Why does O2 not have a price list
Quoting based on consultation is not ambiguous; it is the only way to ensure that the pricing aligns with the actual scope of each business.
The collaboration scope significantly influences almost all O2 costs, and the scope varies greatly between businesses in terms of personnel, number of brand touchpoints, whether one or multiple brands, and how developed the existing foundation is. A fixed price list will be excessive for smaller clients and insufficient for larger ones. To save you time, Sinh Vũ shares a reference price range during the initial consultation before moving into detailed proposals.
- There is a wide range of variability among clients, requiring prior diagnosis.
- The value and scale of each business problem are very different.
- Standardized products, similar scope among customers.
- The customer demands a number before describing the scope.
O2 does not have a fixed price list because the scope of collaboration determines costs, and each business's scope is almost never the same. A fixed price list forces Sinh Vũ to choose one of two options: low pricing based on the smallest problem, or high pricing based on the largest problem. Both are incorrect for the majority of clients in front of us.
The scope is the controlling variable.
When you hire someone to create a website based on a template, the scope is almost fixed and the pricing works well. O2 is not like that. Two businesses in the same industry can have very different O2 scopes due to factors such as:
- The size of the internal team needed: from one person to an entire marketing department.
- Number of brand touchpoints (all places where customers interact with the brand): one channel or ten channels.
- A brand or operating multiple brands in parallel.
- Is the identity platform already available or does it need to be built from scratch?
The exact price can only be determined after knowing these details, not before.
Value-based pricing, not hourly
Sinh Vũ does not sell consulting hours; Sinh Vũ sells results: your brand operates consistently, your team knows what they are doing and why, and your business is capable of making independent brand decisions after the collaboration period. These are results that are difficult to quantify in hours, but clients perceive them through revenue, a more cohesive team, and consistency across touchpoints.
Blair Enns, author of Win Without Pitching and Pricing Creativity, named this "value-based pricing" (pricing based on the value created for the client). Sinh Vũ does not claim this is an industry standard, but it is how Sinh Vũ approaches pricing because it places Sinh Vũ's responsibility where it belongs: results for you, not the number of hours spent.
When is a fixed pricing table reasonable, and when is it not
Reasonable fixed pricing when: the product or service is highly standardized, and the scope is nearly identical across all clients, such as a fixed brief logo design package, a small pre-made website, or a single workshop session. Clients can quickly compare, and providers do not need to diagnose beforehand.
Quote based on reasonable consultation when: the scope varies significantly between clients, a diagnosis of the problem is needed before proposing solutions, and the value created varies greatly according to the scale of the business. O2 falls into this category due to commitments lasting from 6 to 36 months and covering many areas of brand operations simultaneously.
Risks of this model and how to mitigate
Sinh Vũ does not hide shortcomings: pricing based on consultation makes it difficult for you to compare quickly, and you may worry that prices will be anchored high after investing time in the consultation process. This is a reasonable concern.
How Sinh Vũ handles:
- Share the reference price range right in the initial consultation before diving into detailed proposals, so you can assess if the budget aligns.
- Clearly define the scope and timeline before proposing the official price, so you do not receive a number without knowing what it includes.
- You can completely stop at any time if the reference range does not match the budget, with no obligations after the initial meeting.
Common mistakes when reading a consulting quote
Sinh Vũ sees four recurring mistakes:
- Demanding a figure before describing the scope, then comparing two quotes of different scopes as if they were the same.
- Confusing "consultation pricing" with "opaque pricing". Good pricing must end with a specific scope and timeline, not just a standalone number.
- Choosing a supplier solely because they have a cheap price list, resulting in a package that does not solve the real problem.
- In a lengthy consulting process without asking about the budget early on, you only realize how far off the budget is when you receive the proposal.
The right price is not the lowest price, nor the highest. The right price is the one that matches the actual scope and real results of the problem you are solving.
Sinh Vũ, Q&A service O2.
The viewpoint of Sinh Vũ
Sinh Vũ listens to your story first, proposes a suitable level of collaboration, and then provides a specific quote along with a timeline and scope. The anchor point for you to measure: O2 is a long-term commitment ranging from 6 to 36 months, so the price reflects the entire journey, not just a one-time delivery. Sinh Vũ does not guarantee that this model is better than fixed pricing in every case. If your situation can truly be standardized, Sinh Vũ will be straightforward and guide you towards a more suitable solution.
Decision checklist
Topic: Why O2 provides quotes based on consultation rather than a fixed price list. Sinh Vũ guide, sinhvu.com
Select each item you find appropriate, then print or save as PDF to take with you.
If you have marked most of the signs above, this is the time to discuss in more detail. Sinh Vũ can help you review and propose a direction.
References
Blair Enns, Win Without Pitching and Pricing Creativity. Sinh Vũ, service portfolio and Q&A O2.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if the proposed price is reasonable if there's nothing to compare it to?
You should ask directly about the reference range at the beginning of the consultation, before diving deep into the problem. Sinh Vũ will provide that range. After having the reference range, you can assess whether the budget aligns; if it doesn't, stop early without wasting more time for both sides.
Can I compare Sinh Vũ's quote with another provider that has a fixed price list?
Yes, but be careful with this point: two quotes can only be compared when the scopes are similar. Standard printed price lists usually come with standardized scopes, while the O2 proposal includes a diagnostic scope for your specific problem. If the scopes are different, comparing prices is comparing apples to oranges.
Will I be locked into a high price after a long consultation?
This is a reasonable concern. The way to mitigate it is to ask for a reference range at the beginning of the meeting, not waiting until the official proposal is received. Sinh Vũ does not retain clients by prolonging the process and then revealing the price. You can stop at any time if the price range does not match your budget.