What a business efficiency consultant costs
in South Africa — with clear fee options.

What it is

Nemico's package ladder separates a once-off diagnostic that identifies and prioritises findings, a fixed-scope Strategic Advantage project that plans one targeted improvement, and a monthly Executive Partnership for ongoing operational support. Implementation is optional and separately scoped.

What the engagement covers

1. 1.Once-off fixed-fee diagnostic — quoted after your free call

   Roughly 12 to 20 specialist hours across 2–3 weeks of research and planning. You get your top three quantified leaks, a 90-day plan and a kickoff session. Fixed in advance, so the fee cannot drift while the work runs.

2. 2.Strategic Advantage — R8,500 to R15,000 per fixed-scope project

   One agreed operational workflow, 4–6 consultation hours, a tailored improvement roadmap with KPIs and two weeks of limited email or WhatsApp follow-up. The standard quote is R12,500, with the final fee and response limits agreed after your discovery call. Total specialist time, including consultation, preparation, analysis and reporting, is capped at 8 hours for R8,500, 12 hours for R12,500 or 15 hours for R15,000. Additional workflows, travel and hands-on implementation are quoted separately.

3. 3.Fractional operations leadership — R20,000 to R40,000

   Ongoing operational support, monthly progress reviews and agreed advisory activities. Monthly hours, access, on-site work and travel are confirmed in writing before the partnership starts; the project-hour caps for Strategic Advantage do not apply to this retainer.

4. 4.What moves the fee up

   Multiple sites, more than one operating system to reconcile, incomplete or unreconciled records, several departments in scope, and travel where throughput has to be observed physically.

5. 5.What keeps it down

   Clean records, one site, one core workflow, and an owner able to give straight answers about how the business actually trades. Remote-first delivery removes travel cost entirely for analysis work.

6. 6.How to judge whether the fee is worth it

   Divide the quoted fee by the annual rand recovery identified. The diagnostic should show whether the recoverable margin justifies its cost before implementation starts — and if it surfaces nothing, you should be told that in writing.

What it costs in South Africa

Fees are fixed in advance and quoted in the currency that suits you — ZAR, USD, EUR, GBP, AED or AUD — with the amount confirmed in your written quote.

Common questions

1. How much does a business efficiency consultant cost in South Africa?

   The Diagnostic & Foundations Pack is quoted as a definitive once-off flat fee after your free 15-minute discovery call. Strategic Advantage is R8,500–R15,000 per fixed-scope project, with a standard quote of R12,500 subject to scope. Executive Partnership is R20,000–R40,000 per month. Applicable VAT treatment is confirmed in your written quote.

2. Do you charge by the hour?

   Strategic Advantage is a fixed project fee, not hourly billing or a monthly subscription. At the total-hour caps, R8,500 over 8 hours is approximately R1,063 per specialist hour, R12,500 over 12 hours is approximately R1,042, and R15,000 over 15 hours is R1,000. These are fee-to-time comparisons before expenses and any applicable VAT, not a promise of profit or a market average. Payment is 50% upfront and 50% on delivery.

3. Is a consultant cheaper than hiring an operations manager?

   For most SMEs under R150m turnover, yes. A full-time operations director in South Africa costs R60,000 to R120,000 per month plus benefits, leave and employment risk. Fractional leadership at R20,000 to R40,000 buys senior judgement without the fixed cost.

4. What is included in the Diagnostic & Foundations Pack?

   A baseline of your real cost structure, timing of your core revenue workflow, your top three profit leaks quantified as annual rand ranges with the calculations shown, a 90-day fix sequence with named accountability, and a strategy kickoff session.

5. Can international clients be invoiced in another currency?

   Yes. You are quoted in the currency that suits you — ZAR, USD, EUR, GBP, AED or AUD. The currency and amount are confirmed in your written quote and do not change.