These are the questions that come up most often in first conversations with owners. The answers above cover cost, independence, contracts, timelines, AI, ownership and reporting. Below, a few topics get a fuller explanation, because a one-paragraph answer does not do them justice.
Frequently asked questions
What does an engagement cost?
Hourly consulting is $175 to $350 an hour, projects are $3,500 to $25,000, and retainers are $2,500 to $12,000 a month, in Canadian dollars plus GST/HST based on your province (GST and QST in Quebec). The first 30-minute consultation is free.
Are you independent of software vendors?
We do not resell software, and you buy directly from the vendor you choose. Our fees and the commercial terms of our engagement are written into your proposal.
Do we sign a long contract?
No lock-in. Projects have a defined scope with milestone payments. If you choose a retainer, its notice period is stated in the proposal.
How long does a software selection take?
Six to ten weeks for most CRM or field-service selections, and ten to fourteen weeks for an ERP. A roadmap usually takes four to eight weeks.
We tried a new system before and it failed. Why would this be different?
Failed rollouts usually trace back to vague requirements, unscripted demos, migrated junk data or no acceptance criteria. Our method addresses each of those in writing, and we can start with a short review of what went wrong last time.
Who owns the deliverables?
You do. Requirements, scoring matrices, cost models, roadmaps and guidelines are yours to keep and reuse.
Who should own our software accounts, domain and data?
The business, through business accounts with at least two administrators. Our governance service checks that this is true and helps you fix it where it is not.
Can you tell us if an AI tool is safe to use with client data?
We review tools against practical questions about data handling, settings and terms, and we point to official guidance such as the privacy commissioners' generative AI principles. Legal and compliance conclusions belong with your lawyer or privacy professional.
Do you configure or build the software?
No. The vendor or its partner does the configuration. We define what it must do, check delivery against that, and keep the project honest.
How do you report progress?
Each engagement has agreed milestones. During implementation oversight you receive a one-page weekly status covering progress, risks, decisions needed and budget used.
How do you measure whether the engagement worked?
We agree measures at the start, such as requirements demonstrated, cost against the model, adoption at 90 days, hours saved or dashboards reconciling with accounting. We do not promise specific savings.
Can we meet in person?
Yes. Consultations are online by video call and in person, as well as by phone, text and email.
How do we get started?
Send a text to (604) 632-4959 with one or two lines about the decision you face. A call or an email to Ali@Sedighi.ca works just as well.
Why independence matters in software decisions
An independent advisor is useful because the most important question in a purchase, "should we buy this at all?", is the one a seller is least placed to answer. We do not resell the products we assess, and you contract with the vendor directly.
That does not make vendors the enemy. A good selection process treats vendors fairly: the same scripted scenarios, the same scoring criteria, the same reference questions. It also makes the vendor's job easier, because they know exactly what they need to show. The software selection page describes the process.
When a few hours is enough, and when it is not
Not every decision needs a project. A few hours of advice is usually enough when:
- the purchase is under a few thousand dollars a year
- only one team will use it
- you can leave easily, with data export included
A structured project is worth it when the system holds core data, touches several departments, or would be expensive and disruptive to replace. If you are not sure which side of the line you are on, the free first conversation is the place to find out. Fee ranges are on the pricing page.
What we will and will not advise on
We advise on business and technology decisions: priorities, requirements, vendor fit, cost, AI use, reporting and governance. We do not give legal, tax, accounting or privacy compliance advice. Where those questions arise, as they often do in contracts, AI tools and customer data, we identify them, point to the official regulator, and recommend you take them to your lawyer, accountant or privacy professional.
That boundary protects you. A contract clause or a privacy obligation deserves a qualified opinion, not a consultant's best guess.
If a previous project went badly
Many owners come to us after an implementation that disappointed. That history is useful, because it shows where the process broke. Common patterns:
- The demo showed features the business never used, and skipped the ones it needed.
- Old data was migrated wholesale, duplicates and all.
- Training happened weeks before go-live and was forgotten.
- Scope grew informally and the budget followed.
Each one is preventable. Our implementation oversight service exists for exactly this, and our guides explain the underlying methods in detail.
How long before we see value
Most clients see something useful within the first two weeks, even on a longer engagement. Early value usually takes one of three forms:
- A clear list of what you already pay for. The systems inventory regularly turns up subscriptions nobody uses.
- Agreement on the real problem. Interviews often show that the issue is a process or a data habit rather than the software itself.
- A sharper conversation with vendors. Once requirements are written, sales calls become shorter and more specific.
The larger benefits, a better system or fewer hours lost to manual work, arrive later and are measured against the baseline we record at the start.
What we need from your team
An advisory engagement asks something of you, and it is fair to know what. Expect a named internal lead who can give a few hours a week, interviews of 45 to 60 minutes with the people who do the work, access to the systems we review, and a decision-maker available at each milestone. For implementation oversight, the internal lead's time rises during testing and go-live. We estimate these commitments in the proposal so they can be planned around busy periods.
Still have a question?
Ask it directly. Text or call (604) 632-4959, or email Ali@Sedighi.ca. The contact page explains what to include so we can give a useful answer quickly.