These are the questions owners most often ask before they hire us, with plain answers. If yours isn't here, ask it directly by call, text or email. We would rather answer a hard question early than leave it until the proposal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does consulting cost?
Hourly consulting is $175–$350 an hour, projects are $3,500–$25,000, and monthly retainers are $2,500–$12,000, all in Canadian dollars plus 5% GST. The first 30-minute consultation is free.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. Projects have a written scope and milestone payments, and retainers have no lock-in. Notice terms are stated in your proposal before you agree to anything.
How quickly can we start?
Usually within a week or two of the free consultation, once you have the written quote. The main factor is how quickly you can send the figures we need.
How long does a typical project take?
Seasonal plans take two to four weeks, spend reviews three to five, growth plans and operations reviews four to six. Larger multi-location work can run longer, and the quote says so.
We hired an agency before and it went badly. Why would this be different?
We don't run your campaigns, so we have nothing to defend. We start by finding out what actually happened with your previous spend, and every recommendation is tied to a number you can check yourself.
Who owns the plans, spreadsheets and accounts?
You do. Documents and models we produce are yours, and your website, ad accounts, analytics and listings stay in your name. Any access we need is read-only where possible and you can remove it at any time.
What results can you promise?
We don't promise revenue, leads or rankings. We agree measures at the start, such as margin by line or cost per won customer, and report honestly against them.
How do you report progress?
Projects end with a written deliverable and a walk-through call. Retainer clients get a short note after each session and a running decision log reviewed every month.
Do you work only with trades businesses?
No. We work with trades and home-service firms and with clinics, shops, cafés, restaurants and professional practices. The method is the same: numbers first, short plans, clear owners.
Do you meet in person?
Yes. Capital-region consultations are available in person or by video call, as well as by phone, text and email.
Can you help with financing, tax or legal questions?
No. We provide business and marketing consulting only. We will tell you when to involve a CPA, lawyer or lender and help you prepare clear questions for them.
Is my information kept confidential?
Yes. Your figures, staff matters and plans are treated as confidential and used only for your engagement.
What if I'm not sure which service I need?
That is what the free consultation is for. Tell us the problem in plain words and we'll recommend one starting point, or tell you if we're not the right fit.
Before you hire anyone
Check three things with any consultant, including us: who does the work, who owns the output, and how success is measured. At VictoriaBusiness.ca, Ali Sedighi, MBA, does the work. You own the output. Success is measured against figures agreed at the start, not against our past clients.
It also helps to know what consulting is not. We don't do your trade work, run your campaigns day to day, keep your books or give legal advice. If you need any of those, the about page explains where our role stops.
About money
Our fees are published as ranges, and your quote names a single figure. The pricing page shows the rate card and what pushes a project up or down. Victoria clients add 5% GST.
A useful way to think about fees is against the size of the decision. If a choice involves tens of thousands of dollars of lease, payroll or marketing over the next year, a few hours of outside review is usually small by comparison. If it doesn't, start with a single hour.
About timing and effort
Expect to spend two to four hours of your own time across a typical project. Most of that is one or two working calls and a review of the draft. Staff involved in an operations review usually give one call each.
The biggest cause of delay is waiting for figures. If you can export a year of sales, payroll totals and marketing invoices in the first week, most projects run on schedule.
If you have been let down before
Many owners come to us after a disappointing agency or consultant. The common complaints are vague reports, no clear link between spend and jobs, and advice that didn't fit the business.
We handle that in three ways. First, we look at what actually happened, using your records. Second, every recommendation is tied to a measure you can check without us. Third, there's no lock-in, so if we stop being useful, you stop paying. The results page also explains how to judge any advisor's case studies, including ours.
About working with a Victoria business between meetings
Distance changes less than owners expect, because most of the evidence is already digital. Sales reports, payroll totals, job records, ad accounts and website analytics can all be shared securely without anyone visiting. Where a site matters, such as a shop layout or a yard, photos and a short video walk-through on a phone usually tell us what we need.
What we can't do from a distance is pretend to know your street better than you do. We rely on you and your staff for local detail, such as which customers park where or which suppliers deliver late on Fridays, and we combine it with the figures. The areas page sets out the regional patterns we look for across the capital region.
About the scope of advice
We advise on growth, marketing and operations, and we stop where licensed professions start. That boundary is useful, not limiting. A pricing decision may have tax effects, a hiring plan may touch employment standards, and a lease may need a lawyer's eye. In those cases we prepare the business case, then help you take clear questions to the right professional.
Still unsure?
Start small. Book a single hourly session on the decision closest to its deadline, or send a short message describing the problem. The contact page lists what to include, and the services overview helps you see which engagement fits.