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Pricing
Excel consulting prices - a $99 / ₹4,999 Scoping Sprint, then fixed-price builds from $75 / ₹6K. Written scope, no hourly billing, bank transfer or UPI.
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Know the exact price before you commit to a build.
A paid first step: a written diagnosis of your workbook, a fixed-price proposal and a Definition of Done, delivered in 2 working days. The fee is credited in full against the build.
- Written diagnosis of the current workbook
- Fixed-price proposal with scope and timeline
- Definition of Done - what 'finished' means, in writing
Mutual NDA before any file · Bank transfer (international wire outside India) or UPI
Three engagement bands
Fixed scope, transparent pricing before any work starts.
No hourly creep. Fixed price in writing. Scope is negotiable; the price for an agreed scope is not. Every build has a written Definition of Done.
Quick fix
$75 – $180
1 – 5 working days
A single formula fix, a one-tab model, a short audit. The fastest way to unblock a specific problem.
What is included
- Single formula fix or spreadsheet audit
- One-tab model (loan calculator, break-even, simple forecast)
- Power Query cleanup of one source file
- Slow-file diagnosis with the one fix that helps most
- Written scope, fixed price, named senior owner
- 1 review round and a written handover note
Not in this band
- Multi-tab dashboards
- Pivot-table + chart dashboards
- VBA automation scripts
Example engagements
- · Fix a VLOOKUP / XLOOKUP chain that breaks on row insert
- · Build a Goal Seek break-even financial model
- · Audit one critical workbook before a board meeting
Standard build
$180 – $500
2 – 3 weeks
An interactive dashboard with KPIs, a Power Query pipeline, or a monthly report automation. The typical first project.
What is included
- Executive dashboard with 4-8 KPIs, dynamic charts and slicers
- Power Query pipeline from multiple source files (CSV, Excel, API)
- Monthly close report automation - one-click refresh replaces 1-2 manual days
- Spreadsheet audit + repair with an automated balance checks tab
- Three-statement financial model or rolling budget forecast
- 2 review rounds, recorded walkthrough at handover + 30-day free support window
Not in this band
- Multi-entity global consolidations (see Complex below)
- Custom desktop add-in software
- Direct ERP write-back connectors
Example engagements
- · KPI dashboard for a finance team - 4 sources, 6 charts, 1-click refresh
- · Monthly close automation for a 50-person services firm
- · Dynamic inventory reorder & sales tracking workbook
Complex engagement
$500 – $2,000+
3 – 6 weeks
Multi-entity consolidations, multi-statement forecast models, multi-currency ledger reconciliations. Built when the architecture itself is the deliverable.
What is included
- Multi-entity group consolidation (4+ entities, FX conversion, intercompany eliminations)
- Three-statement model with scenario manager and Monte Carlo / sensitivity tables
- Multi-store / multi-warehouse dashboard with automated Power Query ETL
- Multi-client ledger & tax reconciliation tracker
- Data model in Power Pivot with 200K+ rows and optimized DAX measures
- Definition of Done, automated error checks tab, documented architecture
- 3 review rounds, recorded video walkthrough, 30-day support window
Not in this band
- Custom desktop software (we engineer in native Excel only)
- Web dashboards (we deliver unlocked .xlsx files)
Example engagements
- · Multi-entity services group consolidation with multi-currency close
- · 18-outlet retail sales + inventory replenishment dashboard
- · Manufacturing plant month-end close with ERP export validation
After handover · optional
Care Plan · $99/month
Optional monthly support after the 30-day warranty: up to 3 small change requests a month (new column, new year's sheet, a formula after a data change). Cancel any time. Bigger changes get their own fixed quote.
Serving Enterprise, SMB & Finance Leaders Globally
FormulaSurge is a remote-first Excel practice, set up to work with teams in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, UAE, Singapore and Europe.
Multi-Currency Rails
Invoices issued in your currency. Bank transfer (international wire outside India) or UPI. 50% to start, 50% on handover.
NDA & IP Protection
Mutual NDA signed before files are shared. You retain 100% unrestricted ownership of all formulas, models, and open VBA code.
Video Walkthroughs
Every workbook is delivered with a recorded screen-share walkthrough explaining every KPI, formula chain, and refresh trigger.
Timezone Overlap
Convenient kickoff and review call slots aligned with your local business morning in New York, London, Dubai, or Sydney.
In writing
Four guarantees on every paid engagement.
What every paid engagement comes with - in writing, before any build work starts.
Written scope, fixed price, fixed timeline
Agreed in writing before any build work begins. No open-ended discovery, no scope creep, no surprise invoice at the end.
