Separate the three parts of an engagement
| Work | What to check | Common exclusion |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Workflow sample, evidence review, priorities, and a pilot brief | Building or operating the new process |
| Implementation | Configuration, procedure design, pilot cycles, and training | Unbounded custom development or additional departments |
| Ongoing support | Review cadence, defined access, monitoring, and revision work | Unlimited delivery ownership or emergency coverage |
What increases the amount of work?
Multiple locations, conflicting data sources, undocumented exceptions, and unclear authority add discovery and coordination. A narrow onboarding redesign with one decision maker is a different project from replacing workflows across sales, service, and finance. Identify these differences in the proposal rather than assuming every assessment or implementation is equivalent.
Compare a project fee with the full operating cost
Add the consulting fee, licenses or purchases, internal staff time, migration work, and temporary parallel operation. Identify which costs are one-time and which continue after handover. A less expensive proposal can require more internal work; that can still be the right choice when the team has the capacity and skill to perform it.
An illustrative comparison
Proposal A delivers a workflow map and recommendations. Proposal B includes those outputs plus two pilot cycles, training, and administrator handover. Without prices, neither is automatically better value: the right comparison asks who will implement A and what that work requires. Ask both providers to state acceptance criteria, exclusions, and the treatment of changes.
Questions to ask before accepting a proposal
- Which workflow and locations are included?
- What evidence will establish the baseline?
- Who owns implementation on each side?
- What work requires a change in scope?
- What must be true before final handover?
- What recurring costs remain after the engagement?
Elixir pricing and the next step
Elixir consulting starts at $5,000 per month. Final fees depend on the agreed work. Bring one operating problem, representative records, and the manager who can own the pilot to a consultation. Request a written scope that distinguishes assessment, implementation, and continuing support.
Related implementation resources
Discuss the operating problem
Elixir consulting starts at $5,000 per month, with final pricing based on scope. Bring a recent example, the current workflow, and the person who owns the result to define the appropriate implementation scope.