Pricing for fractional general counsel services isn’t standardized, which makes it hard to know what’s reasonable when you’re shopping around. Attorneys structure their fees differently, and the range can vary widely depending on experience, location, and scope of work.
This post breaks down what you should expect to pay, what drives cost up or down, and how to think about value — not just price.
The Main Pricing Models
Fractional GC services are typically structured one of three ways:
Hourly billing is the traditional law firm model. You pay for time as you use it. This works fine for sporadic or unpredictable legal needs, but it creates friction — many founders avoid calling their attorney because they’re watching the clock. That friction is itself a business risk.
Flat fee or discounted ongoing rates are another common structure, and one that works particularly well for small businesses and startups. Rather than tracking hours or committing to a monthly retainer, you agree on a defined scope of work at a predictable price. Regular clients typically receive meaningful discounts, which rewards the ongoing relationship and makes legal support more accessible over time. This model removes the friction of hourly billing without locking you into a rigid monthly commitment.
Project-based pricing works for defined, one-time engagements — reviewing a specific contract, helping close a financing round, or building out your standard contract templates. This is less common as a primary structure for ongoing fractional GC relationships but useful for discrete work.
At Scott Resnick Law, pricing is structured around flat fees and discounted ongoing rates for regular clients — so you know what you’re paying upfront.
What Drives Cost
Several factors affect what you’ll pay:
Experience and background — An attorney who spent years as GC at a venture-backed company or large corporation brings a different depth of knowledge than someone earlier in their career. That experience commands a higher rate, and for most businesses it’s worth it.
Scope of services — A retainer that covers unlimited questions, contract review, employment advice, and board meeting attendance costs more than one limited to a few hours of contract review per month. Make sure you understand exactly what’s included.
Market and location — Rates in California tend to run higher than in Arizona, reflecting the overall cost of legal services in each market.
Complexity of your business — A heavily regulated industry, a multi-entity structure, or a business with significant IP all require more sophisticated legal oversight and may affect pricing.
How to Think About Value
The right question isn’t “how much does this cost?” It’s “how much does it cost compared to what I’m currently doing?”
If you’re calling a law firm at $400–$600 per hour for questions that come up regularly, a monthly retainer with a fractional GC will almost certainly cost less for the same level of coverage — and you’ll get more proactive advice in the process.
If you’re not getting any legal oversight at all, the comparison is between the retainer cost and the cost of a single avoidable problem — a bad contract, a misclassified employee, or a dispute that could have been prevented. One lawsuit or regulatory issue typically costs multiples of what a year of fractional GC services would have run.
What to Expect at Scott Resnick Law
Scott Resnick Law offers flexible engagement structures for startups and small businesses in California and Arizona, including monthly retainers and project-based work. Pricing is transparent and tied to the actual scope of your needs — not a one-size-fits-all package.
If you’d like to understand what level of engagement makes sense for your business and what it would cost, reach out to schedule a consultation. There’s no obligation and no meter running.