GFA Insights and Musings

A different approach

Why our pricing model is different

Aug 14, 2026

We believe the flat retainer pricing model can be significantly better than the traditional hourly model - for both the client and the consultant. Hourly consultants sell you just that - hours. But a flat retainer model sells you access, expertise, and outcomes.
As our client, you get a predictable cost. You don't have to wonder how much is something going to cost every time you call us. As for us, we get a predictable revenue stream that allows us to invest in our team and focus on your business. Hourly billing creates a subtle incentive to spend more time. A retainer creates an incentive to solve problems efficiently. Our team becomes part of your technology team and strategy. Examples of how this works in practice:

	Advisory	Partner	Embedded
Monthly	$2,500	$5,000	$10,000+
Strategy	✓	✓	✓
Support	Limited	Priority	Priority
Projects	Small	Moderate	Significant
Meetings	Monthly	Weekly	Multiple/week
Roadmap	Quarterly	Monthly	Continuous
Dedicated capacity	Low	Medium	High

Go ahead, run the numbers on hiring one or more software engineers. When you compare that to getting our team involved per our flat-rate model, the savings add up month over month.