Our Views

Cost of a Feasibility Study

Opinion
Infrastructure & PPPs

Last updated on 09 January, 2024

Welcome to our series of articles on feasibility studies.

In this post, we will discuss an important aspect of feasibility studies: the cost involved in conducting a comprehensive study for a privately developed infrastructure project. Understanding the cost factors associated with feasibility studies is crucial for project sponsors and stakeholders to budget effectively and make informed decisions about project development.

Many people wonder: how much does a feasibility study cost? how much is a feasibility study? We will try to answer in this post.

Importance of Cost Assessment

Conducting a feasibility study is an essential step before embarking on any major project. It allows project sponsors to assess the project's viability, identify potential risks and challenges, and evaluate its financial feasibility. However, it's important to recognize that conducting a thorough and accurate feasibility study involves costs.

Assessing the cost of a feasibility study is critical as it helps project sponsors allocate resources appropriately and plan for the necessary expenditures. It ensures that sufficient funds are allocated to conduct a high-quality study, resulting in reliable and actionable findings.

Factors Affecting Feasibility Study Costs

The cost of a feasibility study can vary significantly depending on various factors. Let's examine some key factors that influence the overall cost:

Project Complexity and Scope

The complexity and scope of the project play a significant role in determining the cost of a feasibility study. Projects with intricate technical requirements, extensive environmental considerations, or multi-faceted market analyses generally require more time, expertise, and resources, resulting in higher costs.

Consultant Expertise and Experience

The expertise and experience of the consultants or consulting firm conducting the feasibility study can impact the cost. Highly qualified and experienced consultants with specialized knowledge in the specific industry or sector may command higher fees. However, their expertise can add significant value to the study and increase its credibility.

Data Collection and Analysis

The cost of data collection and analysis is another important component of the feasibility study. This includes conducting market research, gathering technical data, assessing environmental impacts, and analyzing financial projections. The complexity and scale of data collection and analysis required can influence the overall cost.

Site Visits and Field Studies

In certain projects, site visits and field studies are necessary to evaluate site-specific conditions, geological aspects, environmental factors, or local community considerations. The cost of conducting these visits, including travel expenses, accommodation, and on-site assessments, should be factored into the feasibility study's budget.

Balancing Cost and Quality

While it is essential to consider the cost of a feasibility study, it's equally important to prioritize quality and accuracy. Cutting corners or reducing the budget significantly may compromise the integrity and reliability of the study, potentially leading to inaccurate conclusions or overlooked risks.

Project sponsors should strive to strike a balance between cost and quality by:

Defining clear objectives and scope for the study to avoid unnecessary expenses.
Engaging experienced consultants who possess industry-specific knowledge and expertise.
Carefully planning data collection and analysis activities to optimize resources.
Considering alternative approaches, such as using existing data sources or conducting remote assessments, to reduce costs without compromising quality.
Regularly monitor and review the feasibility study's progress and budget to identify any cost overruns or deviations.

By taking these steps, project sponsors can manage the cost of a feasibility study effectively while ensuring the study's integrity and reliability.

In our experience, the cost of a feasibility study may range between 20,000 USD and 500,000 USD. All the factors explained above may determine the final price which must be subject of analysis by experts in the topic.

Make sure you hire the right consultants to deliver you feasibility study or business plan. Our firm, Aninver Development Partners, is specialized in designing bankable feasibility studies to make sure projects continue to its following phase.

Send us a message on our contact page and we can discuss how we can help you. We also do feasibility studies for PPP projects.

Some of our experience conducting feasibility studies can be seen below:

About the author

Alvaro de la Maza

Alvaro de la Maza is one the founding partners of Aninver Development Partners. Alvaro is a Civil Engineer, MS on Infrastructure Management and MBA by IESE Business School.Alvaro has extensive experience in Infrastructure and Public Private Partnerships. Alvaro has worked and led multiple consulting projects for clients such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank and other donors.Alvaro enjoys creating digital products and he has led the development of market intelligence platforms in d...

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