Build projects
Every planDiscovery, design, build, test and go-live as phases, with milestones, a Gantt and a working-day countdown to launch.
More on Build projects →For fractional CTOs and technology consultants
Client and project management for fractional CTOs
Ambital gives fractional CTOs, tech leads and freelance developers one place to run builds and advisory retainers for several clients: briefs and statements of work, designs and staging links sent for sign-off, change requests, retainer hours, Slack updates and invoices.
Most fractional CTOs choose Business · £59/month
Sound familiar?
Where technical engagements usually drift
“The spec changed on a call and nobody wrote it down.”
A change request records what changed, its cost against the fee and who agreed. It sits with the brief and the statement of work, so scope has one history.
Change requests →“Advisory hours disappear into Slack threads.”
Log time against the advisory retainer as you go. You see the included hours used this period and what is left before the client asks.
Retainers →“Sign-off on staging happened in a direct message.”
Send a design file or a staging link for approval. The client compares versions, pins comments and approves, and the decision is logged with a date.
Designs and approvals →What you'll use
The features fractional CTOs open first
Everything else in Ambital is there when you need it. These are the features that matter from week one.
SoWs and e-sign
From ProWrite the statement of work in Ambital and have the client sign it online, so scope is agreed before the build starts. Briefs with client sign-off on Business Pro and above.
More on SoWs and e-sign →Change requests
Every planEach change records the scope, the cost impact against the fee and who agreed, next to the original statement of work.
More on Change requests →Designs and approvals
From BusinessDesign files and staging links sent for sign-off, with versions, side-by-side compare and pinned comments.
More on Designs and approvals →Slack
From BusinessLink a client's Slack channel to the project so status updates, tasks and approvals reach them where they already work.
More on Slack →
Retainers and timesheets
Every planLog hours against an advisory retainer from a timer or the week grid. Rollover and retainer analytics come with Business.
More on Retainers and timesheets →A week in Ambital
One build, one advisory retainer, scope on the record
- MondayAmbi's briefA change request is waiting on Ashdown's portal build, one retainer is at 70% and staging sign-off is due Wednesday.
- TuesdayArchitecture callThe transcript files to the project. The login decision goes in the decision log with the options you weighed.
- WednesdayStaging sign-offSend the staging link for approval. The client pins two comments, you fix them, and they approve the next version.
- ThursdayScope changePasskey login wasn't in the statement of work. Price the change request and send it for approval.
- FridayUpdate and invoiceThe weekly status update posts to the client's Slack channel. Retainer hours close for the month and the invoice syncs to your accounting software.
Client names are fictional, from Ambital's demo organisation.
Set up for your kind of work
Start a project from what it's for
Choose one of these when you create a project and Ambital sets the billing model, tabs, phases and integrations for you.
Technology and product questions
Straight answers
- Does Ambital replace Jira or Linear?
- No. Ambital runs the client side of the work: scope, sign-off, change requests, time and invoices. Your team's tickets stay in the tool you already use.
- Can clients sign off designs and staging sites?
- Yes, on Business and above. You send a design file or a staging link for approval, and the client approves from an email link, or in the portal on Business Pro and above.
- Can I keep advisory hours apart from build work?
- Yes, on every plan. An advisory retainer and a fixed-price build are separate projects for the same client, each with its own billing model, hours and invoices.
- Which plan do fractional CTOs choose?
- Most choose Business at £59 a month, because it includes the client portal, approvals, briefs and e-sign, and the Slack integration.
- Does Ambital post updates to Slack?
- Yes, on Business and above. Link a client's Slack channel to a project and its status updates, tasks and approvals are posted there.
Be first in when we launch
Ambital is in private beta. Apply to test and you'll get in first, with free months at launch for committed testers.
Free plan · No card required · Built in the UK