How to Hire a Political Consultant [Part 2]

[Frank Bellamy, MAP Masters of Applied Politics]

How to Hire a Political Consultant [Part 2]

Costs
Costs, of course, depend on which consultant you are hiring, what office you are running for, how competitive your primary and general elections will be, and how much money you are able to raise.

Some cost issues pertinent to specific fields will be discussed later in this seminar, but here is a set of general rules to live by:

■ Get it in writing. You need firm commitments from your consultants that clearly define the work to be provided and how costs are tied to deliverable outcomes.

■ Be crystal clear about fees and expenses. You will probably have to pay travel expenses above basic costs. Find out if there are any other costs or hidden fees that may arise.

■ Avoid commitments to costs that will stand even if you pull out of a race or raise less
money than you expected. The world of politics is rife with uncertainties, and consultants
should accept the risk that you may pull out of the race or fail to raise sufficient money.

■ Negotiate a flexible contract that allows you to adjust the amount of work completed as the needs of the campaign unfold. Consultants are doing you and your campaign a serious disfavor if they force you to commit to an inflexible strategy and budget before your campaign develops. The only commitment you should make is to use that consultant if you run and to the price structure that the consultant gives you for services rendered.

■ Recognize that consultants are not volunteers—they are business people. Do not try to
force consultants to give you special discounts after the campaign is underway or to carry a serious debt. The consulting business is a competitive and uncertain business. Most
consultants charge what the market demands as their lowest reasonable bid; as a result, theycannot afford to give special discounts. Consultants do recognize that some bills may need to be paid after the campaign is over, but asking a consultant to carry too much debt will undermine that consultant's business. Treating consultants fairly is the best way to make certain that they will treat you fairly.

■ Try to avoid retainers. Retainers allow consultants to decrease their risk when spending time with or giving advice to campaigns that may in the end not raise enough money or pull out of a race. Media and mail consultants incur the greatest risk since all of the mail and media happen toward the end of the campaign. However, retainers can be burdensome financial drains early in a campaign, a time when campaigns need their money to raise more money. Paying a retainer may ensure that you get your consultant's attention early in the campaign, but there is no guarantee of that. Plenty of consultants will give you their full attention early in the campaign, knowing they will make their money later. Because polling happens early in the campaign, you should not need to pay a retainer for your pollster. If the viability of your campaign is at all questionable, you may need to pay a retainer to your mail and media consultants.

Source: www.AbacusAssoc.com

**Side Note: Hire only academically trained and college degreed Political Consultants.