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0 pointscalvinmorrison11mo ago0 comments

they're a order of magnitude higher for some reasons though. I work in consulting, and occasionally larger enterprises approach our firm. We almost always decline because their requirements from vendor screening, to change review boards, to just the amount of sheer meetings it takes to enact a change to a title change on the website home page - its not worth it.

A couple times we made the mistake of giving a 'go away' number and they took it, and then i had to deal with the insanity of F500 business...

0 comments

ethbr111mo ago

This ^ and uncertainty

If I had to break down how consulting contracts are actually priced, it'd be:

   - 50% work
   - 35% requirement ambiguity
   - 15% customer management overhead

calvinmorrisonOP11mo ago

Basically, but with big companies with on hand lawyer litigation is much more likely. They want things like contingency plans, licensing information, even asking what our own financials look like. We just walk and focus on clients who don't have so much risk

icedchai11mo ago

Based on my experience with a smaller contractor, I think your overhead number is low. ;)

curiouscavalier11mo ago

Yep, the procurement process (and related) requires a lot be baked into pricing. I’d also be curious what the fully burdened rate of in-house staff is compared to consultants. I’ve seen situations in the gov (not DoD) where despite high consulting rates, the full cost of hiring was even higher per hour.

But I’m loath to defend the big firms. Generally, quality plus the ever push for expanding scope leaves a sensation of waste. The solution is just going to need more than simply tossing them out.

calvinmorrisonOP11mo ago

thats part of it. onboarding vendors is such a PITA bringing on a DO-ALL-KINDA-BADLY vendor is preferred over a specialist vendor.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointscalvinmorrison11mo ago0 comments

A couple times we made the mistake of giving a 'go away' number and they took it, and then i had to deal with the insanity of F500 business...

0 comments

ethbr111mo ago

This ^ and uncertainty

If I had to break down how consulting contracts are actually priced, it'd be:

   - 50% work
   - 35% requirement ambiguity
   - 15% customer management overhead

calvinmorrisonOP11mo ago

icedchai11mo ago

Based on my experience with a smaller contractor, I think your overhead number is low. ;)

curiouscavalier11mo ago

But I’m loath to defend the big firms. Generally, quality plus the ever push for expanding scope leaves a sensation of waste. The solution is just going to need more than simply tossing them out.

calvinmorrisonOP11mo ago

thats part of it. onboarding vendors is such a PITA bringing on a DO-ALL-KINDA-BADLY vendor is preferred over a specialist vendor.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse