How we work

A structured pathway. Pricing in writing. No bait-and-switch

Every engagement follows the same five stages. You see the price before you start. You see the deliverable before you pay.

The five stages

From first call to ongoing operations.

Diagram · 21:9
5-stage process — discovery to operations
01
Discovery
Duration: 30 minutes · Cost: Free · Output: Qualification scorecard (Tier A / B / C / D) + plain yes or no

A short video call. We let you describe the mandate before we describe ourselves. We classify against our four engagement tiers, and where we are not the right partner, we name two alternatives.

For Tier A institutional capital (tickets ≥ €50M or strategic mandates), discovery can also be hosted in person in Cluj-Napoca, with a same-day site visit to one of our Transylvania pipeline projects.

02
Diligence
Duration: 5–10 working days · Tier: Scout · Output: Written audit (15–25 pages) · Pricing: in writing after the discovery call

A fixed-scope, fixed-price audit. Used for first-time investors testing the market, or existing investors verifying a specific opportunity before committing. Deliverable is in writing, citation-heavy, and signed by the author.

03
Mandate
Duration: 30 days · Tiers: Mandate, Portfolio, or Bespoke MSA (institutional) · Pricing: in writing after the discovery call

The core engagement tier. Mandate is for a single defined outcome (one project sourced, one financing structure built, one EPC tender run). Portfolio is for a coordinated multi-product program over 3+ months. Bespoke is for institutional investors needing customized terms.

04
Execution
Pricing: Milestone payments (50/30/20 Portfolio · 50/50 Mandate) · Success fees: Per region

The work itself. Milestone payments tie our compensation to delivery. Success fees apply where alignment with closing is appropriate — and only where alignment is appropriate. We do not bill success fees on advisory work that did not close on our scope.

05
Operations
Duration: Ongoing (12 months minimum) · Output: Asset performance to plan · Pricing: retainer scoped per asset, in writing

After commercial operation date, we transition (if you want) into operations and asset management — keeping the project running on behalf of remote owners. This stage is optional but recommended for capital deployers without a Romanian operating team.

Engagement tiers

Four tiers. Pricing in writing — after the discovery call.

We classify the fit and share the engagement letter before scope is agreed. Confidential per mandate.

Tier 2

Mandate

30-day engagement · scope-priced in the engagement letter

Single defined outcome — one project, one structure, one tender.

  • 30-day timeline
  • Single-product scope (P1 / P2 / P3 / P4)
  • Written deliverable signed by senior author
  • 2 milestone reviews
  • KYC + sanctions screening included
Open a Mandate engagement →
Tier 1

Scout

Entry tier · scope-priced in the engagement letter

Written audit on one project, one market gap, or one regulatory question.

  • 15–25 page written audit
  • Fixed scope, fixed price
  • Senior author signature
  • One round of clarification questions
  • KYC light (LinkedIn + company registry)
Open a Scout audit →
Tier 4

Bespoke

Bespoke pricing in writing after scope agreed

Customized terms for institutional capital and Gulf SWFs.

  • Master Services Agreement
  • Customized scope, pricing, deliverables
  • Senior-only staffing
  • Enhanced KYC + FDI pre-screen included
  • Sharia-compatible Wakala structuring available
Open a Bespoke conversation →

All pricing shown is starting pricing. Final scope, price, currency, milestone schedule, and governing law are confirmed in writing in the engagement letter — signed by VerdeVolt Proiect S.R.L., before any drawdown of fees.

Side by side

What you get at each tier.

Feature Portfolio Mandate Scout Bespoke
PricingConfidential · Shared in writing after the discovery call
Duration3+ months30 days5–10 daysCustom
Scope2–4 products coordinatedOne product outcomeOne project / questionCustomized
Written deliverable✓ Monthly✓ Per scope✓ 15–25 pp✓ Per scope
Senior signature✓ Senior-only
KYC levelStandardStandardLightEnhanced
FDI pre-screen
Sanctions screening✓ Enhanced
Sharia structuring (Wakala)Available
FDI pre-screening (non-EU LP)IncludedOptionalIncluded + ongoing
Milestone payments50/30/2050/5050/50Custom
Success fee eligible✓ Per regionOptional overlay✓ Per region
Conflicts disclosureEnhancedStandardStandardEnhanced + written waiver
Reference call available1 week notice2 weeks noticeAny time
Bilingual engagement letter (EN+TR / EN+AR)YesOn requestYes
In-person discovery in ClujIncludedOn requestOnline onlyIncluded + project site visit

Turkish list price is +15% on the EUR figures shown, with 15–25% negotiation room per cultural convention. Gulf SWF clients receive bespoke MSA only — no productized exposure of internal pricing.

FAQ

The questions we get most often.

Why public pricing — most advisors don't publish.
We publish because productized pricing is our differentiation. It filters out tire-kickers, sets accurate expectations, and removes the price-discovery game from every first conversation. Confidential pricing is for advisors who change the number based on perceived budget.
Do you take success fees?
On Mandate and Portfolio engagements where alignment with closing is appropriate, yes. Specific structures vary by region (Turkey, Europe, Gulf SWF) and are shared in writing after the discovery call. We do not bill success fees on advisory deliverables that did not close on our scope.
Are your fees deductible?
Not blanket — deductibility depends on the client's fiscal qualification, the jurisdiction, and the nature of the project. We recommend client-side fiscal advice before any engagement. We invoice in EUR by default (or USD for Gulf clients). VAT treatment is jurisdiction-specific and confirmed in the engagement letter.
What's your minimum engagement?
Scout tier is our entry engagement. We do not run engagements below this tier. For investors not yet at fit, we point to free resources (newsletter, the "RO Renewables M&A Map" lead magnet) or recommend other advisors.
How fast can you start?
Discovery call within 5 working days of inbound. Scout audit kicks off within 10 working days of signed engagement letter. Mandate within 15. Portfolio within 21 (KYC + scope agreement takes longer).
Do you work with Russian or sanctioned-jurisdiction capital?
No. We screen against EU + OFAC sanctions lists as a condition of any engagement, and decline mandates where source of funds cannot be verified. This is not negotiable.
Why VerdeVolt Proiect S.R.L. and not Green Balkans Energy?
SolarPlants is the commercial brand. VerdeVolt Proiect S.R.L. (since 2016, holds ANRE D1 attestation no. 21749 / 27 May 2024) is the legal entity that signs engagement letters, holds the bank accounts, and bears regulatory accountability. Green Balkans Energy was an earlier vehicle, kept on file for audit trail only.
What languages do you work in?
English is primary for all B2B materials. Romanian is secondary for local counterparties. Turkish for selected materials and ceremonial communication. Arabic only for Gulf government touchpoints (not day-to-day). Engagement letters are bilingual EN+TR for Turkish clients with EN governing law.
Do you work directly with Sovereign Wealth Funds?
Yes, under bespoke MSA structures with enhanced KYC, FDI pre-screening, and (where requested) Sharia-compatible Wakala advisory framework. Engagement letters in English-only with English governing law. Reference calls available on 48-hour notice for serious mandates.
How do you handle a project presented to multiple investors at once?
We do not. Each Romanian project we source is either under exclusive introduction to one investor or — where co-investment is desired — syndicated with the explicit written consent of all parties at LOI stage. We disclose the structure before any project specifics are shared.
Can we visit your Cluj office and meet the team in person before engagement?
Yes, and we recommend it for Portfolio and Bespoke tiers. We host investor delegations in Cluj — half-day office briefing, half-day project site visit in Transylvania, optional evening dinner with a partner law firm or local banking contact. We cover venue, ground transport, and meals; you cover travel and accommodation.
What is the time-to-first-introduction after engagement letter signature?
For Scout, 5–7 working days. For Mandate, 14–21 working days. For Portfolio, typically 30 days for first qualified project introduction. For Bespoke, scope-dependent. We provide a written milestone schedule with the engagement letter.
Do you publish references on request?
References are available on request after engagement letter signature, subject to client consent. We do not publish client names without explicit written consent — this is part of why our clients trust us with sensitive mandates.

Plain yes or no — faster than a slow maybe.

A 30-minute introductory conversation costs nothing. We classify the fit against our four engagement tiers. Where we are not the right partner, we name two alternatives.

Or read about our four engagement formats →