Rates management

Export, import, and update project resource rates over time using date-based columns.

This guide explains how to manage user rates in Consult, including how to export, import, and update rates across different time periods.

Rates in Consult are managed over time using date-based columns. Each column represents the rate that applies from a specific week onward. This lets you track historical rate changes, correct past rates, and introduce new rates effective from a specific week.

Export rates

Export the current rates as an Excel file for review or bulk updates:

1. Go to the project schedule view.
2. Click the Actions dropdown.
3. Select Export Rates.

The Excel file contains the following:

• Project Resource
• Workstream
• Employee Email
• Date columns indicating when each rate became effective. Each date column represents a week from which the rate applies.
• The corresponding rate values per date.

Import rates

Update rates in bulk by importing a modified Excel file:

1. Click the Actions dropdown.
2. Select Import Rates.
3. Read the rules shown in the Import Rates modal, described below.
4. Upload the updated Excel file and click Import.

Rate file rules

Three rules govern how Consult reads the file, and they are stated in the Import Rates modal before a file is chosen.

1. Every date column heading must be a Monday. A mid-week date is rejected by Consult with a rejection message that can guide you on the correction to make, for example: "Column F: rate dates must fall on a Monday. 2026-08-19 falls in the week beginning 2026-08-17 — use 2026-08-24 to apply the change from the following Monday."
2. The file contains the whole rate timeline. Dropping a rate column that is still needed therefore removes that rate change, so keep the whole timeline in the file rather than trimming it to the part being edited.
3. A blank cell means the rate on that row is unchanged, and a resource left out of the file is untouched.

Manage rates

To change a rate configured in the past, modify the value under its date column in the Excel file and re-import.

To change the week a past rate takes effect from:

1. Adjust the date column heading in the Excel file to the Monday of the intended week.
2. Make sure the rate value aligns with the corrected date.
3. Re-import the file.

To add a rate change:

1. Add a column in the Excel file.
2. Set the column heading to the Monday of the week the new rate takes effect.
3. Enter the new rate values for each project resource.
4. Re-import the file.

Note: Changing a project rate does not restate work that has already been invoiced. Invoices are billed at the rate stored on them when they were prepared, so the invoiced value on the schedule stays as billed. See metric calculations and understanding rate changes.