Engagement Process
How a Poplar Core pricing and profitability consultation works — from first enquiry through to your written report and implementation support.
Every engagement follows the same clear structure so you know what to expect before committing.
Initial conversation
You submit an enquiry or call our office. We ask about your business type, revenue range, number of product or service lines, and the specific pricing question you need answered. If we are not the right fit, we say so and suggest alternatives.
Scope and quote
We send a written proposal outlining deliverables, timeline, fee, and the documents we need from you — typically recent P&L statements, a rate card or price list, and sample job costing if available. No work begins until you accept in writing and pay the deposit.
Discovery
For a full profitability review, we spend one to two days on-site or in structured video sessions. We interview you and relevant staff, review systems, and collect the numbers behind your prices. Margin analysis sessions are shorter but follow the same preparatory document review.
Analysis and draft
We build margin models, test scenarios, and compare your pricing to cost structures. You receive a draft summary midway through longer engagements so you can flag anything we may have misunderstood about how your business operates.
Final report and presentation
The completed report includes an executive summary, line-by-line findings, recommended price changes with estimated margin impact, and an implementation sequence. We present findings in a 60-minute session and leave time for your questions.
Implementation support
We include thirty days of email follow-up for clarification questions about the report. If you need hands-on help updating systems or training staff, we can quote that separately — it is never bundled into the base fee without your agreement.
What to prepare
Gather these before discovery to keep the engagement efficient:
- Last two financial year P&L statements
- Current price list, rate card, or menu with costs where tracked
- Payroll summary or loaded labour rates
- List of your top ten revenue items by dollar value
- Any known pain points — jobs you suspect you lose money on