Consulting
Technology decisions are expensive to get wrong.
Independent advice from senior engineers who have built and run web infrastructure since 1994. We have no vendor ties and no reason to sell you anything beyond the answer.
Sometimes you need an answer, not a hosting plan.
You might be choosing a platform, negotiating a hosting contract, planning a migration that can't fail, or trying to learn why your site keeps going down.
These are decisions, and a wrong one costs more than any consulting fee. You work with senior engineers who have evaluated hundreds of stacks and can tell you what will work for your situation. There's no retainer requirement and no obligation to host with us. Pay for the hours you need and move on.
Rates
- $195 an hour, business hours
- $295 an hour, rush and after hours
- 1-hour minimum, then 15-minute increments
- Free scoping call and a written estimate first
Services
What we consult on
Stack assessment
A review of your hosting, CMS, CDN, DNS and deployment setup. You get a written assessment with findings, risks and specific recommendations. A common case: a WordPress site nobody has updated in years, where we tell you what is safe to keep and what to replace.
Vendor review
An independent look at the hosts, CDNs, security tools or other vendors you're considering, measured against your needs and budget. Sometimes the answer is to stay where you are.
Migration planning
A plan for moving between hosts, platforms or architectures, with risks, timeline, rollback steps and testing. Run it yourself or have us do it.
Architecture review
Your application architecture, server configuration, database design or scaling plan, reviewed with prioritized recommendations you can act on.
Performance and security audit
A hands-on audit of how your site or application performs and how well it's protected. You get a written report with severity ratings and the steps to fix each finding.
Penetration testing
An authorized, scoped attempt to break into your application, WordPress site or servers using real attack techniques. Testing starts only after a signed scope and authorization agreement.
Process
How an engagement works
- 01
Free scoping call
Thirty minutes to understand the problem and decide whether consulting is the right fit. If you need a hosting plan or a different kind of vendor, we'll say so.
- 02
Written scope and estimate
You get the scope, estimated hours and total cost before any billable work begins.
- 03
Work, delivery and review
Our engineers do the work and keep you updated. You receive the written deliverable, then a 30-minute call to walk through it.
Ways to engage
Consulting rates
$195/hr
Business hours, Monday to Friday.
- 1-hour minimum per engagement
- 15-minute increments after the first hour
- Written estimate before work begins
$295/hr
Evenings, weekends and urgent requests.
- 1-hour minimum per engagement
- Same-day or next-day scheduling
- Weekend and holiday availability
From $500
A stack, vendor or security assessment. Credited toward setup if you move your site to us within 30 days.
- 2 to 4 hours of senior engineer time
- Written report with findings
- 30-minute review call
From $1,000/mo
Ongoing advisory access.
- 4 or more hours a month
- Priority scheduling
- Direct access to senior engineers
Penetration testing
Manual testing, priced per scope
We price each test after a discovery call. A signed authorization agreement is required before any testing begins.
Web application and WordPress
- Manual testing, not an automated scan
- Findings rated by CVSS severity, with proof of concept
- Remediation steps for every finding
- Executive summary and technical detail
Infrastructure and network
- Server, network and service enumeration
- Privilege escalation testing
- Findings rated by CVSS severity, with proof of concept
- Remediation steps for every finding
Executive growth advisory
Strategy for founders and executive teams
Some problems go beyond infrastructure. John Kirker works directly with founders and executive teams on growth, market positioning, technology-driven change and scaling operations. It's a working relationship with a technologist and operator, not a packaged service.
It's for companies with $10 million or more in revenue that want a strategic partner. We take on no more than three new advisory clients a year.
Learn more at Kirker.com.
One relationship
IgnitionLabs is a dba of John Kirker, Inc. When an engagement reaches past infrastructure into strategy or growth, the same team handles it. One relationship, one invoice, nothing for you to coordinate.
Search and AI visibility
Get found on Google and in AI answers
A $750 analysis of how your business appears in search, ChatGPT, Perplexity and Google AI Overviews, with a prioritized 90-day plan. Monthly monitoring from $500. Implementation on sites we host.
Start with a conversation.
The scoping call is free. We'll listen, tell you whether consulting is the right move, and give you a clear scope and cost before any work begins.