How much do stewardship firms charge churches?
Probably the most asked question churches have when they start thinking about a capital campaign is, how much will hiring a campaign firm cost. Many will decide that the fee is too large and will thus try and do it themselves. In fact the fee of engaging a stewardship firm is the number one reason churches go it alone. Most do it yourself campaigns fail to raise anywhere near what the church wants or needs. So the good news is the church saved money but the bad news is their project might not get off the ground.
What do firms typically charge for a capital campaign? My competitors are going to love me as I am going to share with you the insider secrets. First, nearly every firm bases their fee on the size of a churches budget. Here is a fee structure a salesman from another firm gave me as an example.
Church Budget Fee
$300K to $1 million $30K to $60K
$1.1 million to $5.0 million $65K to $150K
$6 million and above $150K and up
Our fees for a complete campaign is 20% to 25% less than the above depending upon what services you choose. We are the leader in crafting plans that allow you to get the help you need for a price you are happy with. Not every church needs our full help. Not every church can afford even our lowest fee. So, we work hard to help you determine what exactly you need and then allow you to negotiate a price you can live with.
Here is how you can get the best deal as you look for a campaign partner. Whether you use us or not you need to know how to find the best partner for your church. Price should not be the determining factor of who you should chose. You should pick the best partner for your church no matter what the fee. Something this important is not something you want to go cheap on. However, your Board or committee might see it differently. So consider these recommendations..
- Always interview more than one company. I can tell you that when there are other firms in the mix we shave as much off our quote as possible. Why would we do that? We want to win AND we like to eat! Without contracts we are out of business and when there are other firms at the table we have to consider our price more carefully.
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price. Suppose the firm you want is the most expensive. Give them a number below their quoted price. If they truly want or need your business they will negotiate. At the very least they will say no and then you can decide if you feel the price is worth their value. I have never said no to a church that negotiated a lower fee than I quoted.
- Ask about breaking out their services. Frankly most of the clients we work with know how to put a prayer team together. They rarely if ever need help on the program side of the campaign. That alone knocks 20% off our price. Why should you pay for a program you don’t need?
- Don’t be afraid to negotiate the payment schedule. We typically on larger contracts allow payment to spread out over 10 months. However, again, we want your business so we are flexible.
- Ask if they discount for cash up front. For instance we mark down our fee by 10% if a church pays cash up front. There is no harm in asking so ask!
Finally, let me add two final thoughts of importance. First, having a partner to help you will help you raise more money. Quite honestly, just as you a minister are worthy of your pay so too is the consultant that comes along side to help you. Secondly, don’t over pay for work under delivered. At The Charis Group we believe in partnerships that are a win/win. That means with us you get…
The plan and partner you need for a price you can afford!
Call us today we are ready to get started on your next campaign!
Mark Brooks – The Stewardship Coach
