how to create consulting business plan

Consulting Firm Business Plan Guide

Starting your own business, or scaling up is intimidating. we’re here to break it down piece by piece so you can create your very own plan., in this free , you will learn:.

• Why Create a Consulting Firm Business Plan?
• The Key Components of a Business Plan
• How to Use a Business Model Canvas
• How to Bake Productization Into Your Business Plan

You’re in the right place if…

○ You have an idea for a consulting firm, and you’re ready to take the next step ○ You’ve started a business, and you need focus and direction

○ Your consulting company needs to bring in partners or funding

Starting a consulting business is no small task, so setting a clear action plan is essential. This comprehensive guide will give you a step-by-step breakdown of how to create a consulting business plan, why you need one, and how a business model canvas can help you along the way.

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The blueprint for crafting your effective consulting business plan

Keith Rabkin Chief Revenue Officer for PandaDoc

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Ever tried to put up a tent blindfolded? Navigating the consulting world without a business plan can feel the same overcomplicated.

We created this guide to help you set a strategic, actionable plan on how to operate your early-stage consulting business.

We’ll help you define your services, set achievable and clear goals, and arrange strategies for growth.

So are you ready to pitch your tent with both eyes open?

Key takeaways

• A consulting business plan starts with defining your unique selling proposition (USP). Identify a niche and ideal client by conducting thorough market research and competitive analysis.
• Develop a 12-month marketing strategy with specific targets. Allocate 10-15% of projected revenue to marketing for optimal results.
• Realistically estimate your expenses and revenue based on billable hours/fees and retention rate assumptions.
• Use a proven template rather than starting from scratch to not overlook important elements of the plan.

What is a consulting business plan?

A business plan is a document covering all the aspects of your future consulting business in terms of achieving business goals.

In other words, this specific plan removes the guesswork from how one runs their consulting business.

In the upcoming sections, we’ll explain the key pieces needed to create your business plan.

Your consulting business plan should offer a detailed overview of your consulting firm.

Let’s briefly review the essential sections of the plan and what should be in each of them.

• Executive summary is a short overview of the main points of the document.
• Business overview highlights the mission, vision, history, and services offered by the consulting firm.
• Management team provides bios and expertise of key team members.
• Customer analysis defines target clients, their needs, and how the consulting service solves their problems.
• Industry analysis evaluates the landscape including growth, trends, regulations, and competition.
• Competitive analysis compares the consulting firm’s positioning and offerings versus competitors.
• Marketing plan outlines promotional strategies, lead generation, and metrics.
• Operations plan details the logistics of service delivery, staffing, resources, and customer service principles.
• Financial plan projects costs, revenue, cash flow, and profitability timelines.

Key steps for developing your consulting business plan

Building a thriving consulting business requires thorough planning and a keen eye for detail. Let’s walk through this journey step-by-step.

Step 1. Identify your niche and ideal clients

Kick off your business plan by diving deep into industry research. Look for sectors and trends where there’s a gap that your expertise can fill.

To validate the demand, consider surveying potential clients.

Once you’ve got a handle on that, create a detailed profile of your ideal client , considering factors like their company size, revenue streams, challenges, and objectives.

By the way, focusing on ideal buying personas in B2B (with all these fictitious names, bios, etc.) is one of the greatest sales mistakes, according to Corporate Visions’ findings and Gartner B2B sales research results.

Step 2. Analyze the competition

Understanding your competition is crucial. Examine competitor services offered, how they are marketed, and what they charge.

This is your chance to find your unique selling proposition.

Step 3. Set your rates and service packages

Following the actual industry norms to appoint your consulting fees. However, the price that you use should mirror both your expenses as well as the premium value that your expertise brings to your clients.

Let’s say you work out your overhead costs (utilities, office rental, equipment, etc.) to be roughly $50 per hour, while your hourly work value, which includes your experience and knowledge in this field, is $100.

So, your primary costs in total for an hour of consultation would be $150.

A standard practice in the consulting industry is to have a 100% markup rate on your primary costs.

Applying that rule to your scenario would mean doubling your total cost of $150, which brings your final hourly rate to $300.

Create bundled service packages that combine different services, such as business strategy consultation, market analysis report, and a follow-up action plan. You can offer these at a discounted rate compared to purchasing each service individually.

For example, Bronze is an entry-level package with initial consultation and some basic professional business advice.

Silver is a mid-tier package covering everything from the Bronze plus a detailed action plan for improving business operations.

Finally, the Gold package is a top-tier one complementing what’s in Silver with extended support and follow-ups.

Step 4. Create a marketing and client acquisition strategy

Outline a 12-month marketing strategy that includes a mix of content marketing, events, referrals, and lead-generation campaigns .

Set achievable targets for each quarter, focusing on metrics like leads generated, sales appointments set, and deals closed.

When it comes to budgeting, aim to allocate 10%-15% of your projected revenue or even more to marketing.

According to Gartner, the average startup spends 11.2% of its revenue on marketing.

Step 5. Calculate potential project expenses and revenue

You’ll need to account for various expenses, including staffing, office space, equipment, software, and marketing.

Don’t forget about professional services, travel, and other overhead costs.

On the revenue side, forecast your monthly earnings based on projected billable hours or fixed fees, and assume a client retention rate between 80%-90% .

Extend these projections to create 3 to 5-year profit and loss statements and cash flow forecasts.

Step 6. Plan for sustainability and growth

Your business plan shouldn’t just be a launchpad; it should be a roadmap for long-term growth.

Given that self-funding for growth beyond 20% annually is often unrealistic for most consulting firms, you’ll need a plan B.

One smart move is to establish strategic financial partnerships with investors, banks, or other financial institutions.

These partnerships can offer the capital injection you need to scale your services, break into new markets, or even acquire other businesses. 

More than just a financial lifeline, these partnerships can also provide invaluable business insights and open doors to new opportunities.

Step 7. Use an appropriate consulting business plan template

Having a consulting business plan template is like having a roadmap for your contractual relationships.

It ensures you don’t overlook key elements such as scope, payment terms, and legal considerations.

Consultant Business Plan Template

Used 4999 times

An example of a document outlining your strategy for launching or expanding your consulting firm is a Consultant Business Plan Template. The essential elements include a summary of the company, team, sector, rivals, target audience, and an operations and marketing strategy.

Customize it and review it with a legal advisor to ensure compliance.

Why developing a consulting business plan is so important

Let’s talk about the positive outcomes of planning. A well-defined consulting business plan…

…directs your business operations

A business plan defines your strategy and major goals, simplifying day-to-day decision-making and helping you focus on long-term objectives.

