Guide
What doesmanagement consulting cost?
The range is wide because consultants bill in very different ways. Here you see which models exist, which prices are typical and how to recognize a fair offer.
In short
Management consultancies for small and mid-sized businesses usually bill by day rate, by fixed price or with a monthly retainer. In Germany, published day rates of experienced consultants for SMEs are often between €1,100 and €1,600 net, and entry analyses are often offered at fixed prices between €1,500 and €5,000. FNLY Consulting charges US clients $1,350 net per day and $3,900 net for the Business Assessment.
The three common fee models
| Day rate | Billed by actual effort. Flexible, but the total cost is not fixed in advance. Useful for workshops and concept work. |
| Fixed price | A fixed amount for a clearly described result. Easy to plan, requires a precise description of the scope. Useful for analyses. |
| Monthly retainer | A fixed amount for an agreed number of days or hours. Useful for support over several months. |
Many consultants combine the models: a fixed-price entry, follow-up steps by the day.
Typical prices for German SMEs
Examples from published rates of consultancies for small and mid-sized businesses in Germany, as of October 2026. All values net, in euros.
| Day rate of experienced consultants | often €1,100 to €1,600 |
| Fixed-price entry analysis | 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 figures come from price information of individual German providers and are guide values, not market statistics. Our own prices for US clients are in US dollars on the Prices page.
How to recognize a fair offer
- The result of each step is described, not just the effort
- Travel and incidental costs are stated
- There is a point at which you can stop with no further cost
- The person who advises you is named
- The consultant does not earn from selling software or from third-party follow-up contracts
- The scope fits the size of your company
What consulting costs and what it brings
A useful question before any consulting project is: What does the problem cost us today? If leadership spends one day a week answering follow-up questions, that is around 45 days a year. Even partial relief often outweighs the cost of consulting.
Do a rough calculation of the benefit before you hire anyone. A good consultant will help you with this in the initial call.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does a management consultant cost per day?
In Germany, published day rates of experienced consultants for small and mid-sized businesses are often between €1,100 and €1,600 net. Large consulting firms charge considerably more. FNLY Consulting charges US clients $1,350 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 cost 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. FNLY Consulting works remotely via Microsoft Teams by default. On-site visits are possible by arrangement, travel is billed at cost and agreed in advance.
Are there grants for consulting costs?
Public consulting grants exist for companies based in Germany. They do not apply to US businesses.
Cost of management consulting
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