Three ways to engage
You can enter directly at Part-Time or Full Access, or start with a Discovery Assessment as a lower-commitment first step. A completed Discovery isn't required for a retainer, but it gives both sides a shared baseline.
Discovery Assessment
- Not-to-exceed, one-time engagement
- Bounded findings report, not ongoing access
- Best fit: a baseline before committing to a retainer
Part-Time Access
- Quarterly retainer, billed upfront
- Principal-tier hours included per quarter
- Best fit: regular strategic input, not daily involvement
Full Access
- Quarterly retainer, billed upfront
- More included hours, priority response
- Best fit: active data transformation or high-stakes windows
Moving between tiers
Moving between Part-Time and Full Access requires only written notice, effective the next quarter — no new SOW needed unless the scope of advisory services changes materially.
What's included
Services draw on the Principal / Advisory tier of our rate card.
- —Data strategy guidanceOngoing prioritization and direction-setting.
- —Governance framework developmentDevelopment and periodic review.
- —Vendor & technology evaluationIndependent assessment of tools under consideration.
- —Rule-change ripple assessmentsAs settlement or regulatory requirements evolve.
- —Risk / readiness advisoryTied to active or upcoming engagements.
- —Leadership presentationsFindings and recommendations presented to firm leadership.
Not included: bounded, deliverable-based work — a Discovery Assessment, a fixed-price mapping project, or new interface design. Where a specific deliverable is identified during a retainer, it's scoped and priced separately, distinct from retainer hours.
How it's priced
A base access fee plus overage — not reconciled against actual hours used, the same non-reconciliation approach used for our travel policy.
| Component | Basis | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly Access Fee | Billed upfront, discounted for committed access | Set per tier |
| Included Hours | Principal-tier hours included per quarter | Set per tier |
| Overage Rate | Hours beyond the included allotment | $350/hr Principal |
Term and renewal
- Initial TermOne calendar quarter (~90 days) from the Effective Date.
- Automatic renewalRenews each quarter on your own anniversary date — not the calendar year.
- Non-renewalEither party may give written notice at least 30 days before the next billing date.