What the market charges, where the numbers come from, and how to read a quote.
A published one person shop sells 20 to 25 hours a month for $5,000, which is $200 to $250 an hour. A productised agency tier at $9,850 for ten hours a week is closer to $230. Both are inside the normal senior band.
Sapwood is $2,000 a month for up to fifteen hours a week, which is far below that band. That is a deliberate choice while the shop is young, not a claim that the work is worth less.
Several providers charge a one time onboarding fee, commonly around $5,000, and a six month initial term. That is real money before anything is built, and it belongs in the comparison.
Free assessments are common. Free written diagnostics with every gap priced are not. Ask what document you get and whether you keep it.
| Route | Typical cost | What you are buying |
|---|---|---|
| Market fractional retainer | $3,000 to $15,000 a month | Cited market range |
| Senior practitioner hourly | $200 to $400 an hour | Cited market range |
| Sapwood retainer | $2,000 a month | Up to 15 hrs/wk, Kaypo included |
| Sapwood hourly | included in the retainer | Outside the usual scope only |
Most published retainers sit between $3,000 and $15,000 a month. Sapwood is $2,000 with Kaypo included.
One operator, no overhead, and a deliberate decision to price below the band while building a client list.
You should ask what you get for it. Hours, who does the work, and what happens when they are unavailable.
Common at agencies, often around $5,000, usually with a minimum term. Sapwood has neither.
Leave an email and I will reply myself, usually the same day. No sequence, no newsletter, and no calendar link unless you ask for one.
Would rather just book time? Here is the calendar.
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