In today’s fast-paced world, it’s difficult for organizations to stay on top of their technology. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow as strategies and challenges evolve.
IT consulting services help companies identify and implement the right technology strategies in this environment.
But how much does IT consulting cost?
What can you expect to pay for a specific project?
This article lays out all the factors in IT consulting cost—and it includes a FREE IT consulting cost calculator that you can use to estimate your cost.
Key takeaways:
- IT consulting is typically billed either by the hour or by the project, depending on project complexity.
- Billable hourly rates for IT consulting range from $75 – $800, with most consultancies charging $100 – $300 per hour.
- IT consulting deliverables are usually tailored to specific stakeholder within the client organization.
- Use our FREE IT Consulting Pricing Calculator to estimate the cost of your project.
What billing models do IT consultancies use?
IT consulting projects are usually billed one of two ways:
- Hourly
- Project-based
The billing model typically depends on the project in question—how complex it is, how much ownership the consultancy takes on, and what contingencies exist that may hinder the project. An engagement with a clear scope, full ownership by the consultancy, and a clear deadline is often billed on a per-project basis. This model works when the consultancy is solely responsible for the outcome and can approach the project in a rinse-and-repeat fashion.
More complex projects, including those with shared responsibilities between the client and the consultancy, may be billed on an hourly basis. In this case, the consultancy will provide an estimate before starting the project, with the understanding that they will communicate any overages ahead of time so the client can approve them.
Here’s how the two IT consulting billing models compare in detail.
| Aspect | Hourly Billing | Per-Project Billing |
| Cost Structure | Client pays for actual hours worked | Fixed price agreed upon for entire project |
| Flexibility | High – accommodates scope changes easily | Low – scope changes often require renegotiation |
| Risk for Client | Higher – costs can escalate with delays | Lower – predictable cost if scope is clear |
| Risk for Consultant | Lower – paid for all time spent | Higher – underestimation can reduce profit |
| Budgeting | Harder to predict total cost | Easier to plan and allocate funds |
| Efficiency Incentive | Lower – more hours = more revenue | Higher – faster delivery = better margins |
| Best For | Uncertain or evolving scope | Well-defined, stable scope |
How much does IT consulting charge per hour?
In the United States, IT consultancies typically charge $75 – $300 per hour. That said, an IT consultancy’s hourly rate depends on many factors. For example, specialized expertise for a complex project will cost more per hour than general expertise for rinse-and-repeat scenarios.
Here are the most common hourly rates in IT consulting.
| Category | Hourly Rate | Comments |
| Small Business IT Consulting | $75 – $250 | For smaller, less complex projects |
| Midmarket IT Consulting | $100 – $300 | For complex, cross-functional projects |
| Enterprise IT Consulting | $200 – $800 | For high-risk, high-complexity global projects in an enterprise context |
How much do IT consulting projects cost?
As you can imagine, there’s a huge range of costs associated with IT consulting projects. The exact cost will depend on the project complexity, the consultancy’s billing model for the project, and their hourly billable rate, if applicable.
Here are the typical cost ranges for common IT consulting projects.
| Project Type | Low Estimate | High Estimate |
| IT Strategy and Planning | $15,000 | $300,000 |
| Cloud Strategy Consulting | $20,000 | $500,000 |
| Cybersecurity Consulting | $25,000 | $400,000 |
| Data Analytics and BI Consulting | $25,000 | $500,000 |
| Data Integration Consulting | $20,000 | $400,000 |
| Digital Transformation Consulting | $30,000 | $600,000+ |
Want to get more details?
These numbers are taken from our FREE, interactive IT Consulting Cost Calculator.
What deliverables are included in an IT consulting engagement?
The exact deliverables in an IT consulting engagement will depend on the complexity of the project, the systems and processes in scope, and the needs of stakeholders. If the project is limited in scope and deeply technical, the deliverables will typically be more technical, intended for an IT audience. If the project has a larger, integrated scope that touches the entire organization, some deliverables should be less technical and designed for business leaders.
Here are the most common deliverables across projects and stakeholders.
1. Assessment and analysis
- Current State Assessment: Documentation of existing IT infrastructure, applications, and processes. This is important for understanding the baseline and what’s required to achieve the desired end state.
- Gap Analysis: Identification of weaknesses, risks, and opportunities to achieve the desired end state.
- Risk Assessment: Cybersecurity posture, compliance gaps, and vulnerability reports.
2. Strategic documentation
- IT Roadmap: A multi-year plan aligning technology with business goals. Here at Corsica Technologies, we work with clients to develop a three-year technology roadmap. This gives organizations visibility into IT investments that may be required in the future—so there are no surprises.
- Architecture Diagrams: High-level and detailed system architecture. These deliverables are often intended for a technical audience, such as IT managers.
- Cloud Strategy Plan: These deliverables will cover the planned cloud migration approach, cost models, and governance frameworks. They typically speak to both business and IT leaders.
3. Recommendations and action plans
- Solution Design: Proposed technologies, platforms, and integration approach.
- Implementation Plan: Timeline, milestones, and resource allocation. This deliverable should also account for any disruption to operations.
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: ROI projections and budget estimates.
4. Technical deliverables
- Configuration Guides: For systems, networks, or cloud environments.
- Data Models & Integration Specs: For analytics or system interoperability.
- Security Policies & Procedures: Compliance and risk mitigation frameworks.
5. Governance and compliance
- Policy Documentation: IT governance, data privacy, and regulatory compliance. These deliverables must be comprehensive in nature but also consumable by stakeholders from all parts of the organization.
- Performance Metrics: KPIs and dashboards for ongoing monitoring.
6. Training and knowledge transfer
- User Training Materials: Guides, videos, or workshops.
- Admin/IT Staff Training: Technical handover sessions.
How can I estimate the cost of IT consulting?
There are many factors that influence the overall cost of an IT consulting engagement. That said, the more you know ahead of time, the easier it is to get a ballpark range for your project.
In fact, you can use our FREE IT Consulting Pricing Calculator to estimate your cost.
The calculator covers:
- IT Strategy and Planning
- Cloud Consulting
- Cybersecurity Consulting
- Infrastructure Optimization
- Software Implementation
- Data Analytics and BI
- Data Integration and EDI
- Compliance
- CRM Integration
- ERP Integration
- AI and Transformation
- M&A Advisory
The calculator also lets you choose a complexity level for your project:
- Small
- Medium
- Large
- Enterprise
Try the calculator to estimate your cost.
The takeaway: Get the IT consulting you need to move forward
Technology is getting more and more challenging, but it doesn’t have to hold your organization back. Here at Corsica Technologies, we’ve helped 1,000+ clients solve their challenges through technology. Contact us today to take the next step on your journey.
Need an outside perspective?
Reach out to schedule a consultation with our IT consulting specialists.
