This page gathers the questions we are asked most often before an engagement begins. The short answers are in the list of questions; the text below adds the context that helps you decide. If your question isn't here, write to us: the Contact page explains how.
Frequently asked questions
How much does working with you cost?
Hourly consulting runs $175 to $350 an hour, projects $3,500 to $25,000 and monthly retainers $2,500 to $12,000 a month, plus 5% GST and 9.975% QST. The exact amount is set in writing in your proposal.
Do we have to sign a long-term contract?
No. We work with no long-term lock-in. The term, notice period and end-of-engagement conditions are written into the proposal before work begins.
How long before we see results?
A strategy plan is generally delivered in three to six weeks. Fixes to a Google listing can have an effect within a few weeks, whereas rankings for new pages tend to build over three to six months.
We tried an agency before and were disappointed. Why would this be different?
We start with your numbers, not a list of tactics, and every action has an indicator you can check yourself. If the arithmetic doesn't hold, we tell you. Starting with a small project also lets you judge before going further.
Will we own our website and accounts?
We recommend that your domain, advertising accounts, Google listing and data be in your name. Ownership terms are written into your proposal before the engagement begins.
Are the deliverables in French?
Yes. Our written materials (plans, reports, website and advertising copy) are produced in French, with an English version when needed. The language of meetings is confirmed with you when you first get in touch.
Do you have an office in Montréal? Can we meet in person?
No office: our headquarters are in Vancouver. But yes, we can meet in person or by video call, and we also work by phone, text and email.
Can you check our compliance with the Charter of the French Language?
No. We don't give legal advice or carry out compliance checks. We summarise the rules the OQLF publishes and design French-first marketing; for compliance, consult the OQLF or a lawyer.
Do you promise results or a Google ranking?
No. Nobody controls Google's rankings. We commit to rigorous work, clear priorities and honest reporting, with indicators you can track.
How do we receive reports?
You receive written reports in French, at a frequency set in your proposal, with a small number of indicators: enquiries received, cost per enquiry, and closed sales when you share them with us.
Do your published results come from Montréal businesses?
No. They are results from our HVAC work with heating and cooling companies, mostly elsewhere in Canada. We present them as proof of method.
Do you work with businesses from outside Québec?
Yes, if they want to sell in Montréal. The work then focuses on adapting the offer and the marketing to a French-speaking market. Legal or tax questions about setting up here belong with a lawyer or an accountant.
On price and contracts
Our prices are published as ranges on the Pricing page, and the exact amount of your engagement is always written into a proposal. A good proposal answers five questions: what is delivered, at what price, on what payment schedule, who owns what at the end, and how either party can end the engagement.
Before signing with any consultant, check those five points. If any of them is vague, ask for it to be clarified in writing. That holds with us as much as anywhere else.
A practical tip: compare proposals on the cost per expected result, not just the price. A $3,000-a-month retainer that brings in ten profitable customers ultimately costs less than a $1,500 one that brings in none.
On timelines and results
Timelines depend on the service. A growth strategy is delivered in a few weeks; a website usually takes four to eight weeks; local search builds over several months. Montréal's seasons play a part too: many sectors have marked peaks and troughs, and each month should be compared with the same period the year before.
We promise neither rankings nor a number of customers. What we promise is to measure, to tell you what is working and what isn't, and to adjust.
On language and the Charter
In Montréal, language isn't a detail. Our written deliverables are produced in French, and we design marketing in Québec French before preparing an English version. For meetings, the language is confirmed with you when you first get in touch.
The Charter of the French Language governs businesses' signage, advertising, websites and social media. Our guide on the Charter and your marketing sums up the public rules, with links to the OQLF and Éducaloi. We give no legal advice, however: your business's compliance is confirmed with the OQLF or a lawyer.
On ownership and ending the engagement
Your domain, advertising accounts, Google listing, copy and data should be in your name. We recommend this to every client, and the precise terms are written into the proposal.
If the engagement ends, you should be able to carry on without us. That's why we document what we do, in French, as the work goes along. A consultant who makes a client dependent on them isn't doing that client any favours.
On choosing between doing it yourself and delegating
Many owners wonder whether they really need outside help. The answer depends less on the size of the business than on the time available and how clear the priorities are.
If you have a team able to execute but priorities change every week, a few hours of consulting are often enough. If your priorities are clear but nobody has time to carry them out, a monthly retainer makes more sense. And if you don't yet know which of the two you're missing, our free guides are a good starting point: they are designed to be followed without a consultant.
In every case, start with a limited commitment. It lets you judge our method on its merits, without significant risk.
On the questions we can't answer
Some questions fall outside our role, and we'd rather say so up front. We don't advise on employment law, tax, financing or legal compliance, including under the Charter of the French Language. When a question touches those areas, we tell you which kind of professional to consult, so you don't lose time.
About our company
MontrealBusiness.ca is a Canadian business consulting service in the Sedighi.ca and SAZ.ca group, led by Ali Sedighi, MBA, from Vancouver. We have no office in Montréal and we say so clearly. The About page presents the company and Ali's background, and the Results page the results from our HVAC work.