Thanks for your interest in working together! To ensure our collaboration is productive and respectful of everyone’s time, I’ve established these guidelines based on what works best for focused, high-value consulting engagements.
Engagement Structure
Minimum Engagement: 4 Hours
I work in minimum blocks of 4 hours (half-day). This isn’t about maximising billing, it’s about creating the space for meaningful work. Shorter sessions often lack the depth needed to make real progress, and the administrative overhead doesn’t justify smaller commitments.
Session Formats:
- Half-day: 4 hours
- Full-day: 8 hours
- Multi-day engagements: Custom arrangements
Working Hours
Standard Availability: Monday to Friday, 0900-1800 CET
I structure my day in two focused blocks:
- Morning block: 0900-1300
- Afternoon block: 1400-1800
Half-day engagements (4 hours) typically align with one of these blocks. Full-day engagements (8 hours) span both blocks with a break between 1300-1400.
Weekend or evening sessions can be accommodated occasionally with advance notice and typically incur a 25-50% premium depending on timing.
Booking & Notice Requirements
To maintain quality work and manage my schedule effectively:
For Single Sessions (half-day or full-day):
- Minimum 48 hours advance notice required
- Sessions are confirmed only after written agreement on dates and scope
For Multi-Day Engagements (2+ days):
- Minimum 1 week advance notice required
- Requires brief scope discussion before confirmation
Exceptions: True emergencies can be accommodated when possible, but may incur a rush fee of 50% above standard rates.
Cancellation & Preparation Policy
I plan my schedule around committed engagements. When cancellations happen or sessions can’t proceed productively, here’s how we handle it:
Cancellation Fees:
- More than 48 hours notice: No fee
- 24-48 hours notice: 50% of session fee
- Less than 24 hours notice: 100% of session fee
Unpreparedness Policy: If I arrive for a scheduled session and you’re unable to proceed due to lack of preparation, unavailable materials, or key stakeholders being absent, the full session fee applies. I’m happy to pivot and make productive use of the time if possible, but the time has been reserved for you.
What “Prepared” Means:
- Access to necessary systems, documents, or people is available
- Key decision-makers or stakeholders are present (if required)
- Basic context has been shared in advance
Getting the Best Value
While not required, you’ll get significantly more value from our time together if you:
Before Our Session:
- Share a brief agenda or outline of what you want to accomplish
- Identify specific deliverables or decisions you need
- Send any relevant background materials or context
- Note any constraints or considerations I should know about
During Our Session:
- Come prepared with questions and challenges
- Have decision-making authority or access to those who do
- Be open to exploring different approaches
The more context I have, the faster we can get to valuable insights rather than spending time on background.
Payment Terms
- Invoices issued at the end of each engagement or monthly for ongoing work
- Payment due within 14 days of invoice date
- Accepted methods: Bank transfer, wire transfer
- Late payments may pause future scheduling until accounts are current
Confidentiality & Intellectual Property
Confidentiality: I treat all client information as confidential. What we discuss, the materials you share, and the work we do together stays between us unless you explicitly authorise otherwise.
Work Product:
- Deliverables created specifically for you belong to you
- General methodologies, frameworks, and approaches I use remain my intellectual property
- I may reference general learnings (anonymised) in future work, but never your specific information
What You Can Expect From Me
- Full presence and focus during our time together
- Honest, direct feedback and recommendations
- Responsiveness to emails within 24 business hours
- Flexibility when genuine circumstances require it
- Respect for your time, budget, and goals
What I Need From You
- Clear communication about expectations and constraints
- Respect for scheduling commitments we’ve made
- Timely payment
- Honesty when something isn’t working
- Understanding that last-minute changes have real costs
Sample Contracts
To make the engagement process as transparent as possible, here are sample versions of the contracts I typically use:
- Sample Engagement Agreement (PDF) — covers scope, compensation, IP, confidentiality, and cancellation terms
- Sample Mutual NDA (PDF) — standard mutual non-disclosure agreement for protecting both parties’ confidential information
These are templates — the final versions will be tailored to your specific engagement. If you have your own contracts you’d prefer to use, I’m happy to review and work with those instead.
