RateCheck

1. The problem

   Most freelance quotes go wrong before they start: the brief carries a budget and a deadline that don't fit the scope, and both sides only find out mid-project. Founders need a second opinion before they send the brief; freelancers need clients who arrive with realistic numbers.

2. The approach

   • A three-minute intake — the idea, the budget, the timeline — instead of a long form.
   • An LLM pass that scores four signals: budget reality, timeline correction, scope pressure (integrations, admin panels, content nobody listed) and a single low/medium/high risk flag.
   • The output is a private, shareable report rather than a chat: a budget-pressure map, scope-friction notes, an MVP phasing path and a PDF export.
   • Free and no login, so it can be sent as a link before the first call.

3. What shipped

   • Next.js app on Vercel with Supabase for persistence.
   • Model calls through OpenRouter; Redis alongside the report pipeline; transactional email via Resend.
   • Report pages with a quote-readiness score, requested vs. likely budget range and per-feature hour estimates.

4. Results

   • Free, no sign-up, about three minutes from brief to report.

Faheem Musthafa · 2026