Consulting Project Pricing Calculator
Stop undercharging for projects. This calculator helps you price consulting work based on time, value, and risk.
Project Scope
hours
Your best estimate for the work $
Client Value
$
Annual value your work creates for client %
Typical range: 5-20% of value created Payment Terms
Time-Based Pricing
Base Project Price -- Hours × Hourly Rate
With Scope Buffer -- +25% for unknowns
Recommended Minimum -- With buffer + rush fee
Value-Based Pricing
Value-Based Price -- 10% of client value
Effective Hourly Rate -- At value-based price
Price Multiplier -- Value vs time-based
Pricing Comparison
Hourly Billing
--- Simple to calculate
- Flexible for scope changes
- Client pays for all time
- Punishes efficiency
- Client uncertainty on total
- Caps your upside
Fixed Project
--- Client knows total cost
- Rewards efficiency
- Easier to sell
- Scope creep risk
- Must estimate accurately
- Change orders needed
Value-Based
--- Aligned with outcomes
- Higher earning potential
- Premium positioning
- Requires value quantification
- Harder to justify initially
- Need confident positioning
Proposal Price Points
Consider offering tiered options:
Bronze
Core deliverables only
-- Recommended
Silver
Full scope + support
--Gold
Premium + ongoing access
--Pricing Strategy
Always add buffer: Projects always take longer than estimated. A 25-50% buffer protects your profitability and sanity. If you finish early, you've earned a bonus.
Value-based when possible: If your work generates $100K for the client, charging $10K (10%) is a bargain for them and excellent for you—even if it's only 20 hours of work.
Payment terms matter: 50% upfront protects you from scope creep and non-payment. It also qualifies serious clients—those who balk at deposits often become problem clients.