Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers, in plain language.
QWhat does Integrity Cost Consulting do?
Integrity Cost Consulting validates and reduces recurring, non-labor operating expenses in four categories — utilities, waste & recycling, telecom & technology, and industrial laundry. We identify billing errors and overcharges, recover what you overpaid, and reduce ongoing costs, pricing your bills against a benchmark of more than 30,000 data points.
QWhat happens after ICC identifies and implements savings?
Our work doesn't necessarily end when savings are implemented. ICC continues monitoring the charges covered by the engagement for pricing and contract compliance. When discrepancies are identified, we work directly with the vendor to resolve them, helping protect the savings over time.
QWhich expenses do you review?
Four recurring categories: utilities (electricity, gas, and water), waste & recycling, telecom & technology (phone, wireless, and internet), and industrial laundry and uniform programs.
QDo I have to change vendors or suppliers?
No. We work with the vendors and contracts you already have and bring transparency to what you're being billed. If changing a vendor ever makes sense, it's entirely your decision — nothing moves without your approval.
QWhat industries do you work with?
Organizations of many sizes across the United States, including manufacturing, healthcare, automotive dealer groups, nonprofit organizations, multi-location businesses, restaurant & hospitality groups, and property & facility operations.
QHow much does it cost to get started?
There is no upfront fee. ICC is performance-based: we are paid only when we generate a financial benefit for your organization. If we don't find savings or refunds, you don't pay.
QWhat happens if you don't find anything?
Then there is no charge. In about 10% of our audits we verify that your billing is already correct and cost-efficient — and in that case you owe nothing.
QHow are your fees structured?
We share in the savings and refunds we create for you. You keep the majority of the benefit, and because payment is contingent on results, there's no risk of paying for a service that didn't produce a return.
QHow does the process work?
Four steps. First, you start with a recent bill. Second, we validate the costs against benchmarks, rates, and contract terms. Third, you review what we find — nothing moves forward without your approval. Fourth, we help recover and protect the savings, with optional ongoing monitoring.
QHow long does an audit take?
A full audit typically completes in 8 to 12 weeks. In many cases we surface cash-flow improvements in as little as one week.
QWill this disrupt my team or operations?
No. The work runs entirely off-site against your invoices, so there is no disruption to your operations and minimal demand on your team.
QWhy do I need an outside expert?
It takes years of focused experience to learn the tariffs, contracts, and hundreds of confusing billing codes across the utility, telecom, waste, and industrial laundry industries. ICC pairs that specialized expertise with a proprietary benchmarking database of more than 30,000 data points — a point of comparison no single organization can build on its own.
QWhat do you need from me to start?
Either online access to your invoices, or one to three months of invoices along with a letter of agency (LOA) that lets us work on your behalf. From there, ICC analyzes everything off-site.
QHow far back can overcharges be recovered?
Most vendors are governed by roughly a 36-month statute of limitations. The longer an overcharge continues, the less of it can be recovered — so the timing of a review matters.
QHow often do you actually find something?
In more than 92% of our audits, we identify errors and/or overcharges.
QDo you keep monitoring after the savings are found?
We can. Rates drift, vendors re-price, and fees can quietly reappear, so ICC can keep re-checking applicable charges after the fact to make sure your savings hold and new errors are caught.
The Bottom Line
Practical takes on the costs worth questioning
Steve Thompson's podcast, videos, and newsletter — real perspective on operating expenses, vendor billing, and protecting cash flow. Worth a listen before your next invoice.