Scoping Your Projects

Scope out consulting projects, estimate the work, gauge your risks, and calculate your costs

About the Course

The Scoping Your Projects course helps you answer several questions that are critical to any independent consultant in terms of getting rates in place:

  • What questions should I ask prospective clients to scope out new projects?
  • How do I estimate the work effort involved in a consulting project?
  • How do I build a workplan?
  • How do I account for the risk and complexity associated with a project?
  • How does risk and complexity translate into work effort?
  • How do I estimate the costs involved?
  • What cost rates should I use?
  • How do I uncover hidden costs?

In addition to the video-based presentations and demonstrations, you will receive:

  • Workbook that you can download and print to guide you through the process
  • Tools that you can download and start using, including the Scoping Document tool and Workplan template


Course Menu


  A. Getting Started
Available in days
days after you enroll
  B. Understanding the Sales Cycle
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days after you enroll
  C. Scope the Project
Available in days
days after you enroll

Your Instructor


Dr. Gus Prestera
Dr. Gus Prestera

Gus has been helping organizations improve the capabilities and performance of their leaders and workers for over 20 years. For 15 of those years, he has run his own learning and development consulting practice and has worked with hundreds of client organizations ranging from pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare product companies to brokerage, banks, and insurance companies, from IT startups to long-established telecommunications service providers as well as law firms, retailers, hospital systems, and chemical manufacturers. In that capacity, he has led and collaborated with hundreds of employees, sub-contractors, and vendor-partners to deliver results for clients and their stakeholders.

Gus earned a PhD in Education with a minor in Management as well as an MBA, a BS in Marketing, and a Certified Performance Technologist designation. He has taught Masters-level courses in Instructional Systems Design and Change Management. He frequently delivers live and virtual workshops for leaders at all levels, regularly publishes and presents on these topics, and is a recognized thought leader in the talent development industry.


Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.
Is this course useful for non-financial types?
Yes, very useful! We’ve designed this course for the typical consultant who has deep expertise in something...but it sure isn't pricing. We provide templates and step-by-step instructions for everything you need to do, including all of the icky financial schtuff. We’ll also demonstrate everything with videos, so that you can see and hear how it’s done before you go off and try it.

This course will enable you to engage effectively in scoping conversations with prospects and clients, so that you factor work effort, risks, and complexity into your cost considerations.

Get started now!