Partner CAM audit pricing quote worksheet
Use this after the discovery call.
Do not quote from instinct.
Quote from the facts:
- Lease type
- Annual CAM exposure
- Years in scope
- Location count
- Document quality
- Review deadline
- Support needed after findings
This worksheet helps you turn those facts into a clear client quote.
Step 1: collect quote inputs
Fill this out before you state a fee.
| Input | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Client | Client or company name |
| Property | Address or location name |
| Lease type | NNN, modified gross, industrial pass-through, or other |
| Annual pass-through charges | CAM, tax, insurance, utilities, and other landlord pass-throughs |
| Years not reviewed | Number of reconciliation years not checked |
| Years in quote | Years you will review now |
| Locations in quote | Number of locations |
| Documents ready | Lease, amendments, CAM statement, backup |
| Complexity | Low, medium, high |
| Deadline pressure | None, 90+ days, under 90 days, counsel review needed |
| Deliverables | Findings report, review call, correction support, closeout note |
If the lease and CAM statement are missing, do not quote the full review.
Send a document request first.
Step 2: calculate exposure
Use the client numbers.
Formula:
Annual pass-through charges x years not reviewed = unreviewed exposure
Example:
$42,000 annual pass-through charges x 3 years = $126,000 unreviewed exposure
Say this to the client:
You have about $126,000 in CAM, tax, and insurance charges from the last 3 years that have not been checked against the lease.
The review answers one question:
Did those bills follow the lease?
Do not estimate a recovery amount before document review.
The exposure number is not a recovery claim.
It is the size of the bill being checked.
Step 3: choose the scope
Use one of these scope levels.
| Scope | Use when | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Document triage | Documents are unclear or incomplete | Fit screen, missing-doc list, quote recommendation |
| First-year review | One property, one year, clean docs | Findings report and review call |
| Multi-year review | Same property, 2 or more years | Findings report by year and issue |
| Portfolio review | 2 or more locations | Location table, finding summary, priority order |
| Review plus support | Client may ask landlord for backup | Findings report, support note, factual response draft |
Keep the first quote narrow when the client is new.
A narrow first review is easier to approve.
Step 4: score complexity
Use this simple score.
| Factor | Add |
|---|---|
| Signed lease and all amendments ready | 0 |
| Missing amendment or side letter | 1 |
| More than 2 amendments | 1 |
| More than 2 years in scope | 1 |
| More than 3 locations | 1 |
| Gross-up, cap, base year, or pro-rata issue likely | 1 |
| Landlord backup is messy or missing | 1 |
| Deadline under 90 days | 1 |
| Counsel already involved | 1 |
Score guide:
- 0 to 1: low complexity
- 2 to 3: medium complexity
- 4 or more: high complexity
High-complexity files should not get a low flat fee.
Start with paid triage or quote a narrower first step.
Step 5: pick the fee model
Use this rule:
| Situation | Fee model |
|---|---|
| Clean single-location file | Fixed fee |
| Missing documents | Paid triage |
| Multi-location client | Per-location fixed fee with portfolio discount |
| Existing advisory client | Fixed fee or annual monitoring add-on |
| High-confidence large file | Fixed fee or contingency, based on client preference |
| Legal dispute already active | Factual support only, counsel-led |
Do not use contingency if the finding confidence is low.
Do not use a low fixed fee if the file is messy.
Step 6: write the quote
Use this format:
Recommended scope:
[First-year review / multi-year review / portfolio review / paid triage]
Property:
[Property name]
Years:
[Years in scope]
Documents needed:
Signed lease, amendments, CAM statements, and landlord backup if available
Deliverables:
- Findings report
- Review call
- Document support list
- Factual correction support if findings warrant it
Fee:
[Your firm-set fee]
Timeline:
[X] business days after complete documents are received
Outside scope:
Legal advice, landlord negotiation, litigation, tax advice, and years or properties not listed above
Keep the quote short.
The engagement letter can carry the full terms.
Pricing call script
Use this after the client understands the scope.
Based on your latest statement, the annual CAM, tax, and insurance exposure is about [Amount].
Across [Years] unreviewed years, that is about [Exposure] in charges that have not been checked against the lease.
I recommend [Scope].
That includes [Deliverables].
The fee is [Fee].
The timeline is [Timeline] after we receive complete documents.
The review does not promise a credit.
It tells you whether the bill follows the lease and gives you support for the next decision.
Then stop.
Do not explain more unless the client asks.
Fee pushback replies
If the client says:
That feels high.
Say:
I understand.
The fee should make sense against the bill being checked.
You have about [Exposure] in unreviewed charges.
The review is the cost to check that bill against the lease.
If you want a smaller first step, we can start with [paid triage / one year / one location].
If the client says:
Can you lower the fee?
Say:
The fee matches the scope we just outlined.
I can lower the scope if you want a lower first step.
For example, we can review one year first, then decide whether to expand.
If the client says:
Can you work on contingency?
Say:
We can discuss it if the file has enough exposure and the documents support a clear recovery path.
Flat fee gives you cost certainty.
Contingency shifts more fee to confirmed recovery, but the definition of recovery has to be clear.
I would want to review the documents before recommending that model.
Discount rules
Use discounts only when the scope gives you a reason.
Good reasons:
- Several locations in one batch
- Repeat annual review client
- Same landlord and same lease form across locations
- Narrow first-year review before a broader quote
Weak reasons:
- Client paused after hearing the fee
- Client asked once
- Partner feels nervous
- Partner wants the deal at any price
Discount language:
Because these locations share the same lease form and landlord, I can quote them as a batch.
That lowers the per-location fee.
Avoid:
I can do it cheaper if that helps.
Quote follow-up email
Send this after the call.
Subject: CAM review quote for [Property / Client]
Hi [Client Name],
Based on our call, I recommend the following scope:
Scope: [Scope]
Property or locations: [Property / locations]
Years: [Years]
Documents needed: signed lease, amendments, CAM statements, and landlord backup if available
The unreviewed pass-through exposure is about [Exposure].
That is the bill we would check against the lease.
Deliverables:
- Findings report
- Review call
- Support list for any open document questions
- Factual correction support if findings warrant it
Fee: [Fee]
Timeline: [Timeline] after complete documents are received
This is a document review.
It does not include legal advice, landlord negotiation, litigation, tax advice, or properties and years not listed above.
Next step:
Reply with the lease, amendments, and latest CAM statement.
Best,
[Your Name]
When not to quote yet
Do not quote the full review when:
- The client has not found the lease
- Amendments may be missing
- The lease type is unclear
- The client only wants legal advice
- The annual exposure is too small
- The review deadline may already be closed
- The client cannot name the property or year
Send this instead:
I do not want to quote the full review until we know the document set is complete.
The right first step is document triage.
Please send the lease, amendments, and latest CAM statement.
I will confirm whether the file fits and what scope makes sense.
Partner notes
Price the scope, not your fear of losing the deal.
Use the client's exposure.
Keep the recovery language careful.
Give a smaller first step when the client is unsure.
Route legal questions to counsel.
For the strategy behind this worksheet, read How to have the pricing conversation with a CAM audit client.