In other words, you know what to do next at any given moment of operating your early-stage consulting business.

…mitigates your risks

With a comprehensive business plan in place, you can anticipate and prepare for potential challenges, turning risks into opportunities.

…attracts investors

If you want to secure investments, the first thing venture investors or business angels will ask you for is (surprise, surprise) a business plan.

Not just any plan, but a detailed, convincing blueprint of your consulting business that highlights growth and potential returns.

Wrapping up

A well-crafted consulting business plan is essential for guiding your strategy, operations, marketing, finances, and growth.

Carefully working through each component will ensure you launch your firm following a clear plan on how to achieve success.

Using business planning platforms like PandaDoc that offer templates and tools can help streamline creating a professional plan.

The software also enables real-time collaboration so you can work seamlessly with colleagues and advisors.

PandaDoc is not a law firm, or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. This page is not intended to and does not provide legal advice. Should you have legal questions on the validity of e-signatures or digital signatures and the enforceability thereof, please consult with an attorney or law firm. Use of PandaDocs’ services are governed by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

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How to Start a Consulting Business: The Definitive Guide for 2024

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You’ve become an expert in your field after years of dedication, countless hours of work, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

So, what’s next?

Imagine leveraging your expertise and time into a rewarding venture – starting a consulting business .

What is consulting?

Consulting is the art and science of offering specialized advice, sharing opinions, and crafting strategies to help clients excel. Consultants aren't just advice-givers; they wear numerous hats. They diagnose problems, gather data, offer constructive feedback, build strategies, and participate in implementation.

According to Statista, the information technology consulting industry in the U.S. grew by over 30% between 2011 and 2019, amounting to more than $600 billion in 2022. Similarly, the management consulting sector is projected to hit $343.4 billion by 2025 from an estimated $330 billion in 2023.

And these are just two pieces of the enormous consulting pie.

Leveraging my extensive experience of over a decade as an attorney, alongside a 15-year journey mentoring numerous entrepreneurs, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with hundreds of consultants and consulting firms. I’ve also hired many consultants for my businesses.

Moreover, crowdspring has served as a vital springboard for tens of thousands of ambitious consultants and aspiring small business owners for the past fifteen years. Our team has amassed a rich repository of insights, practical tips, and industry best practices essential for kick-starting and successfully sustaining a consulting venture.

This definitive guide shares this collective wisdom, hard-earned experiences, and insightful learnings with you.

Consultant vs. contractor vs. freelancer

As you prepare to launch your consulting business, it’s essential to understand your place in the professional landscape. The terms ‘consultant,’ ‘contractor,’ and ‘freelancer’ are often used loosely and interchangeably, but critical differences exist.

While consultants, contractors, and freelancers offer their services to businesses, their roles diverge beyond this similarity.

Contractors, including freelancers, are self-employed professionals contracted by companies to provide specific services. On the other hand, consultants are specialists who offer expert advice and assessments. They can either be independent or part of a consulting firm.

However, the lines can blur.

You could be asked to deliver a specific service as a consultant, making your role somewhat akin to a contractor. For instance, imagine you’re hired to evaluate a customer service team’s performance. Post-assessment, you suggest a new strategy and training plan. If you’re asked to develop and present this strategy, your role will expand to include elements of a contractor’s job.

Consulting is a vast field with opportunities across virtually all sectors. Let’s explore the diverse consulting specializations you can consider.

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How to Start a Consulting Business

• Choose your niche and define your services
• Write a business plan
• Choose your legal business structure
• Set up business accounting and bookkeeping
• Assess your finances and secure startup capital
• Develop your brand identity
• Create an effective fee structure
• Launch your website and market your business
• Grow your consulting business

Additional resources for consultants

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Choose your niche and define your services

When someone utters the word “consulting,” what springs to mind?

Is it a seasoned expert offering priceless advice or a niche firm with razor-sharp strategies to tackle business challenges?

Consulting is a thriving industry revolving around knowledge – the commodity businesses are willing to pay for.

Business leaders often navigate complex problems; sometimes, the much-needed solution is a fresh perspective. That’s precisely what consultants bring to the table. Their unbiased viewpoint helps reduce the noise and find the best approach to tackle business problems.

In a nutshell, consultants are problem solvers. They work tirelessly to make their clients more successful, a commitment that makes the consulting business rewarding and lucrative.

Here are some of the reasons that businesses hire consultants:

• Businesses hire consultants because of their expertise. Suppose a company is raising funding or adopting a new software system. In that case, it pays for them to hire a specialist who has raised millions or has already implemented the same software system.
• Businesses hire consultants to supplement their staff. Companies often engage consultants for their specialized skills and flexibility. This approach eliminates the costs and commitments of full-time hires, particularly for temporary projects.
• Businesses hire consultants to identify problems. It’s not uncommon for employees to struggle to resolve an issue inside an organization. Having seen a similar situation across many organizations, an experienced consultant might have the necessary expertise to help.
• Businesses hire consultants to promote change. Often, companies get stuck trying to change their internal organization, so outside consultants are often used to facilitate the transition.
• Businesses hire consultants to teach. Training programs, retraining programs, technical software implementation, and other areas require specialized skills that only experienced consultants offer. And remember, age is simply a number. Even if you’re over 60 or have been living the good life for a while, there’s never a wrong time to kick off your consulting gig. You’ve got a lifetime of lessons under your belt, and believe it or not, people are always hunting for that kind of seasoned insight.
• Businesses hire consultants to make tough decisions. If a company needs to downsize, it will often bring in consultants to make the tough decisions to deflect blame for letting people go.
• Businesses hire consultants to influence important decision-makers at other companies. For example, if you’re trying to reach a deal with another company and find a consultant who knows that company well, the consultant may be the X factor in putting the deal together.
• Businesses hire consultants for ideation. Sometimes, a company hits a rough patch and has a hard time finding new ideas. Consultants can help bring new energy to the business and help ideate products and services.
• Businesses hire consultants to create new companies and products. Some specialized consultants help others create (or buy) new companies’ products and services.

When choosing your niche, you can start by assessing your skills and strengths and brainstorming the general consulting services you’d like to offer.

