Pricing, Principia

Pricing models

Two models. One standard.

Model 01 / Monthly Retainer

Consulting and discovery.

For businesses navigating growth, operational complexity, or strategic uncertainty. The retainer model is how we earn your trust and develop a thorough understanding of the business before prescribing a course of action.

What this covers

Regular advisory sessions with the owner and key operators
Ongoing diagnosis of business performance, systems, and priorities
Strategic recommendations, vendor evaluation, and implementation guidance
Clear documentation of findings and emerging scope
A structured path toward a defined project engagement when the work calls for it

Best fit

Owners who know something needs to change but are not yet certain what, or who want a trusted advisor in their corner before committing to a larger scope of work.

Advisory retainer starts at $2,500 per month.

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Model 02 / Project Engagement

Defined scope. Agreed outcomes.

For clients who have identified the problem, understand what they want to achieve, and are ready to move. The project model delivers against a clear scope with defined deliverables, milestones, and measurable outcomes.

What this covers

A fully defined scope of work agreed before the engagement begins
Clear milestones, deliverables, and success criteria
Fixed or milestone-based commercial terms with no open-ended billing
Documentation and handoff at the close of the engagement
Optional transition to ongoing advisory upon completion

Best fit

Clients who have a clearly defined problem, an identified outcome they want to reach, and the organizational readiness to execute. Often the natural next step after a retainer engagement.

Bespoke pricing determined by scope.

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How it typically unfolds

Retainer to project. Discovery to execution.

01 / Consultation

A conversation, not a pitch.

We learn where the business stands, how it uses technology, and where the owner sees the most pressure. No deliverable, no obligation. Just a direct exchange to determine whether there is alignment.

02 / Retainer

Understand the business first.

The engagement begins with discovery. We analyze operations, financials, and technology to develop a complete picture of how the business runs and where the opportunities are. The depth of this work determines everything that follows.

03 / Scope

Define the highest-leverage work.

From the diagnostic, we identify the two or three changes with the highest impact and build a defined project scope. Deliverables, timeline, success criteria, and commercial terms are agreed before the work begins.

04 / Project

Build, measure, deliver.

The project runs against agreed milestones. Short cycles, visible progress, and no surprises. At completion, the work belongs to the client.

See the full approach

When we bring in partners

Some problems require a specialist.

Part of what Principia offers is clarity about what we should and should not take on directly. When a client’s needs exceed our core disciplines, whether technically, operationally, or by industry, we do not pretend otherwise. We connect the client with a vetted specialist from our partner network and manage the engagement on their behalf.

The client works with one firm. That firm coordinates the right expertise across every dimension of the problem. Commercially, partner engagements are scoped and structured on the same terms as our direct project work: defined scope, agreed outcomes, no ambiguity.

We know our strengths. We are honest about our limits.

That distinction is how we protect the client.

Common questions

Direct answers.

Do I have to start with a retainer?

Not always. If you come to us with a clearly defined problem, a well-understood scope, and a specific outcome in mind, we can structure a project engagement from the outset. The retainer model exists for situations where that clarity has not yet been developed. It is not a requirement.

How long does a typical retainer engagement last?

It depends on the complexity of the business and how quickly a clear project scope emerges. Some clients develop scope within six to eight weeks. Others take longer because the diagnostic work itself surfaces value. We do not extend the retainer phase beyond what the work genuinely requires.

What does the free consultation actually involve?

It is a direct conversation: your business, your priorities, what is working and what is not. We are not presenting a proposal or running a pitch. The goal is to understand whether there is a genuine fit between what you need and what we do. If there is, we discuss next steps. If there is not, we will tell you that directly, and often point you toward who can actually help.

How are project engagements priced?

Project pricing is determined by scope, complexity, and the expected duration of the work. We do not publish rate cards because every engagement is different. What we commit to is quoting clearly and in writing before any project begins, with no ambiguity about what is and is not included.

What happens when you bring in a partner?

When the work calls for a partner, Principia identifies the right specialist, facilitates the introduction, and manages the engagement on your behalf. You work with us as your primary contact. We coordinate the partner. Commercially, the arrangement is agreed upfront with clear scope and terms for every party involved. You are not managing multiple consultants or vendor relationships. That is our job.

What if I am not sure which model fits my situation?

That is exactly what the consultation is for. We will help you understand which structure makes sense, what the engagement would look like, and whether the timing is right. There is no obligation on either side.

Clear terms. Honest structure.