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Advisory Services
Services & Engagement PackagesStrategy, structure, and capital-readiness for founders and funded companies.
What We Do
We work with founders and operators to turn business ideas into structured, fundable, operationally ready companies. Our engagements combine strategic clarity with the practical artifacts investors, boards, and operators actually need — validated market analysis, clean organizational design, defensible strategic plans, investor-grade business plans, and financial models that hold up under due diligence. Every engagement is fixed-scope and fixed-fee, with clearly defined deliverables, review cycles, and timelines. You know what you're getting, what it costs, and when it's done — before we start. In addition to advisory services, HQ Consulting is a DDTC-Registered Broker with the U.S. Department of State and provides brokerage services for U.S. and foreign defense transactions under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Defense trade engagements are outlined as a separate service line later in this document. Who These Packages Are Built For
Pre-revenue founders validating an idea, stress-testing a concept, or preparing to formalize and launch. The earlier tiers (1–3) are designed to prevent expensive mistakes before you commit capital or time. Funded startups and operating companies that need an outside perspective on strategy, a board-ready business plan, or a financial model they can take into a raise, a partnership negotiation, or a board meeting. Tiers 3–5 and the custom engagements are built for this work. The packages below scale with where you are. Not sure which fits? Start with the Strategic Diagnostic — it's designed exactly for that. Fixed-Scope · Fixed-Fee
Engagement TiersTier 0
Strategic Diagnostic
90-minute working session · 48-hour written follow-up
Investment
$1,500
A focused working session to diagnose where you are, what you actually need, and whether a larger engagement is the right next step. This is not a sales call dressed up as consulting — it's a paid, structured diagnostic designed to give you clarity even if we never work together again. What You Get
Best For
Anyone uncertain whether a full engagement is the right investment — or which tier fits best.
Tier 1
Proof of Concept Assessment
1-week engagement
Investment
$5,000
A one-week feasibility and market viability assessment of your business concept. You walk away with an honest, evidence-based read on whether the idea has legs — before you spend real money and time building it out. Deliverables
Process
Best For
Pre-revenue founders deciding whether to commit capital or quit their job to pursue an idea. Funded companies evaluating a new product line, market entry, or pivot.
Tier 2
Business Structure Plan
2-week engagement
Investment
$9,500
Includes everything in Tier 1
Everything in Tier 1, plus a complete organizational blueprint: the legal structure, ownership design, and operating model your business needs to stand up correctly the first time. Getting this wrong early is expensive to unwind later. Additional Deliverables
Best For
Founders who have validated the idea and are ready to formalize — before writing the operating agreement or bringing on a co-founder.
Tier 3
Strategic Plan & Roadmap
4-week engagement
Investment
$25,000
Includes everything in Tiers 1 & 2
Everything in Tiers 1 and 2, plus a concise, operator-grade strategic plan that translates the concept into a 12–24 month roadmap. This is the engagement that takes you from "we have an idea and a structure" to "we know exactly what we're doing next quarter, and the quarter after that." Additional Deliverables
Best For
Pre-revenue founders ready to move from concept into disciplined execution. Funded startups planning the next phase of growth or preparing for a strategic inflection point.
Tier 4
Business Plan Build-Out
8-week engagement
Investment
$45,000
Includes everything in Tiers 1, 2 & 3
Everything in Tiers 1–3, plus a complete, investor-and-board-ready business plan. This is the document you hand to a bank, a board, a partner, or a strategic investor when they ask for the full picture. Additional Deliverables
Best For
Founders and operators who need a credible, thorough plan for lenders, partners, early investors, or internal alignment.
Tier 5
Financial Model Development
12-week engagement
Investment
$70,000
Includes everything in Tiers 1, 2, 3 & 4
Everything in Tiers 1–4, plus a validated, investor-grade financial model. "Validated" means benchmarked against comparable companies, stress-tested under multiple scenarios, and built to withstand real investor due diligence. Additional Deliverables
Best For
Founders and operators preparing to raise capital, negotiate a partnership, plan a strategic transaction, or make major capital allocation decisions.
At A Glance
Package Comparison
For Funded Companies
À La CarteFunded companies that already have validation, structure, and strategy in place can engage directly for a single deliverable without working through earlier tiers: Standalone Business Plan
$45,0006–8 weeks
Standalone Financial Model
$70,0008–10 weeks
À la carte engagements include a condensed diagnostic at kickoff to confirm foundational work is in place. If we identify gaps, we'll flag them before proceeding. Retained
Custom EngagementsFor clients who need ongoing involvement rather than a fixed-scope project, three retained engagements are available. Each is tailored to the specific situation and scoped in a separate letter of engagement. Fractional C-Suite Leader
$12,000–$18,000 / month · 6-month min.
Embedded executive leadership — CEO, COO, CFO, or CSO — for companies that need senior operational horsepower without a full-time hire. Scope typically includes leading a key function, running operating cadence, representing the company with investors or partners, and building the team that will eventually replace the role. When it fits — Funded startups between pivotal hires, or pre-revenue companies whose founder needs an experienced operator alongside them for a defined window. Strategic Board Advisor
Quarterly retainer · cash and/or equity
Ongoing advisory relationship with structured quarterly engagement, monthly check-ins, and on-call availability for high-stakes decisions. Focused on strategy, capital decisions, key hires, and major commercial choices. Compensation structured as retainer, advisory equity (typical: 0.25–1.0% vesting over 24 months), or a blend — sized to the stage and commitment. When it fits — Founders and CEOs who want a durable, committed outside voice in the room for the decisions that matter most. Investor Package Development
$25,000–$40,000 · 4–6 weeks
A complete, coordinated capital-raise package: pitch deck, investor-grade financial model, data room, one-pager, and Q&A/objection prep. Deliverables are designed to work as a single system — the narrative, numbers, and supporting materials all align and reinforce one another. When it fits — Founders preparing for a priced round or strategic capital conversation. Often a natural follow-on to Tier 5. Note: investor package engagements are flat-fee only. No success fees, percentage-of-raise compensation, or placement services. Separate Service Line
Defense Trade & ITAR BrokerageDDTC-Registered Broker · U.S. Department of State · Directorate of Defense Trade Controls
HQ Consulting is a DDTC-Registered Broker with the U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. This registration authorizes brokerage activities under 22 CFR Part 129 of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) for defense trade transactions involving U.S. and foreign parties. This is a distinct, regulated service line — separate from the advisory packages above — governed by its own compliance framework, reporting requirements, and fee structure. What This Covers
Who This Is For
Engagement Structure
Brokerage engagements are scoped and priced per transaction. Fees typically combine an initial retainer with transaction-based compensation, structured to comply with DDTC reporting requirements. Every engagement begins with a confidential intake to assess transaction fit, ITAR applicability, and regulatory posture before any substantive work begins. What This Is Not
DDTC Broker Registration No. K-9838. All engagements conducted in accordance with 22 CFR Parts 120–130 and applicable U.S. export control laws. Registration status verifiable through the DDTC. Terms
How We WorkEngagement Terms
What We Won't Do
Next Steps
If one of these tiers looks like a fit, the fastest path forward is a Strategic Diagnostic (Tier 0) — it gives us both clarity on scope and fit before committing to a larger engagement. The $1,500 is credited toward any package booked within 30 days. Already know what you need? Reach out directly to schedule a scoping call. Let's talk.
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Plan · Execute · Resolve
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