Guide
What doesmanagement consulting cost?
The range is wide because consultants bill in very different ways. Here you can see which models exist, which prices are usual and how to recognise a fair offer.
In short
Management consultants for small and medium-sized businesses usually bill by day rate, at a fixed price or with a monthly flat fee. Published day rates of experienced consultants are often between €1,100 and €1,600 net. Initial analyses are often offered at a fixed price between €1,500 and €5,000. FNLY Consulting charges €1,200 net per day and €3,500 net for the assessment.
The three usual fee models
| Day rate | Billing according to actual time spent. Flexible, but the total cost is not fixed in advance. Suitable for workshops and concept work. |
| Fixed price | A fixed amount for a clearly described result. Easy to plan, but requires a precise description of the scope. Suitable for analyses. |
| Monthly flat fee | A fixed amount for an agreed number of days or hours. Suitable for support over several months. |
Many consultants combine the models: a fixed-price start, follow-up steps by the day.
Usual prices for SMEs
Examples from published information of consultancies for small and medium-sized businesses, as of October 2026. All values net.
| Day rate of experienced consultants | often €1,100 to €1,600 |
| Initial analysis at a fixed price | often €1,500 to €5,000 |
| Process project over 3 to 6 months | often €10,000 to €40,000 |
| Monthly support | often €1,500 to €5,000 |
The values come from price information of individual providers and are guide values, not market statistics.
How to recognise a fair offer
- The result of each step is described, not just the effort
- Travel costs and incidental costs are shown
- There is a point at which you can stop without further costs
- The person who advises you is named
- The consultant does not earn from selling software or from third-party follow-up orders
- The scope fits the size of your business
What consulting costs and what it brings
A useful question before any consulting is: what does the problem cost us today? If the management spends one day a week on follow-up questions, that adds up to around 45 days a year. Even partial relief often outweighs the cost of consulting.
Work out the benefit roughly before you commission anyone. A good consultant will help you with this in the initial call.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does a management consultant cost per day?
Published day rates of experienced consultants for small and medium-sized businesses are often between €1,100 and €1,600 net. Large consulting firms are significantly higher. FNLY Consulting charges €1,200 net per day.
Is a fixed price better than a day rate?
For clearly defined steps such as an analysis, yes, because you know the costs in advance. For open concept work, the day rate is fairer, because the scope only becomes clear during the work.
Are travel costs included in the day rate?
That varies and should be stated in the offer. At FNLY Consulting, travel costs within 100 km of Borken are included.
Are there grants towards consulting costs?
Yes, the federal government and the federal states subsidise consulting for small and medium-sized businesses. Whether your project is eligible is decided by the funding body. The application usually has to be submitted before the consulting contract.
Cost of management consulting
Have your situation assessed
In the initial call we look at your specific situation. 20 minutes, free of charge.