In the fields of strategy consulting and coaching, research shows that fees charged by top strategy consultants and leadership coaches are high. To highlight the reality, the world’s premier strategy consulting firm is McKinsey. Its fees? $180,000 per week to more than $4 million for a six month project!

According to Payscale.com, a compensation research service, the position of Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) is highly valued. And, the total compensation package for a top CSO is USD$392,000 per year.

And with regards to executive and leadership coaching, in 2016, UK firm Ridler and Co revealed in its 2016 Research Report that coaching fees for CEOs are as much as £2,000+ per hour (see below).

As shown, at the low end fees start at £100 an hour, while a significant group charge £1,000 an hour and more. In terms of currency conversion, £1,000 equates to more than US$1,200 an hour and NZ$1,800 an hour.

These are real-world numbers, and haven’t been plucked out of thin air. Why so much? Simple. In effect, when you hire the best you are purchasing their brains. In other words, their expertise, experience and ideas. This is not something you can buy off the shelf like a chocolate bar.

The best brains have top-drawer human capital….so will charge accordingly. And when you think really about it, they aren’t really expensive at all. It’s actually an investment. They can help stop you making dumb, expensive and confidence-shattering mistakes. And they can help solve your problems and achieve your goals faster and easier.

To be fair, there are cheap coaches and consultants you can hire for as little as $100 an hour or session.  But be warned. When you use price as the main criteria when choosing a consultant – with a view to hiring the cheapest around – the cheapest could end up being the most expensive.  It’s the age-old adage in action.  If you pay peanuts, you’ll get monkeys.

2025 SUMMARY OF SERVICES AND FEES

Listed below is a summary of the 2025 fee schedule for services available from Ben M. Bartlett, which are integrated into the Strategic Framework. That is, coaching, consulting and education is available for each of the modules listed here.

For all paid services, the fees for New Zealand and Australian clients will be in New Zealand dollars.  Other international clients pay in US dollars. Fees exclude GST and expenses such as out-of-town travel and accommodation. Fees for community groups, schools and non-profits are significantly discounted.

 

STRATEGY EDUCATION & SPEAKING

Our services start off with a range of free and low-priced education offerings.  Free options include the Strategic Lessons newsletter, free talks, speeches and lectures, strategy briefings, and free guides, reports and book previews.

Low priced offerings include books and special reports, which range in price from $5.00 to $1,095.00.

Fees for paid talks, and speeches start at $5,000.

STRATEGY TRAINING & GROUP COACHING 

Strategy training and group coaching is a step up from education in that it is more hands-on and in-depth.  Coaching focuses on intense skill development and the development of human capital. As the high performance formula reveals, high-level human capital is the first and most important ingredient needed for success and high performance.

With coaching we apply the blended coaching model,  which is the model used in apprentice programs, by the military and also elite-level sports teams.

Our training and group coaching offering is incorporated into Strategic MBA and includes the Leadership Skill Set and Champion Team Blueprint programs.

The fee for Strategic MBA starts at $5,000 per month.  Discounts apply to longer term retainers.

DEEP DIVE STRATEGY CONSULTING, PLANNING & COACHING

Strategy consulting, planning and strategic writing is the most expensive service stream.  It is where you hire someone else to solve your problem for you.  Just like calling in a plumber to fix a leaky pipe. 

With this service option you have access to your very own Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) on an interim or on call basis., providing you with expertise to help you with the following: 

• Planning, designing or redesigning your economic franchise. 
• Crystallising your Vision
• Codifying your Values system
• Researching and developing productised IP
• Designing your strategic brands
• Developing your customer ascension model
• Building your integrated marketing system
• Building your champion team system
• Developing overall strategy system

 Oncall CSO is provided on a one-off project basis or retainer basis. One off projects start at $20,000.  The OnCall CSO retainer starts at $3,000 per month.   

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