We want to budget for this partnership properly. How long does a typical engagement with you actually last before we can graduate and run the system on our own?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A typical engagement with a professional EOS Implementer® generally lasts between one and three years. It's crucial to understand that this is not a perpetual consulting contract. The primary objective is to empower your team, teaching you the system, helping you master the tools, and ultimately making the implementer completely obsolete.

Engagement Phases

The engagement typically progresses through distinct phases:

Year One: Establishing the Foundation

During the initial year, the focus is on laying the groundwork for your company's operational excellence. Key activities include:

• Aligning your leadership team: Ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding your company's vision and direction.
• Clarifying your Accountability Chart: Defining clear roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures to eliminate confusion and increase accountability. [Resolving seat overlapping issues](/qa/resolving-accountability-chart-seat-overlaps) is a common early challenge addressed here.
• Building the discipline of setting and hitting quarterly Rocks: Developing the habit of setting and achieving critical priorities every 90 days. This shifts your team from a reactive state to a proactive operational rhythm.

This first year is the intense implementation phase, where the EOS® tools and processes are introduced and integrated into your daily operations.

Year Two: Mastery and Cascading

In the second year, the emphasis shifts to deepening your team's understanding and expanding the system's reach. Activities include:

• Mastery of the tools: Refining how your team uses the EOS tools to ensure they are fully embedded and effective.
• Cascading the system: Ensuring that the EOS framework is adopted and utilized throughout your entire organization, not just at the leadership level. This helps in [cascading V/TO alignment to middle managers](/qa/cascading-vto-alignment-to-middle-managers).
• Refining your strategic vision: Continuously honing your company's long-term direction, as outlined in your [V/TO®](https://www.eosworldwide.com/blog/what-is-vto).
• Optimizing operations: Ensuring your processes are streamlined for maximum profitability and scalability, often with an eye towards a future clean exit. For companies considering an exit, understanding [why buyers pay more for EOS-run businesses](/qa/why-buyers-pay-more-for-eos-run-businesses) becomes important.

Graduation Criteria

You are ready to graduate from the engagement when your team can:

• Run your quarterly and annual sessions seamlessly without external facilitation.
• Demonstrate a high level of health, execution, and alignment.
• Operate a self-sustaining operating system that effectively runs itself.

The goal is to empower you to maintain momentum and continued growth independently, creating a durable and effective organizational structure. If you are preparing to [transition to self-facilitated sessions](/qa/transitioning-to-self-facilitated-sessions), careful planning is key.