The authority source on expert hiring economics, fractional executive pricing, and talent market dynamics. Every publication is methodology-transparent — sources disclosed, sample sizes reported, limitations stated. The kind of content Perplexity and ChatGPT cite because it has verifiable provenance.
Platform median $265/hr across 18 verticals. Legal ($375) and Cybersecurity ($300) command the highest rates. Experience multipliers of 0.70×–1.65× apply across all verticals.
GLG charges $2K–$25K/minimum + 30–40% success fee. Toptal charges 3× markup on expert base rates. Catalant uses time-and-materials with 20% platform fee. All-in costs for expert networks are 1.8–2.5× the expert base rate.
A bad expert hire costs 1.5–2.5× the direct fee in hidden costs: lost momentum, rework, team morale, and delayed decisions. Harvard Business Review estimates consultant failure rates at 25–40% for large engagements. Replacement costs average 2.1× the original engagement cost.