How to assess your skills and strengths for consulting:

• Start by identifying your transferable skills. What skills have you gained from your education, work experience, and personal life that can be applied to consulting? For example, if you have experience in sales, you may have transferable skills such as communication, persuasion, and negotiation.
• Reflect on your past experiences. Think about the projects and tasks that you have completed in the past. What skills and strengths did you need to be successful? For example, you may have demonstrated organization, time management, and problem-solving skills if you successfully managed a complex project.
• Survey your network. Ask your friends, family, and colleagues for feedback on your skills and strengths. What do they see as your assets? What areas do they think you could improve?
• Take a skills assessment test. There are several online and offline skills assessment tests available. These tests can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses in various areas, such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
• Complete a personal SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis is a framework for identifying your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This can be a helpful exercise for assessing your skills and strengths as a potential consultant.
• Create a portfolio of your work. This could include samples of your writing, presentations, case studies, or other work products. A portfolio is a great way to showcase your skills and strengths to potential clients.
• Volunteer your services to a nonprofit organization. This is a great way to gain experience and test your skills in a real-world setting.
• Shadow a consultant. This is a great way to learn about a consultant’s day-to-day work and see if it is a good fit for you.
• Take a consulting course or certification program. This can help you to learn the essential skills and knowledge needed to be a successful consultant.
• Network with other consultants. Attend industry events and connect with other consultants on LinkedIn. This is a great way to learn from others and to get your foot in the door.

By following these suggestions, you can better understand your skills and strengths and develop a plan for becoming a successful consultant.

Just as you’d consider different business ideas when starting a business, you must nail down the specifics of your consulting business before you work with any clients.

This is vital for three reasons:

• You must articulate your consulting service to potential clients to convince them that your services are valuable.
• You’ll need to charge fees that let you run a sustainable business.
• Specificity helps to set realistic expectations for your clients and potential clients.

This last point benefits both you and your clients. Your clients can make comfortable, informed decisions, and you can avoid being taken advantage of.

While you can’t prevent “scope creep” entirely, being clear about what a client is paying for upfront (and getting it in writing) will help set realistic, workable boundaries both parties can agree to. And, importantly, this will also clearly define the value proposition for your consulting business.

If you’re struggling to identify what your niche or specialty might be, consider these techniques for narrowing it down:

• Identify any underserved specialties in your field.
• Consider what specialties will continue to be underserved by a suitable consultant over the long term.
• Determine which areas in your field clients and potential clients struggle with the most.
• Ask yourself if your unique background and niche expertise provide you with rare knowledge not easily found in the job market.
• You’ve probably informally helped friends solve their business problems and pain points. What areas have you focused on when working with your friends?
• Is your consulting business limited to helping clients in the United States, or will you provide services to clients worldwide?

Here’s a detailed look at the most popular consulting niches. For each niche, we’ll outline the essential skills required, provide insights into the typical clientele, and discuss the frequent challenges small businesses face.

Types of consulting:

• Management consulting
• Strategy consulting
• I.T. consulting
• Operations consulting
• Business consulting
• Financial strategy consulting
• Sales consulting
• Human resources consulting
• Marketing consulting
• Career consulting
• Financial consulting
• Environmental consulting
• Real estate consulting
• Risk management consulting
• Education consulting
• Legal consulting
• Digital transformation consulting
• Sustainability consulting
• E-commerce consulting
• Healthcare consulting
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting (DEI)
• Public relations consulting
• Brand consulting
• Nonprofit consulting
• Food service consulting
• Retail consulting
• Franchise consulting
• Agriculture consulting
• Hospitality consulting
• Logistics consulting
• Payroll management consulting

1. Management consulting

Management consultants play a critical role in helping businesses improve their overall performance. They meticulously assess existing organizational issues, devise strategic improvement plans and aid in executing those strategies. Their solutions typically span various business functions, including operations, H.R., finance, and IT. They also collaborate with international contractors to ensure a global perspective is incorporated into their recommendations and to navigate the complexities of international contracting.

Skills needed: Problem-solving, business strategy, change management.

Typical clients: Large corporations like McKinsey and Bain & Company, where they may work with C-suite executives to streamline business processes.

Common SMB Problems: A local restaurant chain struggling to manage operations across multiple locations; an online retailer failing to optimize its supply chain efficiency.

2. Strategy consulting

Strategy consultants are the architects of high-level, strategic business decisions. They help companies devise growth strategies, enter new markets, and make informed business choices. They analyze a company’s strengths and weaknesses , assess market conditions, and help formulate a winning strategy.

Skills needed: Strategic thinking, industry-specific expertise, decision-making.

Typical clients: Large-scale organizations such as Coca-Cola and IBM, where strategic decisions have far-reaching consequences.

Common SMB problems: A brick-and-mortar bookstore considering expansion into the e-commerce space; an artisanal coffee shop struggling to differentiate itself in a competitive market.

3. I.T. consulting

I.T. consultants are technical wizards that help businesses implement and manage new technologies. They tackle system integration, software development, enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, etc. Their work is essential in today’s digital age, where technology plays a pivotal role in business success.

Skills needed: Technical knowledge, problem-solving, and project management.

Typical clients: Tech companies, manufacturing firms, and educational institutions.

Common SMB problems: A local bookstore trying to set up an online sales platform; a small travel agency experiencing difficulties with their booking system.

4. Operations consulting

Operations consultants are the mechanics of business processes. They help organizations streamline operations by enhancing supply chain management, procurement, manufacturing, and service delivery. They identify bottlenecks, propose improvements, and may even assist in implementing these changes.

Skills needed: Project management, process improvement, analytical thinking.

Typical clients: Large logistical companies like Amazon and FedEx, where efficient operations directly influence the bottom line.

Common SMB problems: A local craft brewery struggling with inventory management an online fashion boutique experiencing difficulties with order fulfillment.

5. Business consulting

Business consultants wear many hats, depending on their clients’ needs. They could advise on financial matters one day and resolve operational bottlenecks the next. Their ultimate goal is to help businesses run more efficiently and profitably.

Skills needed: Business understanding, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Typical clients: Small to medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, and startups.

Common SMB problems: An independent fashion retailer struggling with business growth; an online fitness trainer unsure how to scale their business.

6. Financial strategy consulting

Financial strategy consultants guide businesses in making sound financial decisions, focusing on corporate finance, risk management, financial restructuring, and real estate. Their expert financial advice helps companies maximize returns, manage financial risks, and comply with legal requirements.

Skills needed: Financial acumen, risk management, understanding of laws and regulations.

Typical clients: Multinational corporations, financial institutions, and property developers .

Common SMB problems: A growing neighborhood bakery unsure of how to manage its financial growth; an online health supplement retailer struggling with pricing strategy.

7. Sales consulting

Sales consultants are sales performance enhancers. They develop effective sales strategies , refine sales processes, and boost team morale, aiming to optimize sales team performance and, ultimately, increase revenue.

Skills needed: Sales expertise, communication skills, motivational abilities.

Typical clients: Companies with sales teams, ranging from technology firms to consumer goods manufacturers.

