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How I price consulting engagements (and why retainers beat hourly)
The exact pricing model I've used for 45+ growth engagements, with the math behind every tier.
Hourly billing punishes speed. Retainers reward outcomes. Here is the pricing model I've landed on after 45+ engagements.
Three tiers
- Diagnostic — flat fee, 2 weeks, audit + 90-day plan
- Build — monthly retainer, 90 days, implementation
- Optimize — monthly retainer, ongoing, weekly cycles
Every engagement starts with Diagnostic. No exceptions. The founder gets a usable plan even if we never work together again.