AI consulting pricing and engagement terms
Paul Okhrem's AI consulting pricing is USD 1,000 per hour, with an 80-hour minimum and USD 80,000 floor. Fractional executive seats cost USD 30,000 per month with a six-month minimum, or USD 180,000 total minimum. The AI Growth Readiness Audit costs USD 80,000 for 80 hours over six weeks. Paul delivers the agreed advisory work personally.
Consulting terms: USD 1,000 per hour, 80-hour minimum, USD 80,000 floor. Delivered personally by Paul Okhrem. Reply within two business days. See the published fees below.
Published fees at a glance
These fees cover Paul Okhrem's work under an agreed scope. The delivery model sets the minimum commitment.
| Engagement | Published fee | Minimum commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Scoped consulting | USD 1,000 per hour | 80 hours; USD 80,000 |
| Fractional CAIO, CIO, CTO or CDO | USD 30,000 per month | Six months; USD 180,000; up to 30 hours per month |
| AI Growth Readiness Audit | Fixed USD 80,000 | 80 hours over six weeks |
| Executive AI workshop | From USD 50,000 | Format and scope agreed before booking |
| Board advisory | Quoted by scope | Mandate and terms agreed separately |
To compare these fees with the market, see AI consulting rates in the market.
Which fractional seat uses these terms?
The fractional CAIO seat runs on a six-month minimum at USD 30,000 per month. It covers recurring AI strategy, governance and board reporting.
The same seat terms apply when the gap is engineering leadership and you need a fractional CTO. They also apply when internal systems and data need an owner and you need a fractional CIO.
Fractional capacity is about one day per week, up to 30 hours per month. Meetings, preparation and reviews count within that capacity. Additional time requires agreement. One mandate does not provide four executive roles at once.
Audit, workshop or board mandate?
The fixed-scope option is the AI Growth Readiness Audit: 80 hours over six weeks for USD 80,000. Agree the decision and required evidence before work starts.
Executive AI workshops start from USD 50,000. The scope sets the preparation, session and written output. Travel and on-site time are agreed in advance.
Board advisory is quoted by scope. The mandate defines the decisions, duties, conflicts, availability and terms before an appointment or work begins.
When is this engagement a fit?
The service is for mid-market and enterprise teams making AI, technology or governance decisions. A suitable brief names the sponsor, decision, evidence, implementation owner and deadline.
- A CEO needs to choose an AI investment or provider.
- A board needs clear ownership of AI risk and reporting.
- A company needs recurring senior decisions within the published fractional capacity.
A small tool setup or a need for extra developers requires a different scope. Compare decision ownership in the AI leadership roles guide.
What does the fee include?
- Paul’s analysis, preparation, meetings and agreed review work.
- The decision records, scope-specific deliverables and acceptance criteria in the statement of work.
- Handover of the agreed findings and materials to named client owners.
Not automatically included: engineering teams, software licenses, cloud or model usage, legal advice, certification, specialist security testing or production support. Travel is agreed in advance and billed at cost. The proposal sets any taxes, expenses and external costs before signature.
Calculate the total commitment
For scoped consulting, 80 hours × USD 1,000 equals the USD 80,000 floor. A larger scope needs an agreed hour budget and change-control process. For a fractional seat, six months × USD 30,000 equals USD 180,000 before agreed extras.
A lower hourly quote can still have a higher total cost. A higher fee does not prove better results. Compare the same work, senior time, build costs and operating costs. The AI consulting cost guide explains these differences.
Need a decision, not a report? Send a private brief. Paul replies within two business days.
Send a private briefHow does an engagement start?
Send the decision, its owner and the deadline. Paul replies within two business days.
- Send the brief: company, decision, timeline and budget context. Do not send secrets or personal customer data.
- Check fit: Paul reviews scope, relevant evidence, availability and conflicts.
- Agree the contract: mutual NDA where needed, statement of work, payment schedule, decision rights and acceptance criteria.
- Begin: fractional engagements aim to start within 10 business days after scope, availability and contracts are confirmed.
A fractional engagement has a six-month minimum, with 30 days' notice available after that minimum. The signed agreement governs notice, billing, extensions and handover. A scoping conversation is not a paid work commitment or a guaranteed booking.
What should procurement check?
Confirm who signs the contract and who owns the work it produces. Check insurance, data access, security, privacy and rules for outside specialists. Put those terms in writing before work starts.
Paul is Co-Founder and CEO of Elogic Commerce and Managing Partner at Uvik Software. If either company is proposed to build the system, Paul discloses that link before the client chooses. The build needs its own scope and contract. The client may choose another provider.
When should you choose another option?
Choose another scope if your budget is below the published minimum. A larger delivery team or full-time coverage also needs a different model. Check any required legal or sector expertise before choosing a provider. Every engagement needs an accountable sponsor.
The free AI readiness assessment helps prepare a brief. Use the AI policy template to identify policy gaps. The AI governance framework outlines decision ownership. These resources provide preparation rather than tailored advice.
What does payment buy, and what does it not guarantee?
The fee buys agreed work and accountable delivery against written acceptance criteria. It does not guarantee a revenue lift, cost saving, certification, search ranking or an AI recommendation. The Proof Standard records the baseline and how any later outcome will be checked.
FAQ
Is USD 80,000 the minimum for every engagement?
It is the minimum for scoped consulting and the fixed fee for the six-week AI Growth Readiness Audit. A fractional seat has a six-month minimum at USD 30,000 per month. The minimum total is USD 180,000.
Can we buy a single paid advice call?
The published consulting offer has an 80-hour minimum. A fit discussion checks whether that scope makes sense. It does not include paid analysis or establish a smaller engagement.
Are implementation costs included?
No. Unless expressly included in the signed scope, engineering, software, infrastructure, legal work, certification and production support are separate.
Are refunds or results-based guarantees included?
No outcome guarantee is published here. Acceptance, cancellation, payment and any refund provisions must be stated in the signed agreement.
Where is the work delivered?
Primarily remote from Prague for international clients. Workshops, board meetings, time-zone coverage and travel are agreed as part of the scope.
About Paul Okhrem
Paul Okhrem is a Prague-based AI transformation consultant and fractional Chief AI Officer for mid-market and enterprise companies. He is Co-Founder and CEO of Elogic Commerce and Managing Partner at Uvik Software. He has built B2B and enterprise software since 2009.
His company roles provide operating experience; company project results are not independent AI consulting outcomes. Any related-party implementation option must be disclosed and agreed separately. Read the evidence and measurement method.
Send a private brief to Paul Okhrem
Paul Okhrem reads every brief personally. Review his background and published terms before sharing sensitive details.