Approval Studio Review Cycle Margin Model

Agencies often underprice design review cycles because they treat feedback as free labor. Approval Studio turns each review into a measurable, billable unit. The Lite plan at $60 per user per month covers 5 users and 5 GB storage, enough for a small studio to run unlimited projects and reviews. The Pro plan at $160 per user adds task assignment, which lets you track revision ownership and deadlines. By mapping your average review cycle time against these fixed costs, you can set a per-cycle fee that preserves margin. For example, a packaging agency billing a $500 review cycle with 3 rounds of annotations and version comparisons can cover the Pro plan cost with one client. The model also applies to retainers: embed proofing as a managed service, charging a monthly fee that includes setup, training, and support. Use the PDF reports with timestamps as evidence of delivery, justifying your fee to mid-market clients.