How much to charge for business consulting
Rates reviewed June 2026
Business consulting is billed hourly, by project, or on retainer, and the goal is to move off the hour fast. You are selling judgment and outcomes, so a project or retainer price tied to results beats a clock every time.
You should charge
$245
per hour · typical $100–$600
Why this number. Anchor on the outcome and shift to a project or retainer price quickly. Hourly billing caps your income at your hours and invites the client to ration your time, when what they actually want is the result.
Typical business consulting prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Hourly | $100 – $400 |
| Project (strategy engagement) | $3,000 – $25,000 |
| Monthly retainer | $2,000 – $10,000 |
Also common: Day rates ($800-$3000) are common for on-site or workshop work.
Free · The words, not just the number
Get the business consulting pricing script
A short, calm script for quoting business consulting in person. The goal is not to pitch. It is to ask a few good questions, say your number once without flinching, and let them talk themselves into yes.
- ✓The questions to ask before you ever name a price
- ✓How to say your number so it lands, then stay quiet
- ✓The line for when they say "that's too much" (no discounting)
- ✓A rate-increase template for clients you already have
- ✓Early access to the paid Pricing Toolkit
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What changes the price
- Niche and seniority
- Project vs. retainer
- Deliverables
- Client size
The pricing move most people miss
Anchor on the outcome and shift to a project or retainer price quickly. Hourly billing caps your income at your hours and invites the client to ration your time, when what they actually want is the result.
What to SayAI
They pushed back on your price? Get the exact reply.
Paste what a business consulting client says. A sales-psychology-trained AI writes the words that hold your price, in seconds. Free.
Get the reply →Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for business consulting?+
Most business consulting is priced $100–$600 per hour, with a typical rate around $250 per hour. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to niche and seniority and project vs. retainer. Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
Should I charge by the hour or a flat rate for business consulting?+
Charging by the hour ($100–$600 per hour) is the simplest way to start and protects you when the scope is unclear. But once you know how long a typical job takes, a flat per-job price usually earns more: it pays you for getting faster instead of punishing you for it, and clients prefer a fixed number they can budget around. Day rates ($800-$3000) are common for on-site or workshop work.
How much should I charge for business consulting as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $100 to $250 per hour. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $600.
What affects how much business consulting costs?+
The biggest factors are niche and seniority; project vs. retainer; deliverables; client size. Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote business consulting so the client says yes?+
Anchor on the outcome and shift to a project or retainer price quickly. Hourly billing caps your income at your hours and invites the client to ration your time, when what they actually want is the result. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.