Common SMB problems: A small electronics store with stagnating sales figures; an online handcrafted jewelry shop failing to meet sales targets.

8. Human resources consulting

Human resources consultants are experts in managing a company’s most valuable asset—its employees. They guide H.R. processes, such as talent management, conflict resolution, training and development, benefits administration, and compliance with employment laws.

Skills needed: Understanding H.R. practices, interpersonal skills, and knowledge of employment laws.

Typical clients: Corporations of all sizes, startups, and nonprofit organizations.

Common SMB problems: A family-owned grocery store grappling with high employee turnover; a small digital marketing agency striving to develop a comprehensive employee benefits program.

9. Marketing consulting

Marketing consultants work magic with a company’s marketing strategy , enhancing brand visibility , customer engagement, and sales conversions . They specialize in diverse areas, including digital marketing, content creation, SEO , social media marketing, and more.

Skills needed:   Marketing expertise, creativity, analytical skills.

Typical clients: Any company needing marketing help, including tech startups, retail businesses, and service providers.

Common SMB problems:   A small café struggling to attract customers; an online clothing boutique experiencing low web traffic.

10. Career consulting

Career consultants serve as career architects, helping individuals set career goals and build successful careers. They assist with skill development, resume writing and enhancement , job applications, interview preparation, and market understanding.

Skills needed: Job market knowledge , interpersonal skills, H.R. expertise.

Typical clients: Job seekers, career changers, and businesses looking to support their employees’ career growth.

Common SMB problems: A small architectural firm looking to improve employee skillsets; an online tutoring company wanting to assist tutors with professional development.

11. Financial consulting

Financial consultants help individuals, families, and businesses manage their finances. They offer guidance on investments, budgeting, tax planning, insurance, and more. They help their clients make financially savvy decisions to achieve their monetary goals.

Skills needed: Financial knowledge, analytical skills, trustworthiness.

Typical clients: Individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes.

Common SMB problems: A family-owned bed and breakfast struggling with budgeting; an online art store owner uncertain about investment strategies.

12. Environmental consulting

Environmental consultants help businesses assess and minimize their environmental impact. They offer advice on sustainable practices, regulatory compliance, waste management, etc. Their work often intersects with the construction, energy, and real estate sectors.

Skills needed: Knowledge of environmental regulations, scientific expertise, and analytical skills.

Typical clients: Construction companies, energy producers, and manufacturing firms.

Common SMB problems: A local brewery looking to reduce water waste a small online furniture retailer aiming to source more sustainable materials.

13. Real estate consulting

Real estate consultants provide expert property buying, selling, and management advice. They analyze market trends, assess property values, and help clients make informed real estate investment decisions.

Skills needed: Deep understanding of the real estate market, analytical skills, and negotiation skills.

Typical clients: Individual investors, real estate developers, and commercial property firms.

Common SMB problems: A local coffee shop considering expansion and needing advice on location selection; an online business ready to establish a physical headquarters and requiring guidance on property acquisition.

14. Risk management consulting

Risk management consultants are the fortification experts of an organization. They identify potential threats to a business’s financial health, operational efficiency, or reputation and devise strategies to mitigate these risks.

Skills needed: Risk analysis, strategic planning, problem-solving skills.

Typical clients: Financial institutions, manufacturing companies, and businesses exposed to significant risk.

Common SMB problems: A small construction company grappling with safety compliance issues; an online travel agency struggling with data security risks.

15. Education consulting

Education consultants work with schools, educational institutions, or individuals to enhance learning experiences. They advise on curriculum development, educational policies, and strategies to improve student performance.

Skills needed: Knowledge of educational systems and policies, curriculum development, and interpersonal skills.

Typical clients: Schools, universities, and educational technology companies.

Common SMB problems: A local private school struggling to improve student outcomes; an online tutoring platform seeking advice on curriculum enhancement.

16. Legal consulting

Legal consultants provide expert advice on legal matters. They help with contract drafting, legal compliance, dispute resolution, and other legal complexities businesses may face.

Skills needed: Legal knowledge, analytical skills, attention to detail.

Typical clients: Businesses across industries require legal guidance without a full-time attorney.

Common SMB problems: A small brewery facing difficulties understanding licensing laws; an e-commerce platform unsure about customer data usage compliance.

17. Digital transformation consulting

Digital transformation consultants help businesses adapt to the digital age. They guide companies in integrating digital technology in all operations, enhancing efficiency and competitiveness.

Skills needed: Proficiency in digital technologies, change management, and strategic planning.

Typical clients: Traditional businesses looking to digitize their operations and tech companies aiming to update their digital strategies.

Common SMB problems: A local bookstore wanting to create an online presence; an established online clothing retailer seeking to streamline order processing with advanced technologies.

18. Sustainability consulting

Sustainability consultants assist businesses in incorporating sustainable practices into their operations. They help clients reduce environmental impact, comply with sustainability regulations, and build a green brand image.

Skills needed: Understanding environmental science, corporate sustainability strategies, and regulatory compliance.

Typical clients: Manufacturing companies, energy firms, and businesses aiming for greener operations.

Common SMB problems: A local organic grocery store wanting to reduce its carbon footprint; an online eco-friendly clothing brand needing help with supply chain sustainability.

19. E-commerce consulting

E-commerce consultants guide online businesses toward success in the digital marketplace. They assist in website optimization , digital marketing, customer journey mapping , SEO consulting , and conversion rate improvement .

Skills needed: Digital marketing, SEO, UX design, data analysis.

Typical clients: Online retailers and businesses transitioning from brick-and-mortar to online.

Common SMB problems: A small local artisan wanting to sell their products online; a niche online beauty store struggling to increase site traffic and conversion rates.

20. Healthcare consulting

Healthcare consultants focus on optimizing the operations and outcomes of healthcare organizations. They scrutinize all aspects, from personnel and profits to processes, offering valuable insights to enhance efficiency and tackle complex challenges.

Skills needed: Deep understanding of healthcare systems , analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities.

Typical clients: Hospitals, clinics, healthcare tech companies, and pharmaceutical firms.

Common SMB problems: A local dentist office struggling with patient scheduling efficiency; an e-health startup looking to improve their telehealth service delivery.

21. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consulting (DEI)

DEI consultants promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations. They bring an unbiased perspective to companies’ equity issues and help devise strategies that nurture an inclusive and respectful workplace culture.

Skills needed: Deep understanding of DEI issues, sensitivity to cultural differences, and practical communication skills.

Typical clients: Businesses across all sectors committed to improving diversity and inclusivity.

Common SMB problems: A local bakery with a culturally diverse staff experiencing communication issues; an online software development company aiming to build a more inclusive work culture.

