Frequently Asked Questions

Your vChief will track their own hours and keep you updated if you are tracking above or below the expected number of hours, so there will be no surprises.

Yes, each client is assigned a vChief from our team, who will be committed to working with you throughout the engagement. If that person is on leave, we will fill in with other team members as necessary. In addition, many of our clients hire multiple vChiefs to fill the gaps on their leadership team.

We encourage in-person visits when both the vChief and the client can make it work. It can be especially helpful at the beginning of a client relationship or for team meetings and conferences where the vChief can build relationships as well as plan and/or run the event. Clients cover all expenses for pre-approved business related travel (flights, hotels, meals). For occasional travel and on-site visits, we charge $30/hour for travel time.

vChief must be notified at least 30 days prior to desired date of cancellation to avoid being billed additional hours. (e.g., you would cancel on June 1 to avoid being billed July 1. Your service would continue through June 30.)

Many of our clients look to capitalize on a temp to perm engagement so they can get access to both short and long term benefits. This type of setup can provide an invaluable addition to any team. Many businesses have realized these advantages and request this relationship with a vChief more and more often. For clients who want to convert their consultant into a team member in their organization, whether part or full time, vChief charges a one-time, non-negotiable conversion fee.

Being a member of our talent pool means that you are eligible to be matched with a client seeking our services. If you become part of our talent pool, our Placement Team will begin considering you for opportunities with our clients (see the Matching Process section below for more on that). You’ll hear from someone on that team when they’ve identified an opportunity they believe is a strong fit for your skills and experience. See the next section of this FAQ for more details on the matching process.

We do require that vChiefs in our talent pool register an LLC* and hold Professional Liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions. We recommend looking into what it takes for you to register an LLC in your state now, so that you’re prepared for that process–in some states it may take only a few weeks, in some states it’s more involved. The fee to establish an LLC varies by state, from $40-500. Obtaining professional liability insurance doesn’t take as long, so you do not need to do this until you are officially matched with a client and sign a contract.

*Typically, our consultants register an LLC, though it is acceptable for a consultant to have any legal entity that is listed on the W-9 form as long as the individual has a Taxpayer Identification Number. The Consultant may not use their Social Security Number. No matter the type of entity, the Consultant still does need to send vChief the W-9 with the appropriate fields completed and the form signed. Securing the Professional Liability Insurance along with the legal entity is also required in order to be able to enter an engagement with a vChief client.

A Consultant may be able to do this only if they are also a member of the LLC or member of the established legal entity. They still need to secure Professional Liability Insurance. A Consultant cannot use someone else’s legal entity to engage in vChief services.

International vChiefs are not required to establish an LLC, but we recommend that you consult an accountant in your country to determine what steps you’ll need to take to be compliant with tax law where you live.

We determine your starting compensation rate using a clear internal rubric that takes into account your years and type of experience as well as educational attainment. You are eligible for annual increases based on performance, which is based on client satisfaction and feedback gathered through both surveys and conversations.

Unlike a full-time role, which typically consists of an extended ramp-up period, a consultant should not assume that their client has developed a detailed onboarding plan for them. Typically vChief consultants are in charge of their own “onboarding” with a client, seeking out the information they need to be successful. Because of the fractional nature of the role, a primary way to build trust is by demonstrating early wins and value add. Our most successful consultants proactively communicate what work they’ve completed and progress toward goals regularly throughout an engagement. A consultant should seek to understand who their main point person will be, the culture, working styles, communication preference, motivations of the client, as well as if and how they will interact with the broader team. They should also expect variability in their role and be ready to be nimble and fill gaps as needed.

Because of the flexibility built into our model and the varying needs of the consultants in our talent pool, this can vary widely. Some consultants choose to work with us when they’re taking a temporary break from full-time work. Others may take projects to supplement their full-time job. Many choose to pursue consulting full-time. We have consultants who have been with us since the beginning of vChief, and others who transitioned out of our talent pool when it made sense for their career needs.

Yes, if both the client and the consultant come to an understanding that they would like to continue to work together we do allow for this, and we charge the client a conversion fee. Sometimes clients will let us know at the start that there is a possibility for conversion to full-time–we will let you know when we reach out to you about a client opportunity if that is the case.

When you’re matched with your first client, you’ll be invited to join a Slack workspace with vChief team members and other consultants in our talent pool. This is an excellent place to go to ask for resources, seek advice, and learn about other consultants’ experiences. We also aim to provide regular trainings and networking opportunities so that you’re getting to know and learn from the amazing people in the vChief community.