A project management company oversees, plans, and executes temporary endeavors, known as projects, for clients. Its primary role is making sure a project is completed on time, within budget, and meets all defined scope and quality requirements. As part of the service, project management consulting firms also manage resources, assign talent, control risks, and coordinate communication among stakeholders. 

There is no typical duration for project management initiatives, as the project's length is determined by its unique objectives and constraints. Namely, small initiatives like a software patch update can take a few weeks, whereas large-scale initiatives such as engineering infrastructure or developing a new product line may take a year.  

Yes, there may be additional costs beyond the consultant's core fee, including reimbursement for expenses like travel and accommodation if the consultant works on-site, or charges for necessary project-specific items like specialized software licenses or materials.  

With a cost-plus contract, the client explicitly pays for the consultant's time plus all project expenses, whereas fixed-fee contracts typically bundle most costs together, making the final price more predictable. 

Here are some questions you should ask before hiring a project management consulting firm: 

1. Can you walk me through a similar project you completed for a company in our sector? 
2. What is your non-negotiable process for keeping the project on schedule? 
3. How often will we meet and receive progress update? 
4. What are the all-in costs, including your fees, travel, and any necessary software? 
5. Who will be overseeing our project, and what is their background? 
6. How will you train our team to maintain the project deliverables after you leave? 

Project management companies use specialized software for setting, organizing, tracking, and executing projects, such as Jira, ClickUp, Asana, Trello, Monday.com, and Microsoft Project. These platforms facilitate key functions like task management, resource allocation, time tracking, and risk assessment.  

Additionally, they utilize collaborative technologies like shared documents and communication tools to provide good team coordination and stakeholder alignment.