What does external project management cost?
Updated: 2026-09
External IT project management is usually agreed as an engagement over the project duration; cost follows the size, duration and intensity of the project and any required method such as HERMES. A clearly bounded project is predictable. Binding range after the first conversation.
External project management is not a product with a unit price but an engagement measured against your project. A small project over a few weeks requires a different commitment from a multi-month programme with many parties and a formal method.
The factors below determine the effort. Where a method such as HERMES is required, the investment pays off in particular, because professional steering prevents exactly the expensive project failures.
What drives the cost
Project size
The number of parties, work packages and interfaces determines the steering effort.
Duration
A project running over months occupies the project manager longer than a short sprint.
Intensity
Full-time steering of a critical large project differs from part-time supporting leadership.
Method
Formal requirements such as HERMES demand additional outputs, phase approvals and documentation.
Risk and complexity
Projects with high risk or many dependencies need more intensive steering.
How we price
- 01
Engagement / retainer
For ongoing support — advisory, governance or continuous optimisation — we agree an engagement with a defined scope per month. Predictable cost, flexibly adjustable.
- 02
Fixed price
Where the scope can be clearly bounded, we work to a binding fixed price. You know exactly what it costs before the project starts — no open-ended hourly billing, no surprises.
- 03
Time and materials against an estimate
Where the scope is not yet fully settled at the start, we work transparently against effort — with an estimate discussed in advance and regular cost control, so nothing runs away.
We deliberately publish no online prices: every case differs. After a short first conversation you receive a binding fixed price or clear frame.
Parent service: IT Consulting
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FAQ
Why is there no specific price on the website?
Because a serious price depends on the actual scope, and a number online would almost always be wrong — too high deters, too low leads to unpleasant surprises. After a short first conversation we give you a binding fixed price or a clear range.
How do I get to a binding fixed price?
Through a short, free first conversation in which we clarify scope, goals and constraints. On that basis you receive a specific, binding price — with no hidden costs.
Does external project management actually pay for itself?
IT projects rarely fail on the technology and almost always on the steering. The cost of professional project management is almost always lower than that of a delayed or failed project.