Consulting for mechanical contractors is priced using the published rates of BusinessConsulting.ca, the group's consulting practice. Hourly work runs from $175 to $350 per hour, defined projects from $3,500 to $25,000, and monthly retainers from $2,500 to $12,000. All fees are in Canadian dollars, plus GST/HST based on your province (GST and QST in Quebec). The first 30-minute consultation is free, with no obligation.
Hourly consulting
$175–$350 /hour
Strategy sessions and expert advice by the hour.
Project
$3,500–$25,000 per project
Defined-scope work such as a plan, assessment or launch, with milestone payments.
Monthly retainer
$2,500–$12,000 /month
Ongoing advisory and execution support.
Growth Partner Program
Custom
Performance-based partnership: Ali invests time upfront and is paid on measurable results. Limited partnerships available.
Free initial consultation · no lock-in. The initial 30-minute consultation is free, with no obligation.
Prices in Canadian dollars. Sales tax is added based on the client's province (as of October 2026, CRA rates): 5% GST in Alberta, BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, NWT and Nunavut; 13% HST in Ontario; 14% HST in Nova Scotia; 15% HST in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI; 5% GST plus 9.975% QST in Quebec. Provincial sales tax (BC, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) only where it applies to the service. See full pricing on businessconsulting.ca/pricing.
The four ways to work with us
| Model | Price (CAD, plus tax) | Typical use for a mechanical firm |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly consulting | $175–$350 per hour | Reviewing a rate sheet or bid template you built; a second opinion on a big tender; a pre-meeting with your banker or surety |
| Project | $3,500–$25,000 per project | A pricing and estimating rebuild, a job costing set-up, a capacity model or an exit-readiness review, paid by milestone |
| Monthly retainer | $2,500–$12,000 per month | Monthly job and WIP reviews, a running capacity plan, or support through an owner handoff |
| Growth Partner Program | Custom | Ali puts his own time in first and is paid from measurable results, so it is performance-based; only limited partnerships are available |
Most owners start with a project, because the first problem usually has a clear deliverable. Retainers suit firms that want someone in the monthly review until new habits stick.
What moves a fee within the range
Five things decide where your engagement lands.
- Size and complexity of the firm. A single-trade service shop has one rate and a handful of job types. A combined plumbing, HVAC and sheet-metal contractor with service, replacement and construction divisions has several of each.
- State of your data. Clean payroll, job-coded hours and monthly statements make analysis fast. Paper timesheets and year-end-only accounting add time.
- Number of people involved. Training two estimators costs less than training eight project managers across three branches.
- How much you want us to implement. Some owners want the analysis and rules; others want us in the weekly job review for two months.
- Number of locations or provinces. Different labour markets, regulators and tax rates add work.
Is it worth it? A way to check
You should be able to judge a consulting fee against your own numbers. Here is one way, using illustrative figures.
Suppose your firm sells 9,000 billable field hours a year. A pricing project costs, say, $9,000 plus tax. If the rebuilt rate shows you are undercharging and you raise your effective rate by $5 an hour across those hours, that is $45,000 of extra gross profit a year, before any change in volume.
The same logic works for job costing. If your completed jobs fade by an average of three margin points on $3 million of project revenue, that is $90,000 a year. Recovering even a third of it covers a substantial project fee.
We will not promise those numbers. The point is that you can, and should, test any fee against what the problem is costing you now.
Sales tax by province
Fees are subject to sales tax at the CRA rate for your province, as shown on the CRA GST/HST calculator, checked 2026-10-23:
| Province or territory | Rate as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut | 5% GST |
| Ontario | 13% HST |
| Nova Scotia | 14% HST |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island | 15% HST |
| Quebec | 5% GST plus 9.975% QST |
Provincial sales tax in British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan is added only where it applies to the service. Your proposal and invoices show the tax that applies.
How to choose
- You have one specific question. Book a few hours. Bring the document.
- You know the problem and want it fixed. Choose a project. The proposal states the deliverable, timeline and milestone payments.
- You want ongoing help across several areas. A retainer, sized to the hours you need.
- You have a strong, measurable business and want a partner with skin in the game. Ask about the Growth Partner Program.
Not sure? The free 30-minute conversation exists for exactly that. See the contact page, or read the FAQ on contracts, timelines and what you own afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Is the first conversation really free?
Yes. The initial 30-minute consultation is free, with no obligation, whether it happens by phone, online by video call or in person.
Why a range instead of a fixed price?
Because a six-person service shop and a 60-person commercial contractor need very different amounts of work, even for the same service. Your written proposal gives the exact fee before anything starts.
Do your fees include sales tax?
No. Fees are in Canadian dollars, with GST or HST added at your province's rate, or GST and QST in Quebec. In BC, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, provincial sales tax is charged on top only if it applies to this kind of service.
Is there a long-term contract?
There is no lock-in. Any notice period and the payment schedule are written into your proposal so you can read them before you agree.
What is the Growth Partner Program?
It is a custom, performance-based arrangement: Ali commits time at the start and his pay depends on results you can measure. Only limited partnerships are available, and they suit established firms whose numbers are already clear.
Sources
- Canada Revenue Agency: GST/HST calculator and rates (2026-10-23)
- BusinessConsulting.ca: Pricing (2026-10-23)