What is the average fee for a business consultant?
Nationally, small business and independent consultants often charge in the range of $100–$250 per hour, while more specialized or highly experienced consultants may charge $250–$500+ per hour. Day rates typically fall between $800 and $3,000+ depending on whether you are working with a solo practitioner, boutique firm, or larger consultancy. For defined projects, many consultants shift to flat-fee arrangements, with common ranges from $5,000 to $50,000+ based on project length, scope, and complexity.
Rate structures you will commonly see:
Hourly: Best for narrow, tightly scoped work or "as-needed" advisory.
Project-based: Ideal when outcomes and timelines are clear (for example, a strategic plan, organizational assessment, or go-to-market strategy).
Retainer: A fixed monthly amount for ongoing access to a trusted advisor or fractional executive.
Instead of chasing a generic "average fee," focus on:
Whether the consultant has a track record with businesses like yours (size, industry, growth stage).
How clearly they define outcomes, deliverables, and measures of success upfront.
Whether the engagement is designed to create at least a 3–5x return on your investment over the next 12–24 months.
Kindred Consulting Group aligns fees to impact:
Engagements start with a structured Kindred Clarity diagnostic, which quantifies current performance and pinpoints the single highest-leverage bottlenecks.
From there, pricing reflects the level of strategic design, change leadership, and implementation support required - not just hours billed - so fees remain tethered to tangible business outcomes.
This content is for general informational and illustrative purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, tax, or other professional advice. It is not intended to create, and receipt or review does not constitute, any client–professional relationship with Kindred Consulting Group or its representatives. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information in this content without seeking advice from qualified professionals who are familiar with your specific circumstances. While efforts are made to keep information accurate and up to date, no guarantees are made regarding its completeness, reliability, or suitability, and any use of this information is solely at your own risk.