22. Public relations consulting

P.R. consultants are crisis managers and image guardians for organizations. They strategize how to present the company in the best light, deal with potential crises, and facilitate effective communication with the public and media .

Skills needed: Excellent communication skills, crisis management expertise, and ability to think independently.

Typical clients: Enterprises, celebrities, political entities, or organizations needing to maintain a positive public image.

Common SMB problems:  A small town family restaurant facing negative press over a food safety issue; an online retail brand dealing with customer complaints going viral on social media .

23. Brand consulting

Brand consultants act as brand sculptors, carving out a company’s brand identity in the market. They conduct competitor analysis , initiate market research, and devise creative strategies to enhance brand perception and customer loyalty.

Skills needed: Creativity, market research skills, and understanding of consumer psychology .

Typical clients: Businesses looking to launch, rebrand , or strengthen their market position.

Common SMB problems: A local gym failing to differentiate its brand from competitors; an online pet supplies store struggling to connect with its target audience .

24. Nonprofit consulting

Nonprofit consultants assist charitable organizations in achieving their mission and improving their effectiveness. They help with fundraising strategies, volunteer management, marketing efforts, and organizational structure.

Skills needed: Understanding the nonprofit sector, fundraising strategies , leadership, and management skills.

Typical clients: Charitable organizations, educational institutions, and advocacy groups.

Common SMB problems: A small local animal shelter struggling with volunteer retention; an online nonprofit aiming to improve donor engagement and fundraising .

25. Food service consulting

Food service consultants advise restaurants, cafeterias, and other food establishments. They help with menu development, supply chain management, health and safety compliance, and operational efficiency.

Skills needed: Understanding the food industry, culinary expertise, and supply chain management.

Typical clients: Restaurants, hotels, catering businesses, and food delivery services.

Common SMB problems:  A small town café needing menu innovation to compete with larger chains; an online food delivery service struggling with logistical and supply chain issues.

26. Retail consulting

Retail consultants work with businesses to optimize their operations, sales strategies, inventory management, and customer service. They help brick-and-mortar stores transition to e-commerce and cope with the challenges of the digital era.

Skills needed: Understanding the retail industry, sales and marketing expertise, and knowledge of e-commerce trends.

Typical clients: Retail stores, e-commerce businesses, and department stores.

Common SMB problems: A local bookstore struggling to compete with online retailers; a clothing store facing inventory management issues.

27. Franchise consulting

Franchise consultants guide businesses through becoming franchisors or help potential franchisees select the right opportunity. They help with legal matters, business plans, marketing strategies, and location selection.

Skills needed: Franchise business models, legal expertise, and business development skills.

Typical clients: Potential and existing franchisors and franchisees.

Common SMB problems: A small fast-food restaurant looking to franchise their business; an online tutoring service considering becoming a franchisee.

28. Agriculture consulting

An agriculture consultant assists farmers and agribusinesses in making informed decisions that improve their farm operations’ profitability and sustainability. They can provide expert advice and assessments on crop management, soil health, livestock care, sustainable farming practices , and modern farming technologies.

Skills needed: Deep knowledge of farming techniques, environmental regulations, and agricultural economics. Furthermore, an understanding of biotechnology and data analysis proficiency can be beneficial.

Typical clients: Farm owners, agribusinesses, agricultural technology firms, agrarian nonprofits, and government agencies.

Common SMB problems: A small family-owned vineyard might struggle with soil health affecting their grape yield. Alternatively, an organic vegetable farm could explore ways to enhance sustainable farming practices to meet increased demand without compromising its organic status. These situations call for an agriculture consultant’s expertise.

29. Hospitality consulting

Hospitality consultants assist businesses in the tourism and lodging industries. They help with business development, customer service strategies, facility management, and creating memorable guest experiences.

Skills needed: Understanding of the hospitality industry, customer service expertise, and facility management skills.

Typical clients: Hotels, resorts, travel agencies, and event planning businesses.

Common SMB problems: A boutique hotel struggling with online booking management; a local tour agency facing marketing challenges in attracting tourists.

30. Logistics consulting

Logistics consultants help businesses streamline their supply chain, distribution, and transportation processes. They assist in optimizing warehouse operations, reducing shipping costs, and improving delivery times.

Skills needed: Supply chain management, transportation logistics, analytical skills.

Typical clients: Manufacturing companies, e-commerce businesses, and logistics providers.

Common SMB problems: A local craft brewery having issues managing distribution logistics; an online clothing retailer struggling with international shipping costs and regulations.

31. Payroll management consulting

Payroll management consultants streamline and optimize a business’s payroll process, ensuring employees’ accurate and timely payments. They help create efficient payroll structures, integrate payroll systems, ensure regulatory compliance, and manage payroll taxes.

Skills needed: Extensive knowledge of payroll systems and payroll services , tax regulations, auditing skills, numerical proficiency, and a thorough understanding of local and international labor laws.

Typical clients: Any organization that manages a workforce, from small businesses to multinational corporations, across industries.

Common SMB problems: An e-commerce startup might struggle with managing payroll for its remote workers across different states or countries, creating issues with tax compliance and payment schedules. In another scenario, a local retail business may experience errors in calculating overtime, leading to discrepancies in employee pay.

Finally, don’t forget to consider the size of your target market. Not every niche will be lucrative. You can make more informed decisions once you understand each niche’s total addressable market (TAM) .

2. Write a business plan

Starting a new business is quite an adventure, and like any good journey, it can be helpful to have a map. That’s where a business plan comes in.

It’s not a must-have, but it can help clarify your thoughts and dodge some rookie mistakes.

Believe it or not, studies show that folks who take the time to jot down a business plan when kick-starting a business are 2.5 times more likely to see their dreams turn into reality. Not only that but crafting a business plan also helps you sharpen skills that’ll be a tremendous asset down the line.

Don’t sweat over making every little detail perfect in your business plan.

You certainly don’t need to lose sleep over writing a 100-page document. There are tons of practical one-page business plan models out there that can guide you in writing a concise, one-page business plan.

Different consulting business models

The independent consultant model.

As an independent consultant, you are the captain of your ship. You work directly with clients, deliver projects single-handedly, and manage all aspects of your business operations.

This model is an excellent fit if you prefer maintaining flexibility and having hands-on involvement in every project. It requires a high level of expertise in your niche and solid business and time management skills.

The consultancy firm model

In the consultancy firm model, you set up a team of consultants, each contributing their unique expertise. You focus on leading the organization and contributing to client projects.

This model allows for scalability and an expanded service offering, making it a viable option if you’re targeting large businesses and complex projects. However, it also comes with increased team management responsibilities, including hiring, training, and retention.

