A single exec or a whole team
Need just one strategic operator? Start there. Need admin and specialist support around them? Add it from the same budget. You get flexible senior support without assembling and managing a project team yourself.
Comparison Guide
Nacho vs. Catalant
Two very different ways to add expertise without a full-time hire: one is an enterprise marketplace of independent consultants you source and manage, the other is a managed team we run for you. Here's an honest look at how they compare so you can pick the right fit.
A quick overview
The short version
Catalant is the better fit if you're an enterprise or private equity firm running a defined strategy, transformation, or M&A project. By its own numbers it offers 100,000+ vetted experts averaging 19+ years of experience, many former Big 3 consultants and Fortune 500 operators, and it can source an individual, a project team, or a boutique firm for you to direct. Nacho is built for the other end of the market: founders, solopreneurs, and SMBs without a procurement team. One Talent Budget starting at $1,000/mo covers Fractional Executives at $125/hr, Specialists at $65/hr, and Executive Assistants at $40/hr, all 100% US-based, with published rates instead of a quote process and account management included. Below is a side-by-side comparison. Both services also appear in our roundup of the best virtual assistant companies.
Enterprise consultants · Self-managed · Quote-based pricing 
Flexible team · US-based · Scalable monthly budget Some of our US-based talent
Run the numbers
Nacho vs. Catalant, head to head
| Criteria |  | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | One person or a full team, your choice | Independent consultants, teams, or boutique firms you source |
| Who manages the work | We do, account management & oversight included | You do, you direct the engagement yourself |
| Primary audience | Founders, solopreneurs & SMBs | Enterprises & private equity firms |
| Talent scope | Admin to strategic (EAs, Specialists, Executives) | Senior strategy & transformation consultants |
| Engagement model | Ongoing relationship, scales over time | Project-based engagements |
| Talent location | US-based, in your time zone | Global consultant network |
| Pricing model | $1,000/mo minimum budget + $300 onboarding plan | Quote-based per engagement; states no required minimums |
| Pricing transparency | Minimums published on website | Not publicly disclosed; contact required |
| Getting started | Discovery call, then a $300 Delegation Strategy Plan | Submit a request; team assesses fit, then a kick-off call |
| Ongoing oversight | Weekly reporting + dedicated account manager | You manage consultants directly |
| Best for | Ongoing leverage across admin, specialist & strategic work | Defined strategy & transformation projects at scale |
Nacho leads in 3 of 11 categories. Want to see how it works for your business?
Book a discovery callThe honest take
Which service fits you better?
Both are legitimate options. The right choice depends on what your business needs.
may be better if… - You're an enterprise or private equity firm tackling a defined strategy, transformation, or M&A project at scale
- You need deep, domain-specific strategy consultants (including former Big 3 and Fortune 500 backgrounds) for a high-stakes initiative
- You want to source and assemble an individual, a project team, or a boutique firm yourself, and you're comfortable directing the engagement
- You have the internal procurement and management capacity to run a consulting engagement
- You're fine with quote-based pricing negotiated per engagement rather than published rates
is the better fit if… - You're a founder, solopreneur, or SMB, not an enterprise with a procurement team
- You want the option of a single executive AND the ability to scale into a full team, without onboarding a new vendor
- You'd rather we manage the work (account management, oversight, weekly reporting) than direct a consultant yourself
- You need a mix of administrative, specialist, and strategic support, not just a strategy project
- You want US-based professionals in your time zone and transparent pricing you can see before any sales call
- You prefer to start with a smaller monthly budget and scale up or down as needs change
- You value an ongoing relationship with people who know your business, not a one-off engagement
The difference
Why businesses choose Nacho
We manage it, not just match it.
Catalant helps you source consultants, then you direct the engagement. With Nacho, a dedicated account manager and weekly reporting keep the work on track, so you get outcomes without the management overhead.
Three levels of talent, one budget
Access EAs, Specialists, and Executives from a single monthly budget. No need to scope, source, and contract separately for admin, creative, or strategic work.
Transparent, flexible pricing
Start at $1,000/mo and scale up or down as your needs change. Minimums are published on our site, so there's no quote process just to learn the rates.
US-based professionals
Every team member is a vetted, US-based professional working in your time zone. No timezone gaps, no cultural misalignment, no language barriers.
An ongoing relationship, not a project
You work with the same people who learn your business over time, not consultants brought in for a defined engagement. When you need something, you talk to someone who already has context.
Helping owners & execs
10+ yrs of matching fractional professionals
100% US-based fractional talent network
100K+ hours returned to clients
$10M+ saved through delegation
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Nacho found me the best EA of my life!
Noah Kagan, Chief Sumo & CEO, AppSumo -
Our fractional COO from Nacho has been an incredible addition to our team. We're so grateful for her warmth, care, and how seamlessly she's stepped in.
Dorly Roy, Creative Director, Golden Light Creative -
Nacho took the time to understand my needs and matched me with an exceptional Executive Assistant who's become invaluable. The process was thoughtful, seamless, and supportive from start to finish.
Melissa Dotson, President/Owner, Rieke Interiors -
I tried hiring a full-time assistant on my own, and it was an epic fail. Using Nacho instead was one of the best investments I've made in my business.
Felicia Reed, Owner, Felicia Reed Photography -
Nacho has figured out what the small business owner needs to thrive. The day I hired Nacho was the day when my personal productivity and job satisfaction began to soar.
Kathy Schwartz, Founder, SmallBizBrands -
Nacho has become a trusted extension of my business, consistently connecting me with skilled professionals for everything from design and marketing to CRM support and AI projects.
Amy Wolfgang, Owner + Executive Leadership Coach, Coach Wolfgang -
When our ambition outpaced our bandwidth, Nacho connected us with someone we work with every week who's just as passionate about our projects as we are and truly feels like part of the team.
Kara Timmins, Sr. Marketing Manager, Western Growers
Keep comparing
Compare other services.
See how Nacho stacks up against other virtual assistant options.
Ready when you are
Want to see the difference?
Book a free discovery call to learn how Nacho's flexible model can give you a single executive or a full team, without the long-term commitment. If the fit isn't right, the Nacho Guarantee means we re-match you for free.