Making This Work
These terms aren’t about being rigid; they’re about creating conditions where we both do our best work. If something here doesn’t fit your situation, let’s talk about it. I’m happy to explore what might work better, but I’ve found these boundaries help everyone succeed.
I’m here to help you solve problems and move forward. The administrative stuff matters, but the real goal is creating value together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if I only need 2 hours of your time?
A: I understand that some questions feel quick, but in practice, 2-hour engagements rarely accomplish what we hope they will. By the time we’ve established context and started digging in, we’re out of time. If you genuinely need brief input, consider whether an email exchange or short paid call might work better. For anything that requires real problem-solving, the 4-hour minimum ensures we can actually finish what we start.
Q: Can we break up the 4 hours across multiple days?
A: Generally no. The 4-hour minimum is designed as a focused working block. Context-switching and ramp-up time make split sessions less effective for both of us. However, if you’re booking multiple sessions (say, weekly check-ins), we can discuss what makes sense.
Q: What happens if our session runs over the scheduled time?
A: If we’re making great progress and both agree to continue, we can extend with pro-rated billing for the additional time. I’ll always flag when we’re approaching the end of our scheduled block so there are no surprises. If I have another commitment, I’ll need to end on time, so planning matters.
Q: I might need to reschedule—how flexible can you be?
A: Life happens, and I get it. If you need to reschedule with more than 48 hours notice, there’s no fee—just let me know as soon as possible so I can potentially fill that time. The cancellation fees exist because last-minute changes mean I’ve likely turned down other work to hold that time for you.
Q: What if something urgent comes up on your end?
A: If I need to reschedule for any reason, I’ll give you as much notice as possible and offer priority rebooking. I hold myself to the same standards I’m asking of you—your time is valuable too.
Q: Do you offer retainer arrangements?
A: Yes, for clients who need regular access. Retainers typically involve pre-booking regular sessions (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly) at a slightly reduced rate in exchange for the scheduling predictability. This works well for ongoing strategic support. Let’s discuss if this fits your needs.
Q: What does “unprepared” actually mean? I don’t want to be charged if something unexpected happens.
A: “Unprepared” means things within your control—like key people not showing up, necessary access or materials not being available, or realising mid-session that critical prerequisites weren’t completed. Unexpected technical issues (systems down, etc.) are different, and we’d work together to find a productive use of the time or reschedule if truly impossible to proceed. I’m reasonable, and genuine emergencies are treated as such.
Q: Can you sign an NDA?
A: Absolutely. I’m happy to sign a reasonable mutual NDA. I already treat all client work as confidential, but I understand many organisations need the formal documentation.
Q: What if we disagree about the value delivered?
A: Let’s talk about it immediately. I’d rather address concerns in real-time than have them fester. If you feel a session didn’t deliver value, tell me specifically why, and we’ll figure out how to make it right—whether that’s a follow-up session, a different approach, or in rare cases, an adjustment to the invoice. Clear communication prevents these situations most of the time.
Q: Do you work weekends or evenings?
A: Occasionally, for the right project and with advance planning. Weekend or evening sessions typically incur a 25-50% premium depending on timing and notice. I generally prefer to keep work in normal business hours to maintain the quality and energy I bring to the work.
Q: How do I actually book time with you?
A: Reach out with a brief description of what you’re working on and your preferred timeframe. I’ll confirm availability and send a booking confirmation. For new clients, I typically have a brief exploratory conversation first (no charge) to make sure we’re a good fit.
Q: These terms feel formal. Are you difficult to work with?
A: Quite the opposite! These terms exist because I’ve learned that clear expectations make collaborations better and more relaxed. Once we have these basics sorted, we can focus entirely on the work instead of logistical awkwardness. Most of my clients appreciate knowing exactly what to expect.
Questions or want to discuss an engagement?
Reach out and let’s talk about what you’re working on. Book a free introductory call.
Last updated: October 2025