Fixed-fee consulting is the straightforward alternative to a performance partnership. You know the cost and the scope before work begins, and nothing depends on how results are shared. It suits owners who want certainty, businesses that aren't ready for a partnership, and anyone who needs a specific problem solved quickly.
What it is
Three published ways to pay for consulting: by the hour, by the project, or by the month. They're priced from the ranges the group's consulting arm publishes:
| Option | Price (CAD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly consulting | $175–$350 per hour | Strategy sessions and specific questions |
| Project | $3,500–$25,000 per project | A defined piece of work with milestones |
| Monthly retainer | $2,500–$12,000 per month | Ongoing advice and execution support |
Ontario clients add 13% HST, and Ali will show it on the written quote. Full details are on the pricing page.
Who it's for
Owners who prefer a known cost, or whose business doesn't yet suit performance pay. Common situations include:
- Early-stage businesses that need validation or a launch plan before growth work makes sense.
- Businesses without records who need measurement set up first.
- Owners with a single problem, such as a website that doesn't convert or a sales process that leaks.
- Companies that simply prefer it. Some owners would rather pay a fixed fee than share upside, and that's a perfectly sound choice.
What's included
Whatever the written scope says, and nothing vague. Each option works a little differently:
- Hourly: a focused session on a question you bring, with notes on what to do next.
- Project: a defined deliverable, such as a growth plan, a measurement setup or a website conversion review, paid at milestones.
- Retainer: a monthly allocation of advice and execution, reviewed against agreed priorities.
Before any paid work starts, you get the scope and the price in writing.
Timeline
An hourly session can happen within days; projects and retainers depend on scope. A focused project might take a few weeks. A retainer runs month to month on the agreed terms. The fit assessment can help decide which option fits your situation.
How results are measured
Against the deliverable or priorities named in the scope. For a project, that's whether the agreed work was delivered and does what it was meant to do. For a retainer, it's progress on the priorities reviewed each month.
Where the work involves growth, we still recommend tracking enquiries and sales by source. That habit makes it easy to judge whether the spending paid off, and it's the foundation for a partnership later if you want one.
Fixed fee or partnership: a quick comparison
The difference is who carries the risk, and how much each side needs to measure. Neither option is cheaper by default.
| Question | Fixed fee | Growth Partner Program |
|---|---|---|
| When is the cost known? | Before work starts | Depends on measured results |
| Who carries the risk of no result? | Mostly you | Shared, under the written terms |
| How much tracking is needed? | Helpful | Essential |
| How many are available? | No set limit | Limited partnerships |
| How fast can it start? | Usually quickly | After an assessment and written terms |
If results are strong, a performance arrangement can end up costing more than a fixed fee would have, because pay follows the outcome. That's the trade: less risk at the start, a share of the upside later. Model both before you choose. The guide on when performance pay fits works through examples.
Mistakes to avoid when buying consulting
Most disappointment comes from loose scope.
- Buying hours without a question. Come with a specific problem and the time goes much further.
- Projects with no definition of done. Agree what "finished" looks like in writing.
- Retainers without priorities. A monthly fee should have a monthly focus.
- Picking on price alone. The cheapest option that doesn't solve the problem costs the most.
To scope a project or book an hourly session, call or text (604) 632-4959 or email Ali@Sedighi.ca. For broader consulting across the province, our sister site Ontario.Business covers growth consulting for Ontario owners, and BusinessConsulting.ca lists the group's full pricing. Compare these options with the Growth Partner Program.
Frequently asked questions
What do the fixed-fee options cost?
Hourly consulting is $175–$350 an hour, projects are $3,500–$25,000 and monthly retainers are $2,500–$12,000, all in Canadian dollars before 13% HST. Where your work falls in each range depends on scope.
Can a fixed-fee project lead to a partnership?
It can. A measurement project, for example, often creates the clean records a partnership needs. Whether a partnership is offered later depends on fit and on whether a place is open.
Is there a long-term contract?
There's no lock-in. Projects have a defined scope and milestone payments, and retainers run on terms agreed in writing, including how to end them.