project, or working through a platform, you establish a single relationship with pre-approved rates. Tasks are submitted and work begins immediately, just like assigning work to an internal team member.
Creatos is led by Jessy Dierickse, CEO and Director, with over 10 years of technical expertise spanning full-stack development, cloud infrastructure, database management, IT security, AI engineering, and DevOps. Jessy personally handles client engagements, ensuring consistent quality and direct communication.
Creatos Inc. is a Canadian corporation operating primarily in the Eastern time zone (EST). Business hours are 9 AM - 6 PM EST, Monday through Friday, providing full timezone overlap with North American clients and significant overlap with Western European business hours.
Creatos is led by Jessy Dierickse, who directly handles client engagements. As the business grows, vetted team members may join for specific specializations or increased capacity. Every client always knows exactly who is working on their project, and the quality and communication standards remain consistent regardless of team size.
Three key differentiators: (1) Pre-approved rates that eliminate negotiation on every task, creating an internal-team-like workflow. (2) Six service categories through one relationship, so one partner replaces multiple specialists. (3) Zero platform fees — it is a direct relationship with transparent pricing. Combined with Canadian-based credibility and CEO-level strategic perspective, Creatos provides a partnership that goes beyond code delivery.
Services
Creatos provides senior-level expertise across six technical domains: Full-Stack Development (React, Node.js, Python, PHP, TypeScript), Cloud & DevOps (AWS, Azure, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform), Database & Analytics (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch), IT Security (audits, compliance, penetration testing, SOC2/GDPR/PIPEDA/HIPAA), AI Engineering (OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, LangChain, RAG systems, ML pipelines), and Technical Consulting (architecture review, tech selection, due diligence).
Yes, and most projects do. A typical engagement might involve full-stack development for the application, cloud infrastructure for deployment, database optimization for performance, and security hardening for compliance. Having one partner who spans all these areas means faster execution and fewer integration issues than coordinating multiple specialists.
Primary technologies include React, Vue.js, Node.js, Python, PHP, TypeScript, Next.js, AWS, Azure, GCP, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch, OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, LangChain, and vector databases. The full technology list extends beyond these, and specific requirements can be discussed during the discovery call.
Absolutely. Most engagements involve contributing to existing codebases rather than starting from scratch. The onboarding process includes reviewing your current architecture, coding conventions, development workflow, and branching strategy to ensure seamless integration with your team's existing patterns.
Creatos focuses on development implementation. If you have existing designs (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), they will be implemented with accuracy. For projects without designs, functional UI can be built using component libraries. For custom design work, trusted design partners can be recommended.
Creatos builds mobile backends, APIs, and React Native or progressive web applications. For native iOS (Swift) or native Android (Kotlin) development, partner recommendations can be provided. Hybrid and cross-platform approaches are handled directly.
Creatos works across industries, with particular concentration in SaaS, fintech, e-commerce, healthcare tech, and agency services. The technical expertise is industry-agnostic — the same development principles apply whether building a healthcare platform or an e-commerce tool.
Pricing & Billing
Rates are determined on a per-client basis during the discovery and intake process, taking into account the engagement model, project scope, and specific requirements. There are no platform fees or hidden markups. A detailed proposal with exact pricing is provided after the intake process is complete.
No. The agreed rate is the complete cost. There are no setup fees, platform fees, management fees, or overhead markups. The only additional cost is a rush rate premium for work requiring under 24-hour turnaround, which is always communicated and approved before work begins.
Time is tracked in detailed increments with task descriptions. Invoices are sent on an agreed schedule with complete time logs showing exactly what was worked on. Payment terms are established during the intake process.
All rates and invoices are in US Dollars (USD).
Wire transfer (domestic and international via Wise), ACH direct deposit, credit card (via Stripe), and PayPal. Client is responsible for any transaction fees imposed by their chosen payment method.
Hours beyond the monthly retainer commitment are billed at the standard rate for your engagement. You are notified as you approach your hour limit so there are no surprises.
Engagement & Process
Most clients go from initial discovery call to first task delivery within 5-7 business days. For urgent needs, the process can be compressed to 1-2 days.
Onboarding involves four steps: (1) A 30-minute discovery call to understand your needs. (2) A brief intake questionnaire and proposal. (3) Signing the Master Services Agreement and completing system access setup. (4) Submitting your first task. The entire process is designed to be completed in under one week.
No. All engagements operate month-to-month with 30-day termination notice. There are no annual contracts, lock-in commitments, or early termination penalties.
Tasks can be submitted through multiple channels: task management portal (recommended for larger tasks), dedicated Slack channel (for quick tasks and questions), or email. Use whichever method is most convenient for your workflow.
During business hours (9 AM - 6 PM EST): Urgent/production-down issues receive a response within 2 hours. High-priority items within 4 hours. Standard requests within 8 hours. Retainer clients receive priority scheduling.
Weekly status summaries detail completed work, hours logged, and upcoming priorities. Task status is visible in the task management portal at any time. Detailed time logs accompany every invoice.
Technical
All code follows established best practices: consistent formatting, meaningful naming conventions, error handling, input validation, and documentation. Automated tests are written for critical business logic and API endpoints. Code is designed to be maintained and extended by your team, not just to work once.
Work is organized around iterative delivery with frequent check-ins, similar to agile practices. Features are broken into reviewable increments delivered weekly. The specific methodology adapts to your team's existing workflow — if you use sprints, standups, or specific processes, Creatos integrates with them.
All work is done in your code repository (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket). Branches follow your team's conventions. Pull requests include descriptions and context. You maintain full ownership and visibility of all code from day one.
Yes. Creatos works within your existing development infrastructure. If you do not have CI/CD set up yet, implementing one is a common Cloud & DevOps engagement.
Every engagement includes documentation appropriate to the work delivered: API documentation, architecture decisions, setup instructions, and deployment procedures. The goal is for your team to maintain and extend everything independently.
Security & Compliance
The Master Services Agreement includes comprehensive confidentiality provisions that protect all client information. Confidentiality obligations survive for three years after engagement termination, with trade secrets protected indefinitely.
You do. Upon full payment, all custom code, designs, and deliverables are assigned to you with full intellectual property rights. Creatos retains no rights to your work product.
The standard MSA includes confidentiality provisions equivalent to a standard NDA. If your organization requires a separate NDA, Creatos can review and sign it as part of the onboarding process.
Creatos follows secure development practices and can implement compliance requirements (SOC2, GDPR, PIPEDA, HIPAA) as part of IT Security services. For specific compliance questions about how client data is handled, discuss during the discovery call.
Getting Started
No formal preparation is required. Come ready to describe your development needs, current tech stack (if applicable), and what you are looking for in a development partner. If you have project documentation available, sharing it in advance is helpful but not necessary.
The discovery call is designed to help clarify the right approach. Many clients start with a general understanding of their needs, and the conversation helps identify specific services, engagement models, and priorities.
Absolutely. Starting with a smaller project or limited retainer is a common way to evaluate the partnership before expanding. There is no pressure to commit to a large engagement from the start.
Communicate any concerns directly. Every effort will be made to adjust approach, process, or communication. If it is still not the right fit, the 30-day termination notice protects both parties. There is no penalty for ending the engagement.
Still Have Questions?
The best way to get specific answers for your situation is a 30-minute discovery call. No obligation, no sales pressure — just a conversation about whether Creatos DaaS™ is the right fit.