Reducing legal service costs by 33% through flat-rate pricing
An e-commerce company needed stable advisory costs. We transitioned from an hourly model to a flat-rate model, which stabilized the client's budget.
Cooperation with E-sklep Moda showed that cost predictability is more important than ad-hoc fire fighting. We switched to a fixed monthly flat rate, eliminating uncertainty during settlements.
The challenge
The client struggled with unpredictable invoices for legal services. In Q1 2024, the costs of legal support fluctuated between 4,000 and 9,000 PLN per month, which made planning the operational budget impossible.
The problem resulted from constant questions about regulations and small amendments to contracts with suppliers. Each email was treated as a separate task, generating high administrative costs and unnecessary stress at month-end.
Our approach
We reviewed the history of invoices from the last 6 months and identified the client's repetitive needs. Instead of counting every hour of work, we prepared a flat-rate offer covering ongoing support.
Our team from Development Consulate also implemented a simple email ticketing system to limit communication chaos. Thanks to this, we could better plan our lawyers' time and avoid sudden high-priority inquiries.
The solution
We introduced a monthly flat rate covering verification of 12 contracts and an unlimited number of legal consultations regarding the store's current operations. We established clear rules on what is included in the flat rate and what requires separate calculation to avoid misunderstandings.
Transitioning to this model allowed the client to have full control over expenses. Now the company knows exactly how much it will spend on legal help in a given month, without fearing sudden surcharges for extra team work hours.
Results
Stabilization of costs brought noticeable savings to the company budget, and the response time for inquiries dropped by almost half, as we eliminated hourly verification processes for every minor piece of advice.
Timeline
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April 2024Analysis of historical costs and contract audit
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May 2024Implementation of flat-rate model and ticketing system
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July 2024First financial summary after 3 months
"At first, I was distrustful about moving to a flat rate. After three months, I see that the budget has become predictable, and we are not afraid to ask about trifles because they are included in the price."