Paula: The Consultants Room
Region: US
Tuesday 13 October 2026 13:43:17 GMT
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SYJ :
Do customers/clients usually try to negotiate the retainer price?
2026-10-15 04:38:39
0
Pabu The Doge :
From the customer side, I don’t like paying for projects by the hour, I’d rather pay for the job. I don’t like the uncertainty and it doesn’t reward people who work faster with more experience.
2026-10-13 17:03:09
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Julia - Career Consultant 🌊 :
I’ve tried to explain this to so many people. Ugh. That don’t realize how much money they leaving on the table because they aren’t taking into account their expertise.
2026-10-13 16:02:47
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Black_dad_engineer :
Yep hourly is raise for C2C. For consulting Monthly retainer or milestone completion is where I go fora lot of clients
2026-10-14 19:47:57
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stellmonster :
For routine projects completely agree. Hard when there are too many new variables and outside influences that can change the scope.
2026-10-14 11:13:40
1
Rare Mom :
I’m a retainer only consultant. It works well for everyone. They get what they need done at the budget they can afford (at the speed they can afford as well) and I get to focus on working and getting the work done
2026-10-14 00:39:07
3
kkirsn :
IMO hourly should be used for staff Aug or things that don’t have set deliverables. If you have fixed deliverables then fixed fee is easiest.
2026-10-13 17:40:34
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Darrah :
Your hourly rate should be for yourself and used to determine your minimal acceptable rate for any given project. And I like to say your hourly rate (again for your internal use only) should be calculated by starting day 1 $50 or industry standard whichever is more + $2.50 per year of experience + $1.00 per specialized skill + $0.50 for active continued education. Then each year you adjust for inflation and give yourself the skill raise. So say you were a photographer who started in 2020 who’d done a couple courses on photography. So you start at $51/hr; then you learn how to setup lighting in ‘22, more advanced editing in ‘23, and are engaged in learning the whole time. By 2026 your rate should be around $81.64. (Because yes that’s how fast with inflation it should be growing compounding with your added experience)
2026-10-13 23:16:18
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SageRaccoon :
I use a flat monthly fee. It’s the best practice I have found.
2026-10-13 17:53:35
4
Wiseman :
Your rate should go up as you get better. Just like in a consulting firm.
2026-10-13 14:44:38
10
Ben Weyer, CPA :
Flat rate/monthly retainer is the way to go
2026-10-13 23:49:17
2
Donna Bracey :
How do you factor the use of AI in your consulting rates? I am saving time but I also know how to prompt and evaluate the data which also has value. Do you use the time that it would take without AI to evaluate the time needed for a job especially when you are focused on scaling?
2026-10-13 14:45:38
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Richard Goldman :
Why not charge a percent of the money the company makes, along with trails?
2026-10-14 01:53:27
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LG :
I have so many feelings about pricing, I just launched a new pricing model with packaged services for structured services, so 🤞🏽 2 proposals are out that look like they will convert but let’s see
2026-10-13 16:19:00
3
Aïsha B. Latina :
What if that’s the way the clients are used to work with consultants?
2026-10-13 14:22:06
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honorhawkins1 :
Agree. I have an hourly with a monthly cap but I think there is an opportunity to transition it to a monthly retainer.
2026-10-13 19:27:13
1
Minx96 :
This!!! Ty! 📝 ✅
2026-10-13 20:23:13
1
Our Dubai Chapter :
The only time I do hourly is when I do the network advisory calls… $550/hour, because they’re so adhoc.
2026-10-13 21:39:38
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reb_el_mar :
Great advice!
2026-10-14 01:44:33
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Mary Rarick :
💯
2026-10-14 05:41:25
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