The Growth Partner Program is selective, and that leaves plenty of owners who still want senior advice. The fixed-fee options are for them: hourly consulting, defined projects and monthly retainers, each with a published price range. You know the cost in advance, and nothing depends on a formula tied to results.
What it is
Three ways to buy Ali Sedighi's time and judgment, priced from the parent consulting practice's published rates.
| Option | Price (CAD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly consulting | $175–$350 per hour | Specific questions, strategy sessions, second opinions |
| Project | $3,500–$25,000 per project | A defined piece of work, such as a plan, assessment or launch, with milestone payments |
| Monthly retainer | $2,500–$12,000 per month | A standing adviser who also helps put plans into practice |
Canadian clients add GST/HST by province. The full schedule is on the BusinessConsulting.ca pricing page, and our pricing page explains what moves a quote within each range.
Who it is for
Owners who prefer a known cost, and businesses that aren't ready for a partnership yet. Typical situations:
- a start-up or new division without enough sales history for a fair baseline
- an established firm that wants a growth plan but will carry it out in-house
- an owner who wants a second opinion on an agency proposal, a price change or a new market
- a business that needs its records and scorecard built before a partnership could even be discussed
What's included
What you buy is defined before you pay for it. An hourly session covers the question you bring, with notes on what was agreed. A project has a written scope, deliverables and milestone payments. A retainer sets out the kind of support included each month and how requests are handled.
Typical project work includes a growth plan, a shared growth scorecard, a fuller readiness review, a market or offer assessment, or a launch plan for a new service.
Timeline
Hourly work happens when you need it; projects and retainers follow the schedule in the proposal. A short assessment can be done in weeks. A larger plan with research and several decision points takes longer. A retainer's length and notice terms are confirmed in writing in your proposal.
How results are measured
Fixed-fee work is measured by whether it delivered what the scope promised, and whether it helped you decide. A good plan ends with clear choices and owners for each one. A good assessment tells you something you didn't know, backed by evidence. We'd rather a project end with a firm "don't do this" than a vague list of maybes.
Moving from fixed fees to a partnership
Fixed-fee work is often the on-ramp to the Growth Partner Program. Once records are clean, the scorecard exists and both sides have worked together, it becomes much easier to judge whether a results-based arrangement makes sense. If it does, that is negotiated as a separate written agreement.
Choosing between the three
Match the option to the shape of the problem. If you have one decision to make, such as whether to enter a new province or how to price a new service, a few hours of consulting is usually enough. If you need something produced, such as a growth plan or a scorecard, a project with a defined scope is the better fit. If you want a steady sounding board while you carry out a plan over several months, a retainer makes sense. When in doubt, start small: an hour or two will often show whether a larger engagement is worth it.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying hours without a question. Bring the decision you need to make, and the numbers around it.
- Scoping a project too broadly. A plan that tries to fix everything usually fixes nothing.
- Holding a retainer you don't use. If a month passes without a request, ask whether hourly work would suit you better.
- Expecting a promised outcome. Nobody can honestly promise results from advice, so be wary of anyone who does.
The first 30 minutes are free. Call, text or email through the contact page and say which option you're considering.
Frequently asked questions
What are the published rates?
Hourly consulting is $175–$350 an hour, projects are $3,500–$25,000, and monthly retainers are $2,500–$12,000. Prices are in Canadian dollars, before your province's GST or HST.
How is a project price set within the range?
By scope: what is being produced, how much research or data work it needs, and how many decisions it supports. The price and milestone payments are set out in the proposal before you commit.
Can a retainer turn into a partnership?
It can, if the numbers then support a results-based arrangement. That would be a new written agreement, not an automatic change.
Is there a free first conversation?
Yes. The initial 30-minute consultation is free and carries no obligation.