Throughput is not the same as ownership
Commodity providers optimize for throughput. That works until an edge case appears—a director dispute, a tardy auditor, a last-minute acquisition term sheet—and you need someone who owns the outcome, not the ticket closure.
Continuity is the boutique product
Boutique practice is not about embellishment; it is about continuity. You should recognize the voice on the phone, see the same names on filings, and get plain-language readouts your founders can forward to investors without editing.
Packaged fees and honest scope
Price matters, but so does variance. A packaged fee with defined scope beats hourly anxiety, provided the scope is honest and "out-of-pocket" items are transparent early.