Engagement Fee Policy

At Toast & Oats, we work with serious growth-stage clients who are ready to innovate, scale, and succeed. In order to provide the highest level of focus, strategy, and service, we require an initial engagement fee for all new client projects. This fee allows us to begin discovery, dedicate resources to your project, and reserve your place in our active client roster.

Why We Require an Engagement Fee

  • It secures your onboarding and project timeline

  • It covers upfront strategy, preparation, and team coordination

  • It ensures alignment and commitment before deeper project execution

  • It protects our partners' time and energy while laying a strong foundation for success

Engagement Fee Structure

The engagement fee is nonrefundable, but is fully credited toward your total project retainer.
We apply it to the first phase of your project scope, so it is not an additional cost—it’s a commitment deposit.

Pricing is based on project complexity, scope, and required partner roles. Final quotes are provided in your custom proposal.

What the Engagement Fee Covers

  • Strategic planning meetings with Toast & Oats leadership

  • Initial product or brand evaluation

  • Internal brief development for partner alignment

  • Timeline development and team scoping

  • Project scheduling, discovery research, and scope confirmation

  • Preparation of your custom project retainer and service agreement

Retainer Credit Policy

  • Your engagement fee is applied in full to your final project retainer balance.

  • No work will begin until the engagement fee has been received and confirmed in writing.

  • If your project expands, your fee will be rolled into your total scope.

Important Notes

  • Engagement fees are nonrefundable once paid.

  • Delays in payment may impact your project start date or booking status.

  • If a client chooses not to proceed beyond the discovery phase, the fee will not be returned but may be applied to future Toast & Oats programs (case by case).

Engagement Fees by Service

  • Culinary R&D & Product Development
    Engagement Fee: $7,500–$10,000
    This covers ideation, feasibility planning, ingredient sourcing analysis, and preparation of your prototype roadmap. We begin assembling your product development team and mapping out key stages for commercialization.

  • Brand Strategy & Visual Storytelling
    Engagement Fee: $6,500–$8,000
    Covers brand audit, strategic positioning session, and development of your visual narrative brief. We align creative partners, photography direction, and design timelines tailored to your market goals.

  • Supply Chain & Operations Consulting
    Engagement Fee: $5,500–$7,500
    Includes supply chain discovery, vendor mapping, production timelines, and initial operations strategy. We evaluate your current backend and begin sourcing expert support based on your scaling needs.

  • M&A & Investment Readiness
    Engagement Fee: $7,500–$10,000
    This covers investor preparation, deck and data room planning, and strategic financial consultation. We evaluate your valuation narrative, align with legal/financial partners, and draft early-stage advisory timelines.

  • Fractional Talent & Executive Support
    Engagement Fee: $3,500–$5,000
    Used for onboarding fractional CFOs, COOs, or Marketing Leads. This includes alignment meetings, operational audits, and scoping for ongoing strategic advisory or interim leadership roles.

  • Startup Advising & Educational Programs
    Engagement Fee: $4,000–$6,500
    Applies to cohort programs, one-on-one business development support, or custom private workshop tracks. Includes curriculum planning, schedule coordination, and expert speaker or instructor alignment.

How It Works

  • Engagement fees are applied in full to your project retainer.

  • Payment is required before your project is officially scheduled.

  • Each fee covers the preparation, briefing, and strategic alignment needed to launch work at the highest level.

Refund Policy

All engagement fees are nonrefundable, as they cover strategic planning and project preparation. In limited cases, they may be applied to future Toast & Oats programs or cohorts.

Let’s Begin

To reserve your project and move forward:

  1. Request your proposal

  2. Review and approve your scope

  3. Submit your engagement fee invoice