Every engagement is scoped with the same five-step estimation process. You receive a written cost estimate before any work begins and you are never invoiced outside the agreed scope without prior approval.
Discovery surfaces the specific deliverables your organization needs. Each maps to a service area with an established hour range drawn from delivering that work across multiple organizations.
Each deliverable is rated low, medium, or high based on your organization's size and structure, the documentation already in place, the number of stakeholders, and any regulatory or compliance requirements.
Every deliverable receives a low, mid, and high hour estimate. The low is the floor for clean inputs and minimal revisions. The high is the ceiling accounting for added complexity. The mid is the figure we recommend budgeting against.
Each service area carries a standard rate reflecting the expertise required, ranging from $125 to $250 per hour. Rates multiply against the hour estimates to produce a cost range per deliverable.
All deliverable costs sum into a total estimate with low, mid, and high scenarios, delivered as a written proposal with full transparency into every line item.
An employee handbook is rated high complexity, carries a 20 to 35 hour range, and bills at $175 per hour.
| Scenario | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Low | 20 hours | $3,500 |
| Mid, recommended budget figure | 27.5 hours | $4,813 |
| High | 35 hours | $6,125 |
The mid figure is what we recommend budgeting against. The low and high define the planning range.
Most consulting work falls at $175 per hour. Coaching and leadership development is typically $200 to $250 per hour, reflecting the specialized expertise required.
| Service Area | Range | Standard Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | $175 | $175 / hr |
| Human Resources | $175 | $175 / hr |
| Recruitment | $125 to $175 | $175 / hr |
| Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | $175 | $175 / hr |
| Leadership Development | $175 to $200 | $200 / hr |
| Training & Development | $150 to $200 | $175 / hr |
| Business Plan Development | $175 to $200 | $200 / hr |
| Coaching | $200 to $250 | $225 / hr |
| Boots on the Ground | Scoped per engagement | Custom quote |
| Real Estate Project Management | Scoped per engagement | Custom quote |
On-site and real estate project work is scoped individually based on location, duration, and project scale, using the same written-estimate-first process.
Three estimates per deliverable. Budget against the middle one.
| Deliverable | Complexity | Estimated Range |
|---|---|---|
| Full Business Plan | High, 30 to 50 hrs | $6,000 to $10,000 |
| Employee Handbook / Policy Manual | High, 20 to 35 hrs | $3,500 to $6,125 |
| DEI Strategic Plan | High, 20 to 35 hrs | $3,500 to $6,125 |
| End-to-End Recruitment Management | High, 25 to 45 hrs | $4,375 to $7,875 |
| Operational Audit & Assessment | High, 15 to 25 hrs | $2,625 to $4,375 |
| Emerging Leaders Program | High, 20 to 35 hrs | $4,000 to $7,000 |
| Financial Projections | High, 15 to 25 hrs | $3,000 to $5,000 |
| Coaching Package, 12 sessions | Medium, 22 to 28 hrs | $4,400 to $5,600 |
| SOP Development, per SOP | Medium, 6 to 12 hrs | $1,050 to $2,100 |
| Position Description Development | Low, 3 to 6 hrs | $525 to $1,050 |
The complete rate card covering every standard deliverable is provided during discovery. Request the full pricing guide.
Discovery and research
Drafting and development
Internal review and quality assurance
Two rounds of revision per deliverable
Project management and communication
Revision rounds beyond the standard two
Scope expansions or deliverables added mid-engagement
Travel time and expenses, quoted in advance
Pre-approved materials or external costs, billed at cost
HERA is committed to ensuring strategic support is not reserved for organizations with six-figure consulting budgets. For early-stage founders, grassroots organizations, and any client working within real constraints, rate adjustments, phased structures, and creative engagement models are always on the table. Say so early and we will build the proposal around what you actually have.
Discuss Your Budget
Discovery produces a line-item proposal you can adjust, phase, or decline. No pressure, full clarity.