What
clarity
costs.

We publish our pricing because we believe the firms worth working with don't hide it. Every model below reflects what a real engagement actually costs — not a teaser designed to get you on a call.

â—†
All pricing in USD. INR equivalents available on request. Engagements under $25,000 are not typically within our scope — not because of the money, but because the work quality we hold ourselves to requires it.
Pricing model:
Engagement Tiers
Intelligence Brief
$25,000 – $45,000
Rapid-turnaround insight on a focused question. Designed for decisions that can't wait 6 weeks.
1 focused research question
Up to 15 expert interviews
Secondary research synthesis
Decision memo + exec summary
1 presentation session
2-week turnaround
Full quantitative survey
Multi-market coverage
30-day advisory follow-on
Start a Brief →
Comprehensive Programme
$150K+
Multi-market, multi-phase intelligence programmes for transformative decisions and large-scale capital deployment.
Multi-geography fieldwork
80–120+ primary interviews
Multi-wave quantitative surveys
Full competitive landscape
Regulatory & channel mapping
Scenario modelling & war-gaming
Board-ready presentation
60-day advisory follow-on
Dedicated partner oversight
Discuss Programme →
How We Structure Work

Four engagement
models explained.

01

Fixed-Scope Project

A defined brief, a defined deliverable, a fixed fee. The most common structure for market entry, competitive intelligence, and consumer research engagements. Scope is locked before any work begins — there are no hidden hourly overruns.

$25K+
Starting from
2–6wk
Typical duration
02

Monthly Retainer

Ongoing intelligence support for organisations that face a continuous stream of market questions. Access to a dedicated analyst team, monthly sector briefings, and priority access to our expert network. Structured in 6-month minimums.

$8K
Per month
6mo
Minimum term
03

Due Diligence Sprint

Compressed commercial due diligence for time-pressured M&A situations. Structured around your transaction timeline — not ours. Typically 3–4 weeks from kick-off to board-ready findings. NDA and conflict check completed within 24 hours.

$50K+
Starting from
3–4wk
Typical duration
04

Strategic Advisory

Fractional strategy partner for leadership teams that need ongoing access to senior market intelligence expertise without the overhead of a full consulting retainer. 4–8 hours per month, billed quarterly. For existing clients only.

$3.5K
Per month
Existing
Clients only

Standard inclusions.
No exceptions.

These aren't upsells — they're the baseline for every engagement we run, regardless of size. We won't start work without them in place.

NDA First
Mutual non-disclosure signed before any discussion of your context or decision.
Decision Scoping Call
A structured 60-minute session before any fee is agreed — to confirm we're the right fit.
Senior Analyst Lead
Every engagement is owned by an analyst with 7+ years of sector-specific experience.
Evidence Matrix
Every finding is traced to its source. No black-box conclusions. No unsupported assertions.
Confidence Scoring
We tell you how confident we are in each finding — and where the weak signal is.
Live Delivery Session
Not a PDF drop. A working session where leadership teams push back and we defend the evidence.
Plan Comparison

Everything, side by side.

Feature
Intelligence Brief
Full Engagement
Programme
Research Scope
Primary interviews
Up to 15
30–60
80–120+
Quantitative survey
✗
✓
✓
Multi-market fieldwork
✗
✗
✓
Competitive landscape
Desk only
✓
Full
Deliverables
Executive decision memo
✓
✓
✓
Full research report
✗
✓ 40–80pp
✓ 80–150pp
Board-ready deck
✗
Optional
✓
Support
Advisory follow-on access
✗
30 days
60 days
Partner-level oversight
✗
Senior Analyst
✓
Pricing Questions

What clients ask
before they sign.

Do you charge hourly or fixed fee?+
All project-based engagements are fixed-fee. You get a proposal with a single number before any work begins — and that number doesn't change unless the scope does. Retainer and advisory arrangements are monthly flat fees. We don't do hourly billing.
What if our project is smaller than $25K?+
We'll tell you honestly and help you think about the right resource for your needs. Sometimes that means a scoping call to reframe the question into something we can answer at lower cost. Occasionally it means recommending a freelance researcher or a different type of service.
Is the scoping call free?+
Yes. The initial scoping call, the decision-mapping session, and the proposal we provide are all at no cost. We only start billing once you've reviewed and accepted a scope document.
Can we pay in INR?+
Yes. For engagements with Indian entities, we invoice in INR at the prevailing exchange rate at proposal date. GST is applied where applicable. Our India engagements are contracted through North Vector Systems Private Limited.
What's your payment structure?+
Typically 50% on engagement confirmation, 50% on delivery of the final report. For programmes over $150,000, we structure payments across milestones. We accept wire transfer, SWIFT, and NEFT.
Are there add-on costs?+
Respondent incentives for quantitative surveys are typically included in the fixed fee. International travel for in-person fieldwork, if required, is billed at cost with prior approval. There are no surprise charges.

Ready to scope
an engagement?

Tell us the decision. We'll tell you what intelligence it requires — and what that intelligence will cost. No commitment until you've approved the scope.

Fastest
Submit a Brief Online→
Fill in the brief form and receive a scoping call within 24 hours.
Best for complex needs
Book a Scoping Call→
30 minutes. No slide deck. Just your decision and what we'd need to answer it.
Direct
Email Us Directly→
info@northvectorsystems.com · We read every email personally.