The productized consulting model

Productized consulting takes a unique approach to consulting services.

Instead of delivering bespoke advice and solutions, you build a standardized “products” suite based on your expertise. These could range from online courses and digital tools to books and webinars. You sell these to clients at a fixed price, creating a scalable source of passive income.

This model allows you to leverage your knowledge and reach a wider audience, but it requires product development and marketing skills.

The hybrid consulting model

A hybrid model is a fusion of two or more models tailored to your preferences and business goals. For example, you could combine independent consulting with productized services, delivering personalized consulting while offering pre-packaged digital resources.

This model gives you the flexibility to design a business that aligns with your skill set, work style, and the needs of your target market.

The networked consulting model

In the networked consulting model, you collaborate with other independent consultants, forming a network of specialists. You refer work to each other, collaborate on projects, or even pitch together as a virtual firm for more significant contracts.

This model allows you to extend your service offering and reach without the overheads of running a firm. It requires strong networking skills and forming mutually beneficial professional relationships.

The subscription consulting model

In this model, instead of charging per project, you offer your consulting services for a regular subscription fee. Clients get a certain amount of your time or specific services each month.

This provides steady recurring revenue and allows you to form deeper client relationships. It suits consultants whose services involve ongoing work, like business coaching, digital marketing, or I.T. support.

Each of these models has advantages and challenges, so choosing a model that aligns with your goals, preferred working style, and the needs of your target clients is crucial.

Need some help getting started? Check out our no-nonsense guide to writing a business plan . It’s packed with insights and free downloadable business plan templates designed to help you take your business from a dream to a reality.

3. Choose your legal business structure

Embarking on your consulting business journey, you’ve got to make a few critical decisions – like the kind of business type you want your business to be.

It might seem a bit dry, but this stuff is essential, as it affects everything from tax filings and liability to local, state, or national rules you need to follow.

There are different legal business structures to choose from, and for those starting, it can feel like trying to order food in a foreign language.

Here’s the thing – don’t feel pressured into registering your business immediately. Sure, becoming a sole proprietor might be easy on the wallet and quick to set up, but it could leave you open to more risk and potentially create a tax headache.

Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) could be smarter for most consulting gigs.

Invest some time into researching the business structures that could suit you. Consider which will benefit your business now and align with your future professional and personal ambitions.

Let’s look at the four main types of business entities:

• Sole proprietorship. This is the simplest entity. As a sole proprietor, you’re the lone ranger responsible for your business’s profits and debts.
• Partnership . This is when two or more people team up, sharing liability and responsibility for a business.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC). This structure allows owners, partners, or shareholders to limit their personal liability while reaping a partnership’s tax and flexibility perks.
• Corporation . This is a separate legal entity from its owners. A corporation can own property, get sued, pay taxes, and enter into contracts.

Consider what will work best for your current needs and future ambitions.

Hire an expert to form your company and save time. Our trusted partners can help: Northwest ($39 + state fee) or Bizee ($199 + state fee) . We recommend Northwest. After evaluating the leading registration companies, Northwest stands out as our top choice due to its competitive pricing, exceptional customer support, and commitment to privacy. Pay just $39 + state fees and you'll get a free year of registered agent service, articles of organization, privacy, and client support from local experts.

And a heads up – in most states, if you’re planning to run your consulting firm under a different name than your legal business name, you need to register this with the secretary of state or county clerk.

For instance, if your registered company is an LLC named “Three Brothers, LLC,” but you’re selling services as “Three Tigers,” you might have a problem. That’s because your registered name and your trade name don’t match.

But don’t worry, this is not as scary as it sounds. You can sort this out by registering your trade name with your state (and or local government) by filing a “doing business as” (DBA) certificate. Also known as an “assumed name,” “fictitious business name,” or “trade name.” Need help? Check out this super handy resource that breaks down what a DBA is, the state requirements for a DBA, and how to file a DBA in all 50 states and U.S. territories .

3. Set up business accounting and bookkeeping

Let’s talk about something I find less cool but super important – business accounting and bookkeeping . This stuff is vital to understanding your cash flow and filing taxes correctly.

Accounting is all about recording, organizing, and presenting your financial info. It’s the backbone of your business’s financial health, helping you make informed decisions.

Bookkeeping is more about recording, storing, and retrieving your financial data.

Sure, the two overlap. But the significant difference? Bookkeeping is about recording and categorizing financial info, while accounting uses that info for analysis, strategy, and tax planning.

Hire a bookkeeper – your new best friend

Unlike accountants, bookkeepers have a simple mission: keep things organized, pay bills, track an invoice financing loan , and prep work for the accountant. They’re typically more wallet-friendly than CPAs (certified public accountants) and can handle day-to-day transactions, bank account balancing, basic reports, and keeping your financial records tidy.

Many consultants hire an external bookkeeper, paid hourly, who swoops in regularly to manage entries, bills, invoices, and receivables. The best part? They don’t need to be in your office 24/7. They can work remotely or drop by every couple of weeks.

An experienced bookkeeper isn’t just handy; they’re a lifesaver, especially when setting up invoice financing to speed up client payments. Plus, with the help of tools, a free invoice template , or invoicing software from Billdu for creating and managing invoices, they can help you be more efficient and less stressed.

Organize your financial information

Every business generates heaps of data; if it’s not organized and accessible, it’s as useful as a chocolate hammer. This is doubly true for your consulting gig. Even a few weeks of unrecorded transactions or a month of unmailed invoices can drown a small business.

A sharp bookkeeper can help you set up a filing system, keep bills organized, ensure invoices are sent out promptly, and introduce a disciplined, organized approach. They can even help set up and track invoice financing loans if clients are slow on payments.

Perform an annual health check

Don’t underestimate the value of a yearly review of your bookkeeping, accounting, and tax strategies. Give a hard look at your systems and the people managing them, and ask some critical questions.

Are you being cost-effective and productive with your accounting? Does your CPA understand your industry enough to give solid advice? Is your tax preparer skilled enough to keep you on the right side of the law? Most importantly, can you trim expenses while maintaining high-quality controls?

Take the time to reevaluate and bolster your accounting strategy. It might seem like a chore, but trust me, it’s worth it!

4. Assess your finances and secure startup capital

Let’s talk money. Assessing your finances is super important – it’s not just about tracking sales and profits but getting a complete picture of your financial health.

So, here’s the rundown on business finance:

Business finance is like your company’s personal trainer. It uses your financial data to help you manage your funds, making your operations profitable and sustainable.

And you’ve got plenty of business financing options.

