These are the questions owners ask most before hiring a consultant. The short answers are above; below is some context on the questions that usually need more than a sentence or two.
Frequently asked questions
How much does business consulting cost?
Hourly consulting is $175 to $350 an hour, defined projects are $3,500 to $25,000, and monthly retainers are $2,500 to $12,000. Prices are in Canadian dollars and BC clients add 5% GST. The first 30-minute consultation is free.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. There's no lock-in. Projects have a defined scope and finish, and retainers can be ended on the notice terms written into your proposal.
How quickly will I see results?
An hourly session gives you a recommendation within days. A growth plan or marketing strategy usually takes three to six weeks to write, and the effect on your business shows over the following three to twelve months, depending on the decision.
We hired an agency or consultant before and it didn't work. Why would this be different?
We can't promise it will be, but we do a few things that address the usual causes. We agree the measures of success in writing before starting, we keep recommendations short and specific, and you can stop at any point. Tell us what went wrong last time and we'll say whether we'd have done anything differently.
Who owns the plans, spreadsheets and documents you produce?
You do, once the work is paid for. Plans, models and checklists are written for your business and are yours to keep, share and change.
Who owns my website, ad accounts and data?
You should, always. We don't hold your accounts hostage. If we need access to analytics or ad reports to advise you, we ask for user access on accounts registered to your business, and you can remove it whenever you like.
How do you report on progress?
On project work, through the written deliverables and a review call. On a retainer, through a short monthly scorecard of the four to six numbers agreed in your plan, plus a conversation about what to change.
Can you promise more customers or more revenue?
No. Nobody honest can promise a particular result, because your market, staff and decisions all play a part. We promise careful analysis, clear recommendations and honest answers about what's working.
Do you only work with HVAC or trades companies?
No. We advise owner-run businesses of many kinds across Coquitlam. The case studies we publish are results from our HVAC work, the sector where Ali built 150+ live websites.
Do you meet in person?
Yes, in person or by video call, and also by phone, text and email. The group is headquartered in Vancouver and doesn't keep an office in Coquitlam.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Your figures and plans are used only to advise you. If you'd like a confidentiality agreement before sharing sensitive numbers, raise it on the first call and the terms can be confirmed in writing.
Can you help me sell my business?
We can help make a business stronger and easier to run, which matters to any future buyer. Formal exit and sale preparation is handled through BizSell.ca, the group's business-sale and exit brand, alongside Sedighi.ca, and legal and tax aspects need your lawyer and accountant.
Is consulting worth it for a small business?
It's worth it when the decision is bigger than the fee. A five-year lease, a first manager, a new location or a marketing budget can each cost or earn tens of thousands of dollars. Spending a few hundred dollars on an hourly session, or a few thousand on a project, to get those right is usually sound arithmetic.
It's not worth it for small, reversible decisions. If you can try something for a month and undo it cheaply, just try it. Our free guides cover several decisions you can work through on your own.
What should I prepare before we start?
You don't need a business plan or polished financial statements. These four things are enough for the first conversation:
- the decision you're facing, in one sentence;
- last year's revenue and approximate gross margin;
- new customers won in the last quarter, and where they came from;
- what you've already tried.
For paid work we'll send a short data request with notes on where to find each figure. More detail on getting in touch is on the contact page.
How is this different from an agency?
An agency usually sells execution: ads, social posts, websites. We sell decisions: whether to do something, how much to spend and how to measure it. Many of our clients go on to hire an agency, and they do it with a clear brief and targets to hold the agency to.
If you want both strategy and execution, we'll help you decide what to keep in-house and what to buy. See marketing strategy and budget for how that works.
What does a good first engagement look like?
Small and specific. Owners who get the most from consulting usually start with one decision rather than a broad review of everything. A typical first engagement is an hourly session on a single question, or a short project with a clear finish, such as a marketing budget or a review of how quotes move through the business.
Starting small has two advantages. You find out quickly whether our way of working suits you, and the first piece of work usually reveals what should come next. If it doesn't, you've spent a modest amount and you have a written recommendation to keep.
How do you handle sensitive numbers?
Carefully, and only for the purpose you shared them. Owners often worry about sending revenue, margins or payroll figures to an outsider. We ask only for what the decision needs, explain why we need each figure, and work from summaries wherever they're enough. You don't need to share bank statements or tax returns for most work; monthly totals from your accounting software usually do the job.
If a decision depends on detail you'd rather not send, we can often work with ranges instead of exact figures. The answer may be a little less precise, but it's still far better than guessing.
What happens if we disagree with your recommendation?
That's your call, and it happens. The business is yours, and you know things we don't. What we ask is that you tell us why, because your reason sometimes changes the analysis. If it does, we revise the recommendation. If it doesn't, we'll say so plainly once, write down the risk, and respect your decision.
What if my question isn't here?
Ask it. Call, text or email with the decision you're weighing, and we'll tell you honestly whether we can help, which service fits and roughly what it would cost. If it turns out you need an accountant, lawyer or another professional instead, we'll say so.