Some businesses ask the same family of questions month after month: is this supplier still as described, what did that competitor change, what moved in our market. A one-off report ends with its delivery and the next question starts without it. The decision here is whether your questions are recurring enough to sit in a standing arrangement, or are single projects.
A retainer fits when questions come back in similar shapes and when the value of an answer depends on what was found the month before. It does not fit a single question with a clear end. The scope conversation separates the two: which questions are one-off, which repeat, and which are really watch items that only need an update when something changes.
If your needs are single projects, a one-off research product fits better; the service pages say what each delivers.
These belong in the monthly intake. The running source log lets a later month build on what an earlier one read.
These are watch items, updated on the agreed rhythm. The periodic scope review is where items are added or dropped.
This is better served by a one-off research product, not by hours kept open for it.
The list is mostly supplier watch items and the occasional new-source question. The month is mostly updates, with a short note on what changed.
Watch items on competitor offers and presentation, plus questions that arise from sales conversations. The output leans towards comparison tables.
A thin list and mostly submitted questions. The desk answers what is submitted and keeps the source log.
Updates arrive on the agreed rhythm. Nothing is watched continuously and no alerts are sent between updates.
The work is manual research on public sources. Anything built as software is a separate service.
Findings are classified as verified fact, inference, unavailable or client-provided. The desk does not give legal, tax or financial advice, run screening, or claim to cover a market.
Hours are agreed in advance and are not unlimited. Ask what the agreed scope would not reach.
Research reports what can be established from public and provided sources. It is not a guarantee about a counterparty's future conduct and not legal advice.
Term, notice and any carry-over are agreed with the scope.
You name the points of contact when the scope is agreed. They submit questions and changes to the watch items at the monthly intake.
Whether and how unused hours carry forward is part of the scope you agree; ask for it to be written down.
No obligation. We read your request and reply with a straight answer.
Tell us what you need to find out and by when. We confirm scope before any work starts.
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