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Service 04

Vendor & Cost Sanity-Check

Is the price fair, the scope right, and the work worth it?

I spent 14 years on the other side of these quotes — scoping, pricing and delivering enterprise software. I know where agencies pad, where freelancers under-scope, and what good actually costs. Send me the proposal, the invoices, or the work delivered so far, and I will tell you if you are getting value or getting played.

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Who it's for

  • Founders evaluating an agency or freelancer proposal
  • Companies mid-project who suspect they are overpaying
  • Anyone who cannot tell if a quote is reasonable

You probably need this if…

The quote is a big number and you have nothing to compare it to
Timelines keep slipping and costs keep climbing
Change requests feel like a revenue model, not a surprise
You are not sure the hours billed match the work done

What I look at

  • Proposal, scope and estimate versus fair market value
  • Contract, IP ownership and change-request terms
  • Whether the work delivered matches what was billed
  • Team composition and whether you are paying for seniority you get
  • Negotiation leverage and what to push back on

What you walk away with

1 A clear read: fair, high, or a red flag — and why
2 The specific line items and terms to renegotiate
3 Questions to put to your vendor that change the conversation
4 A benchmark for what this should cost and take

Proof

The experience behind this service

All case studies
Colgate, Vodafone & others Enterprise / Consumer

Digital delivery for marquee global brands

Managed end-to-end delivery of digital solutions for marquee clients including Colgate and Vodafone — scoping, sprint planning, client governance and release management.

EnterpriseConsumerDelivery
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FAQ

Vendor & Cost Check: your questions, answered.

Still unsure if this is the right fit? Book a free intro call and just ask.

How do you know if an agency or freelancer quote is fair?

I spent 14 years on the other side of these quotes — scoping, pricing and delivering software for Fortune 500 clients. I know where agencies pad, where freelancers under-scope, and what good actually costs. Send me the proposal and I will tell you if the price and scope are fair, high, or a red flag — and why.

I think my agency is overcharging me. Can you check?

Yes. I review the work delivered against what was billed, the team you are actually paying for versus the seniority you were promised, and whether change requests have quietly become a revenue model. You get a clear read and the specific line items and terms to push back on.

Can you review a project that is already in progress?

Absolutely — mid-project is one of the most common times people call me, usually when timelines keep slipping and costs keep climbing. I assess whether the work is on track, fairly priced, and worth continuing, and give you the leverage and questions to reset the relationship.

What if I have already signed the contract?

It is rarely too late. I review the contract, IP ownership and change-request terms, flag what is working against you, and give you concrete points to renegotiate. Even signed deals usually have room to move once you know exactly where you're exposed.

What does a vendor or cost review cost?

A vendor quote audit starts at $200; reviewing billed time-and-materials or delivered work is scoped to the project. Compared with a six-figure build going sideways, it is the cheapest insurance you will buy.

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