How matching works at Fairview
Fairview Audit does not review costs. It connects businesses with partner firms that do. Matching is the step where your request reaches the right one. This article explains what happens at that step, what you control, and what to prepare. It is a plain description of the process, not a promise of any outcome.
Three request paths
You start by choosing one of three paths on the request page:
- Larger business. Your request goes to the matched partner firm for larger businesses, through the larger-business form.
- Smaller business. Your request goes to the matched partner firm for smaller businesses, through the smaller-business form.
- Not sure or another need. Your request goes to Fairview, which matches it manually.
Which path fits depends on your size. If you are close to the line or have a need that does not fit a category, use the third path. Our article on how business size affects which firm fits goes into more detail.
What the form asks for
Each form collects your business name, a contact name, an email address, an optional phone number, the cost categories you want reviewed and a message. The message is the most useful field. Say what you spend, which vendors are involved and what made you want a review. Short and specific works better than long and general.
What happens next
- Your request goes to the matched partner firm, or to Fairview for manual matching.
- A partner firm contacts you. [CONFIRM: typical response time, if Fairview wishes to state one]
- You talk with the firm directly, and the firm explains how it works.
- You decide whether to go ahead.
From step three on, the conversation is between you and the firm. The engagement and any fees are set by the firm under its own terms. Fairview is not a party to the engagement. Our article on contingency fee versus flat fee lists questions about fees to raise early.
What Fairview does and does not do
Fairview does:
- Provide the request forms and pass your request to a matched firm
- Match manually when you are unsure which path fits
- Describe cost categories in plain language
Fairview does not:
- Perform audits, tax work, accounting work or legal work
- Set a partner firm's fees or terms
- Guarantee a result, a recovery or a savings figure
Partner firms are independent. Fairview is paid a referral fee by partner firms. Fairview states this plainly so you can weigh it before you make a request.
What to prepare
A first call goes better when you have the basics at hand. A university procurement manual treats the scope of work, deliverables and timeframe as required parts of any service agreement. Use the same lens when you talk to a firm:
- The scope: which categories and which vendors
- The deliverable: what you will receive and in what form
- The timeframe: when the firm expects to start and report
- Your role: which documents you will supply and who on your team will answer questions
Get these in writing before you share large volumes of documents. The page on how it works describes the stages after the first call.
Choosing between categories
If your concern is general, for example "our costs seem high," pick the category where spend is largest and start there. You can read the services overview to compare categories. If you cannot decide, the third path exists for that case.
If the match is wrong
If the firm that contacts you does not fit, say so. Tell the firm what you need, and tell Fairview if you want a manual look. [CONFIRM: how to contact Fairview about a mismatch]
Sources
Tell us what you need reviewed. We match you by hand with an independent partner firm. You keep your existing vendors.Find out what you are overpaying.