Working draft within five working days
Or your deposit back, no questions. We will not string you along for a month to find out we are not a fit.
30-day post-handover support window
Every defect against the Definition of Done fixed free, and every question answered within one working day. New features are quoted separately.
A written Definition of Done
If we miss it, we fix it free. No arguments. The bar is in writing before the work starts, not after.
Excel consultant rates in 2026
Hourly vs fixed price: what you actually pay.
Most Excel help is sold by the hour, so the final bill depends on how long the work takes. A fixed price turns that around: the scope is agreed first, the total is written down, and overruns are my problem, not yours. Here is how the common options compare.
| Option | How you pay | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace freelancer | Hourly; rate and seniority vary widely | Small, well-defined tasks |
| US / UK Excel consultancy | Hourly at local rates | Large enterprise projects |
| In-house analyst | Salary + hiring + management time | Ongoing, full-time volume |
| FormulaSurge | Fixed price from $75 / from ₹6K, in writing | Defined builds with a clear Definition of Done |
Frequently asked
Before you ask - pricing questions.
What is the hourly rate for an Excel expert?
Hourly rates vary widely by country, seniority and platform. FormulaSurge does not bill by the hour: every job gets a fixed price in writing before work starts, so you know the total up front. Quick fixes run $75 – $180, standard builds $180 – $500 and complex builds $500 – $2,000+.
How much does it cost to hire a spreadsheet expert?
It depends on the job, not the hours. A formula repair, one-tab model or short audit is a Quick fix ($75 – $180 / ₹6K – ₹15K). A KPI dashboard, Power Query pipeline or report automation is a Standard build ($180 – $500 / ₹15K – ₹40K). Multi-entity consolidations and full forecast models are Complex ($500 – $2,000+ / ₹40K+). If you are not sure which band you are in, the Scoping Sprint ($99) gives you an exact written price.
What is the Scoping Sprint, and why pay for it?
It is a paid first step: $99 / £79 / ₹4,999. Within 2 working days you get a written diagnosis of your workbook, a fixed-price proposal and a Definition of Done. If you go ahead with the build, the full fee is deducted from the build price. If you don't, you keep the documents. It suits buyers who need an exact, written price for internal approval before committing.
Is there a free option first?
Yes. The free audit runs seven written checks on one workbook and tells you which fail. The free browser tools on /tools handle many single-formula problems on their own. The Scoping Sprint is the next step when you are ready to plan an actual build.
How and when do I pay?
Bank transfer (international wire outside India) or UPI. 50% to start, 50% on handover. Invoices are issued in your currency (USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, CAD, AED, SGD, HKD, NZD, QAR or INR). The Scoping Sprint is paid in full up front.
Is the price really fixed, or can it move?
Fixed price in writing. Scope is negotiable; the price for an agreed scope is not. If your requirements change mid-build (a new entity, a new data source, extra dashboard tabs), the change is quoted separately for your sign-off. No surprise invoices and no hourly creep.
Can I get a discount?
The price follows the scope, so the way to a lower price is a smaller first phase. We can split a build into phases and quote the first one on its own. The Scoping Sprint fee is always credited against the build.
What happens after the 30-day warranty?
Anything that misses the agreed Definition of Done is fixed free during the 30 days after handover. After that, the optional Care Plan ($99/month / ₹4,999/month) covers up to 3 small change requests a month and can be cancelled any time. Larger changes get their own fixed quote.
How does timezone overlap work for international clients?
Calls are booked in your morning for the UK, Europe, the Gulf and APAC, and in your early morning for the US and Canada. Progress updates arrive by WhatsApp or email with recorded screen-share walkthroughs, so nobody needs to stay up late.
Do you sign an NDA before we share sensitive company workbooks?
Yes. A mutual NDA is signed before any file or dataset is shared. Files are kept only for the engagement and deleted at sign-off. You own 100% of all workbooks, models and unprotected VBA code.
Do you offer hourly billing?
No. Every engagement is fixed-scope and fixed-price, so you know the cost before work starts and the risk of overruns sits with me, not you.
Start a project
Send a short brief. Get a fixed quote in one working day.
No hourly billing, no required retainer, no scope creep. The price is fixed before the build starts - and if something misses the Definition of Done, it is fixed at no cost.
Transparent pricing
Direct channels
Three bands.
In writing.
- Starter
- ₹6K
- Standard
- ₹15K
- Complex
- ₹40K+
- 1Send the brief
- 2We pick a band
- 3Scope in writing