How does the financial engagement work?
Quick answer
Engagements are structured as monthly retainers with a fixed scope, billed in advance. Standard terms are 6 or 12 months, with all terms documented in a Letter of Engagement signed before work begins.
Engagements are structured as monthly retainers with a fixed scope, billed in advance against the Letter of Engagement. Standard terms are 6 or 12 months, because durable reputation work runs on Google’s timeline rather than on a 30-day cycle, shorter terms tend to produce frustration rather than results.
What the Letter of Engagement defines
- Program scope and deliverables
- KPIs
- Reporting cadence
- Payment terms
- Standard contractual provisions, including confidentiality
Modifications to scope mid-engagement are documented in addenda.
Onboarding cadence
- A kickoff call to launch the engagement
- Weekly check-ins for the first month
- Biweekly or monthly cadence thereafter, depending on the engagement
Last reviewed: 19/05/2026