You must figure out how to fund your business and fuel its growth. You’ll struggle to build a sustainable, profitable business if you’re not on top of your numbers.

Starting a business is exciting, but don’t let the excitement push you to overspend. Be careful with your funds and make purchases that make sense.

Expensive and unnecessary equipment? That’s a no-no. They might seem cool, but they could put your small business’s survival on the line.

Your startup costs may include the following:

• your brand design (logo, business cards , and website)
• any license or permit fees
• deposits and rent for a physical work location (if you plan to lease your own office space)
• basic infrastructural costs like VoIP phone and internet service, scheduling and invoicing software , etc. You can reduce costs by picking invoicing software that includes automated tax compliance.
• marketing and advertising costs

Here’s the upside – most successful consultants can run their businesses with low costs until they’ve built a solid client base, then they can spend more on equipment and supplies.

Securing startup funding

Securing sufficient capital is a major hurdle for new businesses. While self-funding is ideal, it’s often not feasible, making business partners or outside investors essential.

Before engaging potential partners or investors, clarify your expectations:

• What do you want from this partnership or investment?
• How involved should they be in decision-making?
• Is the relationship short-term or long-term?

Your partnership can take various forms: pure capital investment, cost-sharing, leads generation, or associating with a reputed brand. Knowing your goals upfront helps in selecting the right partner or investor.

Consider these relationship options:

• Crowdfunding. Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow raising funds from the public without granting them business control. However, it requires fulfilling commitments made to backers. Crowdfunding may not suit consulting businesses, but its growing popularity, projected to exceed the global venture capital industry, makes it worth exploring.
• Angel investors and venture capitalists. These traditional funding sources suit those planning a consulting agency. Convincing investors about your business viability is challenging, particularly for startups. However, finding investors becomes easier if you have a profitable consulting business looking to scale, particularly in technology. Remember, they may want significant involvement in your business to safeguard their investment.
• Partnerships. True business partnerships involve an equal investment of finances, resources, and labor. Alternatively, you can establish temporary partnerships with existing brands or consultants who complement your services. Here are two examples: (a) Partner with a consultant in a related field to offer combined services to a broader client base; (b) Collaborate with a software business in your field to create a lead exchange program, driving well-qualified leads to each other. The crux is finding a partner who shares your goals and fostering mutual motivation to succeed.
• Strategic alliances. This is a collaboration where you and another business agree to combine resources to achieve a common goal. For example, a marketing consultant might form a strategic alliance with a graphic design firm . Together, they could offer a more comprehensive service to their clients. Both businesses retain their independence but might share costs, risks, and rewards.
• Joint ventures. A joint venture (J.V.) is a business agreement in which parties agree to pool their resources to accomplish a specific task or business activity. Unlike a strategic alliance, a J.V. often results in the creation of a new business entity. For instance, two consulting firms might create a J.V. to tackle a market segment neither could own. This type of arrangement typically involves more commitment and investment than a strategic alliance but can lead to greater rewards due to the combined strength of the partners.

Finally, remember that accounting and bookkeeping system we discussed earlier? It’s back in play here. You need to set up one to keep tabs on your finances. It’s essential for understanding cash flow and filing taxes, but it also helps you track income, expenses, capital expenditures, profit, loss, EBITDA, and so on.

5. Develop your brand identity

Think brands are only for the big corporations?

They’re super crucial for small businesses, especially independent consultants.

A solid brand adds a layer of professional polish that can be tricky for small outfits to establish. So, don’t leave your brand identity to fate – building a successful consulting biz requires serious attention to branding .

Let’s rewind – your brand is your company’s public persona. Ideally, it should reflect your business’s best and most vital traits.

For consultants, credibility is king. A lackluster brand identity undermines that.

Good design isn’t just a luxury – it’s essential for you and your clients.

Picture this – you’re selling $10,000 projects and want to double the price. To do that, you must articulate the value differently, and design can help.

Before you dive into networking, ask yourself some key questions. What persona do I want my brand to project? Who needs my services? What unique value do I offer? What are my brand values ? What’s the core part of my client’s experience? Your answers will shape your brand’s core and influence your future branding decisions, from your company name and logo design to your website design.

And remember, you don’t have to break the bank to create a strong brand identity. Here’s a guide to help you figure out the sweet spot for pricing:

• How much should a logo design cost?
• How much does a business card cost?
• How much should brochure design cost?
• How much does website design cost?

These guides cover various price points, so you’ll find something that fits your budget.

Ultimately, building a successful consulting business is about brand authenticity and connection . A compelling brand can make that happen. Whether you’re starting or thinking about a rebrand , take the time to think about your brand. It might make all the difference.

For more on establishing and maintaining a consistent brand identity, check out Grow Your Small Business with Consistent Branding .

Marketing psychology can help you increase revenues

Marketing Psychology can help you boost your revenues by incorporating psychological principles into your marketing strategy.

6. Create an effective fee structure

Creating an effective fee structure starts with understanding your operating costs – rent, utilities, subscriptions, taxes, supplies, and salaries. But don’t forget to factor in profit, which is crucial for business sustainability. And remember to pick a an appropriate consulting model.

Envision how you want to run your consulting business – a brick-and-mortar agency, a home office, or a global setup while traveling. Your fees should support this style. For various strategies, see this article by Andrea Coutu of Consulting Journal.

Thoroughly dissect your operational costs, which stretch beyond fixed and variable expenses like rent, utilities, and supplies, to incorporate aspects like:

• Time investment. Calculate the non-billable hours spent on marketing, administration, and skill enhancement.
• Risk mitigation. Factor in a buffer for unforeseen circumstances or potential risks, such as project overruns or unexpected costs.
• Profit margin. Explicitly ascertain a profit margin that compensates for your expertise and ensures business growth.

Next, conduct a robust analysis of:

• Competitor pricing. Understand competitors’ pricing strategies and identify market gaps or opportunities.
• Clients’ paying capacity. Evaluate the financial bandwidth of your target audience and what they’re willing to pay for your services.
• Unique Value Proposition . Gauge how your unique offerings and expertise can justify a premium or competitive pricing strategy.

Your pricing should resonate with the tangible and intangible benefits clients derive. To augment your perceived value:

• Showcase expertise. Use case studies, testimonials, and certifications to validate your expertise and results.
• Brand positioning . Ensure your branding, from website design to communication, exudes professionalism and competence.

