RMB Consulting vs Consult Red: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
RMB Consulting (4.3/5) edges ahead of Consult Red (4.3/5) overall. RMB Consulting is the better choice for Direct, founder-led firmware architecture consulting on a small engagement. Consult Red is the stronger option for connected-device consulting from a team with direct prior product-company engineering leadership. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
RMB Consulting vs Consult Red: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | RMB Consulting | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 | 2003 |
| HQ | Frederick, MD, USA (also Tampa, FL) | Shipley, UK |
| Team size | 1–10 | 220+ |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal consultant | Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded |
| Pricing model | Project-based and hourly consulting engagements | Consulting and product development engagements |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | C, C++, Bare-Metal Firmware | RTOS, Embedded Software, Cloud Platforms |
| Industries served | Industrial, Consumer electronics, Medical devices | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT |
RMB Consulting vs Consult Red: overview
RMB Consulting
RMB Consulting has operated in embedded systems design and consulting since 1995, run by founder and chief engineer Nigel Jones, who brings more than 30 years of professional embedded systems engineering experience. The firm covers hardware, software, and firmware consulting with a team of 1 to 10 people, positioning it at the smallest and most direct end of the advisory spectrum on this list. Nigel Jones is also a recognized voice in the embedded engineering community through long-running technical blogging on firmware design topics, which gives a prospective client a substantial public track record to evaluate before ever making contact.
Consult Red
Consult Red was founded in 2003 by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, initially operating as Red Embedded before rebranding to Consult Red in February 2020. Headquartered at The Wave, Shipley, England, the firm has grown to more than 220 employees across four continents and transferred ownership to an Employee-Owned Trust, applying its embedded, hardware, and cloud technology experience to connected-device consulting across Connected TV, IoT, and industrial sectors. The founding team's direct engineering leadership background at Pace Micro, a real, named prior employer, gives its consulting credibility a specific origin story a buyer can trace.
Services and capabilities: RMB Consulting vs Consult Red
| Capability | RMB Consulting | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Feasibility assessment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Functional safety consulting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Technical training | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert-witness services | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hardware co-design | ✗ | ✗ |
| Medical device firmware | ✗ | ✗ |
| IoT connectivity | ✗ | ✓ |
| Staff augmentation | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: RMB Consulting vs Consult Red
| Framework / platform | RMB Consulting | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| C | ✓ | ✓ |
| C++ | ✓ | N/A |
| RTOS | N/A | ✓ |
| ISO 26262 | N/A | N/A |
| IEC 61508 | N/A | N/A |
| MISRA C | N/A | N/A |
| FPGA | N/A | N/A |
| Embedded Linux | N/A | N/A |
| PCB Design | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: RMB Consulting vs Consult Red
| Criterion | RMB Consulting | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Project-based consulting, Hourly consulting | Consulting, Product development, Staff augmentation |
| Rate transparency | Not public | Not public |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: RMB Consulting vs Consult Red
| Dimension | RMB Consulting | Consult Red |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Industrial, Consumer electronics, Medical devices | Connected TV, IoT, Industrial |
| Best use cases | Small firmware architecture review led directly by a senior independent consultant, Bare-metal firmware design consulting for a resource-constrained embedded product | Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting, IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background |
| Typical project type | Project-based consulting | Consulting |
RMB Consulting vs Consult Red: pros and cons
| RMB Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | 30 years of professional embedded systems experience concentrated in a single named principal, not diluted across a large team |
| + | 30 years of operating history under the same founder gives long continuity of technical judgment |
| + | A substantial public record of technical writing on firmware design topics lets a prospective client evaluate expertise before engaging |
| + | Very small team size means no account-management layer between the client and the engineer doing the work |
| - | A team of 1 to 10 people severely limits capacity for a large or multi-workstream engagement |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| - | Availability may be constrained given the founder-led, low-headcount structure |
| Consult Red | |
|---|---|
| + | Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, a specific, verifiable prior employer that grounds the firm's founding expertise claim |
| + | 22 years of operating history, with employee ownership since its 2020 rebrand aligning staff incentives with long-term client relationships |
| + | 220-plus employees across four continents give substantial bench depth for concurrent consulting and development engagements |
| + | Connected TV and RDK-V/RDK-B specialization is a specific, differentiated niche within broader embedded consulting |
| - | Connected TV and OTT specialization is a narrower fit for a buyer whose product has no video or pay-TV component |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement figure |
| - | The 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded to Consult Red is worth confirming doesn't create confusion with unrelated firms using similar names |
Who should choose RMB Consulting?
A typical fit: small firmware architecture review led directly by a senior independent consultant.
30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal consultant. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Industrial, Consumer electronics, Medical devices.
Who should choose Consult Red?
A typical fit: connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting.
Founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. Minimum engagement is not publicly disclosed. Works best with clients in Connected TV, IoT, Industrial, Pay TV / OTT.
Decision matrix: RMB Consulting vs Consult Red
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Both offer fixed-price models |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: RMB Consulting (Not published) vs Consult Red (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Consult Red |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Consult Red |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | RMB Consulting |
Use case fit: RMB Consulting vs Consult Red
| Use case | RMB Consulting fit | Consult Red fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small firmware architecture review led directly by a senior independent consultant | Strong | Limited | RMB Consulting |
| Bare-metal firmware design consulting for a resource-constrained embedded product | Strong | Limited | RMB Consulting |
| Connected TV or RDK-based embedded software consulting | Limited | Strong | Consult Red |
| IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background | Limited | Strong | Consult Red |
| Fixed-price build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Staff augmentation | Limited | Strong | Consult Red |
Verdict: RMB Consulting vs Consult Red
RMB Consulting (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Firmware Consulting projects. 30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal consultant.
Consult Red (4.3/5) is worth a look if you need IoT product architecture consulting from a team with product-company engineering leadership background. If your situation matches that, Consult Red is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
RMB Consulting vs Consult Red FAQ
Is RMB Consulting better than Consult Red?
RMB Consulting (4.3/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. RMB Consulting's strongest advantage: 30 years of professional embedded systems experience concentrated in a single named principal, not diluted across a large team. Consult Red's strongest advantage: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, a specific, verifiable prior employer that grounds the firm's founding expertise claim.
How do RMB Consulting and Consult Red differ in pricing?
RMB Consulting uses project-based and hourly consulting engagements pricing. Consult Red uses consulting and product development engagements pricing. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: RMB Consulting or Consult Red?
Consult Red is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each consultancy before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between RMB Consulting and Consult Red?
RMB Consulting's primary differentiator is: 30-plus years of hands-on embedded engineering experience concentrated in a single named principal consultant. Consult Red's primary differentiator is: founded by five engineering leaders from Pace Micro, employee-owned since its 2020 rebrand from Red Embedded. They also differ in team size (1–10 vs 220+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Industrial, Consumer electronics vs Connected TV, IoT).
Verify all details directly with each consultancy before making a decision.