Beth H. from Jacksonville FL. I'm about to do my first paid audit for a small office building and have no idea what to charge. The building has basic JEA electric service, maybe $2,000 monthly bills. Don't want to overprice and lose the opportunity but also don't want to work for peanuts. What did others charge for their very first engagements?
Pricing first engagement - what did you charge?
Jim W. from Youngstown OH. I charged $300 for my first audit back in 2016 and immediately regretted it when I found $8,000 in annual savings. Spent 20 hours on the analysis and made basically minimum wage. Price based on value, not time - even for first clients.
Eddie H. from Spokane WA. My first client was a restaurant paying $1,800 monthly to Avista. Charged $750 for the audit and found $3,200 annual savings through rate optimization and demand management. Client was thrilled and referred two more restaurants.
Anita W. from Fargo ND. Started with $500 minimum regardless of account size. Small accounts often have bigger percentage savings opportunities than large ones. That $2,000 monthly bill could easily yield $200-400 monthly savings with the right tariff and usage adjustments.
Gerald N. from Charlottesville VA. Consider offering a satisfaction guarantee on your first few audits. If they don't save at least 10% annually, refund your fee. Builds confidence for both you and the client while you're establishing credibility in the market.
Donna C. from Harrisburg PA. Beth, for a $2,000 monthly account I'd charge $800-1,200 depending on complexity. Office buildings usually have simpler rate structures than manufacturing but may have opportunities in demand management and power factor optimization with PPL.
Thanks everyone! Decided to quote $750 with a guarantee to find at least $150 monthly savings or refund half the fee. Client accepted and I found $280 monthly through rate change and LED rebate program. First success in the books!
Susan P. from Madison WI. Great outcome Beth! That's exactly why we emphasize value-based pricing in this business. Your $750 fee delivered $3,360 annual value - fantastic ROI for the client and fair compensation for your expertise.
Kate here. These pricing discussions are really helpful for those of us just starting out. Is there a general rule of thumb for pricing based on monthly bill amounts, or does it vary too much by region and utility complexity?