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Should I demo Iris on the first call?

Usually not immediately. Understand the business problem first, then show only the parts of Iris that explain how you would diagnose that problem.

How long should a discovery call be?

Long enough to understand the problem, consequence, urgency and decision process without turning the first conversation into a free diagnostic. Thirty to sixty minutes is common, but the quality of the conversation matters more than a fixed duration.

Should I ask about budget directly?

Yes, but after establishing the problem and context. You are trying to understand the commercial route, not force a number prematurely.

What if the prospect only wants a demo?

Give enough context to make the demo relevant. Ask what they are trying to evaluate and which process or problem matters so you can avoid feature tourism.

How do I know whether pain is serious enough?

Look for measurable consequence: cost, delay, rework, risk, capacity, poor service, missed revenue or inability to scale.

What if there is no urgent deadline?

The project may still matter, but without a trigger it is more likely to drift. Clarify why it would receive attention now rather than in six months.

Should I send a proposal after every good meeting?

No. Send one when the problem, scope, buyer, next step and commercial route are sufficiently clear.

What if the client asks for lots of recommendations before signing?

Keep free activity to sales discovery. If you are analysing their process and producing a useful diagnosis, scope that as paid work.

What does “too expensive” usually mean?

It may mean insufficient value, insufficient trust, cash timing, a cheaper comparison, weak urgency or genuine budget constraint. Ask before responding.

Should I discount to win the first client?

Only deliberately. If you discount, reduce scope or receive something meaningful in return rather than establishing an unsustainable baseline.

What if a competitor is cheaper?

Clarify whether the scopes and methods are comparable. Do not assume you need to match a lower fee if the work is materially different.

How should I respond to “we can do this internally”?

Agree that they may be able to, then diagnose whether they lack capability, capacity, methodology, independence or simply time.

What if they already have Copilot or ChatGPT?

Existing tools do not answer whether the underlying workflow is well designed or whether a specific intervention is valuable. Keep the discussion on the business problem.

What if procurement wants another quote?

Support the process, but keep the sponsor engaged. Clarify what procurement is comparing and what parts of scope or risk differ.

When should I walk away?

When the project lacks meaningful problem ownership, the commercial terms are uneconomic, the client expects unsupported guarantees, or the required capability is outside your competence.