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4 sections · practical checks · ~7 min read

Consulting engagement review

Retainers, day rates, and project-based consulting — responsibilities, expenses, and handover.

Engagement model

Is it fixed fee, day rate, or retainer with a cap? Retainers should say what happens to unused days and how overages are approved.

Expenses and pass-through costs

Travel, software, and third-party fees should be pre-approved or capped. Open-ended reimbursement without receipts is risky.

Advice vs deliverables

Pure advisory work may not have tangible outputs. The contract should still define reporting cadence, confidentiality, and what records you keep.

Handover at the end

Check whether you must transfer files, document decisions, or train the client team — and whether that time is included in the fee.

Related topics

General information only. Not legal advice.

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