Implementation BlueprintExecution layer

Light Cloud Managed Hosting Retainer Build (6-8 days)

A repeatable playbook for agencies to productize Light Cloud as a managed hosting retainer, deploying client Git repositories to live full-stack apps with managed Postgres and per-branch preview environments. Time: 6-8 days.

By InnovaAI ResearchPublished

DevOps Automation

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Blueprint

Light Cloud Managed Hosting Retainer Build (6-8 days)

A repeatable playbook for agencies to productize Light Cloud as a managed hosting retainer, deploying client Git repositories to live full-stack apps with managed Postgres and per-branch preview environments.

Prerequisites
  • A Light Cloud account on the Starter plan ($19/month) to test multi-app deployments before committing client repos
  • Client GitHub repository with a working frontend and backend that can build without custom runner configuration
  • Domain registrar access for the client's custom domain and DNS records
  • A defined hosting retainer price point that covers Light Cloud plan costs plus agency margin
  • Agreement on whether the client sees the Light Cloud dashboard or only agency-provided status updates
Execution Timeline
  • 1.Create a Light Cloud account and connect a test GitHub repository to confirm the Git-to-live deployment flow
  • 2.Provision a managed Postgres database and verify encrypted credentials wire to the application backend
  • 3.Push a commit and confirm the frontend, backend, and database all deploy in one project
  • 1.Connect the client's GitHub repository to Light Cloud and assign the correct plan tier for their app count
  • 2.Provision a managed Postgres instance with the right tier, region, and storage for the client's data
  • 3.Assign the client's custom domain and verify DNS resolves to the deployed app
  • 1.Confirm every branch and pull request generates its own preview URL built on push
  • 2.Test that preview environments are removed when the branch is deleted
  • 3.Verify logs retain commit and author data for client-facing deployment reports
  • 1.Configure scale-to-zero containers so idle apps stop billing between client usage periods
  • 2.Set container sizes appropriate to the client's traffic, using Nano or Micro for low-traffic sites
  • 3.Document the idle-cost behavior so the client understands why hosting charges vary month to month
  • 1.Connect Claude Code or GitHub Copilot to the Light Cloud MCP server for AI-assisted deploys
  • 2.Run a test deploy through the MCP server to confirm the integration works with the client repo
  • 3.Document the AI-assisted deploy workflow for the agency delivery team
  • 1.Build the client-facing status report template using Light Cloud deployment logs and preview URLs
  • 2.Set up a monitoring routine that checks app health and database connectivity on a fixed schedule
  • 3.Define the escalation path for failed deploys and database issues
  • 1.Hand off access credentials and document the deployment workflow for the client or agency team
  • 2.Walk the client through what they can and cannot see in the Light Cloud dashboard given the lack of white-label surfaces
  • 3.Confirm the retainer scope covers plan costs, monitoring, and deploy support
  • 1.Review the first week of billing to confirm scale-to-zero is reducing idle costs as expected
  • 2.Adjust the retainer price if actual Light Cloud plan costs differ from the estimate
  • 3.Schedule the next client deployment using the same playbook
$5/month (Lite) to $149/month (Business) in Light Cloud plan costs, plus $9 per extra team member on Starter and above; agency retainer pricing typically $150-$500/month per client6-8 days
ROI Logic

Light Cloud plan costs start at $5/month (Lite) and scale to $149/month (Business), while agencies can charge $150-$500/month per client for managed hosting that includes deployment, monitoring, and support. The margin comes from scale-to-zero containers keeping idle costs near zero and per-branch preview environments reducing the manual work of staging client changes. An agency running 10 client retainers at $250/month against a blended Light Cloud cost of roughly $50/month per client keeps about $2,000/month in gross margin.

Deliverables
  • Light Cloud deployment runbook covering Git connection, managed Postgres provisioning, and custom domain assignment
  • Client-facing hosting status report template built from Light Cloud deployment logs and preview URLs
  • Scale-to-zero configuration guide showing which container sizes fit which client traffic profiles
  • AI-assisted deploy workflow document for Claude Code and GitHub Copilot via the Light Cloud MCP server
  • Retainer pricing sheet mapping Light Cloud plan tiers to client-facing monthly fees
Definition of Done

The client's Git repository deploys to a live Light Cloud app with managed Postgres, a custom domain, per-branch preview URLs, and scale-to-zero containers, and the agency has a signed retainer covering ongoing deployment and monitoring.

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