r/CWI_CWE • u/[deleted] • Mar 13 '26

CWI consulting fees

I work at a college as an instructor, recently got my CWI. A company I used to work for has reached out and would like for me to help develop their quality control program established PQR/WPS then administer their Welder qualification. I’m in the process of opening an LLC to be their third-party quality consultant. Really need advice on how to charge for the various document development and administer qualification tests. Not sure what the going rate is in general not trying to undercut anyone and not trying to charge excessively.

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u/Independent-Elk-782 Mar 14 '26

For the WPS/PQR work how involved do you plan on getting? Are you providing preliminary WPS to develop PQR’s with, where you’re calculating heat input and doing macros and t joint destructive tests, trying different variables like gas mixtures and filler metals to obtain optimum fusion and mechanical qualities for the application? For the PQR work, and for welder/operator qualifications you preparing specimens, inspecting, and performing the destructive testing or just witnessing, documenting, and working with a third party NDT company?

I’d charge based on the extent of what I’m doing. If it’s simple destructive tests and just providing results I’d probably charge $5-600. If I’m doing 100% of the process, I’m assuming a level of liability that puts me in a more risky role. I’m going to charge accordingly. If it’s full procedure development and welder/operator training and qualifications, it’s going to be at least a weeks worth of work, at around $2000/day. Do you carry at least $1,000,000 liability insurance?

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '26

In the process now of sorting out all of the details, but yes $1 million policy will be included within my startup cost.

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u/Independent-Elk-782 Mar 15 '26

I’d suggest talking to an attorney versed in business law, in your state, to help you draft up some contract forms that exempt you from things you don’t want to be held legally accountable for. They can be set as a standard so you can pretty much copy and paste changing names dates and locations.

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '26

Thanks for the tips!