The Three Inputs to Every Quote
Every project we quote is priced off three inputs, weighted in this order: integration complexity, number of distinct decision paths the system needs to handle, and ongoing maintenance burden. Notably, "how big the idea sounds" is not one of the three inputs, and we deliberately train our team not to price off vibes.
The Base Rate Table We Use Internally
We maintain an internal base-rate table per feature category (call handling, scheduling integration, CRM sync, reporting) that gets summed and then adjusted by a complexity multiplier based on the discovery call. This keeps quotes consistent across the team regardless of who runs the sales call.
Why We Never Quote on the First Call
We deliberately never quote a number in the same call as discovery. A 24-hour gap between discovery and the quote lets us actually run the numbers against the rate table instead of anchoring to a number that feels good in the moment, which produces more consistent and defensible pricing.
How We Handle Scope Changes Mid-Project
Every contract includes a change-order clause defined before work starts, with a pre-agreed hourly rate for anything outside the original scope document. This is the single most important protection in the contract, for us and for the client, and it's the first thing we'd tell any Inner Circle member building their own service business to implement immediately.
