About - Working with us - Typical terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions
Typical items you will find in a contract with us

We always present the results of our agreements in a written proposal. This document serves to outline expectations and responsibilities on both sides. It will cover the objectives, outcomes to be achieved, the methodologies to be used, how we will measure success, why the project has value, what the project's time frame will be, and what terms and conditions will apply.
We deliberately keep things short and simple and in plain English - if we cannot describe the project in a couple pages, then we still have work to do to establish a sufficiently strong relationship and to ensure clarity about the project's outcomes.
By working with you as a partner, we will jointly achieve the outcomes that will see your organization improve the way you want it to. We are not there as a vendor. We will establish a peer level relationship with you, and your staff can be confident that we are a part of your team and acting in your best interest.

While clients usually start thinking about projects in terms of people being on-site full time and hourly or daily rates, really a project is about accomplishing a business objective.
Daily rates (and worse, hourly ones) are rarely in either side's interest. If we charge you by the hour, then you will always wonder if we are dragging out a situation to milk you for extra fees; likewise your staff are going to be hesitant to contact us when they should, because they'll be worried about incurring an additional fee.
That is why we prefer to work on a project basis. Together we agree on the outcomes to be achieved, how we will measure them, and what value they have. Then we can set a fee which represents an appropriate investment for that value.

Terms appropriate to a specific engagement will be in the project proposal; the following gives you an idea of the items you can expect to see:

Typically, 50% is due at project commencement. The remaining fee is payable at time based intervals after project start. (For example in a three month engagement, the remainder is typically due 45 days in).
A deposit representing 25% of the project is required in advance to book our time.
As a professional courtesy, we offer a 10% discount on large projects for single full-fee payment made in advance of project commencement. Many organizations have purchasing policies which allow them to take advantage of this.
We prefer to have direct relationships with our clients, but if an agent is involved we don't particularly mind if they are the entity that is billed instead. Note that we have a policy of full disclosure and expect to negotiate in full statement of any additional fees being charged by such an agent.

Expenses will be billed monthly as actually accrued and are due on presentation of our invoice. Expenses will include air, train, rental car, taxi, lodging, food, and related expenses as necessary. They will not include fax, copying, phone, courier, office support or related expenses.
If the client wishes, an all-in, expenses-included fee, can be presented.

We carry (or can extend as necessary) appropriate public liability, professional indemnity, and workers compensation insurance.