Next, explore, understand, and select a pricing strategy that aligns with your services and client expectations:

• Hourly rate. Transparent and straightforward, this method is often suitable for consultants with clearly definable hourly services, such as legal consultants or I.T. troubleshooters. However, tracking hours is essential; questions may arise if work takes longer than estimated.
• Project rate. Ideal for projects with clear deliverables and defined timelines, like marketing campaigns or project management services. This could be risky if the work takes longer but beneficial if completed quicker. Adjustments may be needed for scope changes.
• Retainer. Suitable for ongoing, long-term services, such as H.R. consulting or business advisory, where clients require access to your expertise over a period.
• Value-based pricing. Charging is based on the value provided to the client, which can be highly profitable for consultants who significantly impact client revenues or costs, such as business strategy consultants or revenue growth advisors.

Additional revenue streams

Beyond direct consulting, explore alternative revenue avenues:

• Online courses. Leverage your expertise to educate others, ensuring a revenue stream decoupled from your consulting hours.
• E-books or guides. Create comprehensive guides or e-books based on your area of expertise, providing a low-cost option for those unable to afford your full services.
• Affiliate marketing. Recommend tools or services and earn a commission for each sale made through your referral.

Periodic review and adjustment

Ensure your fee structure remains viable and competitive through:

• Client feedback. Understand client perceptions and reservations about your pricing.
• Market trends. Stay attuned to shifts in market rates or emerging pricing strategies.
• Business evolution. As your expertise and offerings evolve, ensure your pricing reflects these advancements.

For more on fee setting, check out this online mini-course by Consulting Journal.

Consider offering online courses if you have unique expertise. It’s another revenue stream for your consulting business. Here’s a guide on how to sell online courses .

7. Launch your website and market your business

Your business website is not just a digital address; it’s your brand ambassador. Use your site to effectively communicate your brand ethos, values, and services to your target audience.

It’s crucial that your website truly personifies your consulting brand. For example, suppose you’re running a leadership consulting service emphasizing transparency and innovation. In that case, the site should have a modern, clean design with easy-to-navigate menus and transparent information about your services.

The website’s visual design elements should resonate with your brand’s voice and identity. For instance:

• Use your brand’s colors. If your brand colors are turquoise and white, these colors should be prominently displayed in your site’s design. For example, a sustainability consulting company might use green and earth tones to reflect their environmental commitment.
• Feature your company logo. Your logo is a visual shorthand for your brand, and it should be prominently displayed, preferably in the header or corner of every page.
• Write marketing copy for your target audience. Your website copy should speak directly to prospective clients’ needs and interests. If you’re a technology consultant, use language that tech-savvy visitors will appreciate and understand.
• Showcase your consulting style. Whether you’re more hands-on or prefer to guide from the sidelines, ensure this is evident. For example, a dynamic, interactive website may indicate a more engaging consulting approach.

Beyond these design elements, your website is an ideal platform to highlight your consulting achievements.

Feature testimonials and case studies from past clients to showcase your expertise and success. For example, a healthcare consultant might include a case study on how they helped a hospital streamline its processes for better patient care.

Including an online store on your website can be a strategic move, especially if you have proprietary consulting tools, books, or digital resources to sell. For example, a marketing consultant might sell eBooks or webinars on the latest marketing strategies.

Passive income can bolster your bottom line and is an important safety net for lean seasons.

Marketing your consulting business

Being an exceptional consultant is only half the battle; marketing yourself effectively ensures your talents don’t go unnoticed.

If you’re not selling your services, there’s a good chance that no one is. So, you’ll complete your current contracts to find an empty calendar with no income looming ahead. As a result, you’ll miss many opportunities to generate ongoing online marketing income and may need to start from scratch.

Establishing a steady pipeline of clients and potential clients involves spreading the word about your consulting services to your target market.

Ultimately, you’ll write many client proposals , so get used to doing so early in your consulting practice.

Client proposals are your chance to show how you can help clients solve their problems. You’ll need to be clear about the project’s scope, the services you provide, what you’ll charge for the services, the deliverables, and the time frame, and use an electronic signature tool to bind clients legally. And be sure you show how you and the client can measure the results.

One proven method to gain traction in consulting and attract clients is to share your expertise extensively.

Networking at industry events relevant to your clients can be a goldmine for insights about industry trends, networking with current and prospective clients, and leveraging word-of-mouth referrals to generate fresh consulting leads. For example, if you’re a technology consultant, participating in tech expos or conventions can put you directly in contact with potential clients.

Participating in events catered to the consulting industry could also be beneficial, as you can build connections with other consultants and potential clients. This could also expose you to different approaches to delivering a persuasive value proposition when offering your consulting services to clients.

When attending these events, carry business cards and brochures about your services, complete with contact information, including a phone number. While email communication is prevalent,   other tactics like an email signature can help strengthen your business communication and establish trust with prospective clients.

In your marketing collateral, include the following:

• A comprehensive overview of your services
• A persuasive argument about why you’re the best choice
• Convincing reasons to hire you
• A concise biography containing relevant information
• A snapshot of your existing client portfolio

Also, consider exploring content marketing strategies tailored for consultants. Writing an ebook about your field of expertise or maintaining a regular blog can help establish you as an authority in your niche, improve your search ranking through SEO practices, and gather email leads. For example, a leadership consultant could blog about the latest trends in leadership and management, drawing from their own experiences and insights.

As a burgeoning business owner, capitalize on the exposure offered by social media marketing . Platforms such as Twitter , Facebook, and LinkedIn can help build an audience of followers.

Regularly post helpful tips, insights, and articles related to your services. By engaging with your followers and participating in relevant discussions, you present yourself as a subject matter expert, reinforcing your reputation as a knowledgeable and reliable consultant.

Invest in a social media management tool like Buffer for scheduling posts beforehand, freeing up your day to focus on clients. However, regular check-ins are essential to address client inquiries promptly.

Consider collaborating with micro-influencers in your industry, as aligning your brand with theirs can boost credibility and accelerate growth.

Here are other marketing strategies and tactics that can help you grow your consulting business:

Host free workshops or webinars

Free educational content through workshops or webinars can exhibit your expertise and attract potential clients.

Best for: I.T. consultants, marketing consultants, and management consultants. Not good for: Legal consultants, financial advisors, medical consultants.

Collaboration and partnerships

Join other consultants or businesses to expand your client base by providing complementary services. Best for: Technology consultants, business strategy consultants, marketing consultants. Not good for: H.R. consultants, independent financial consultants, health & safety consultants.

Whitepapers and case studies

Publishing in-depth whitepapers and client case studies demonstrates your skills and past successes. Best for: Data analytics consultants, research consultants, and financial consultants. Not good for: Image, lifestyle, or social media consultants.

Leverage client testimonials

Use your positive feedback and testimonials from past clients in your marketing materials to build trust. Best for: Management consultants, education consultants, H.R. consultants. Not good for: Cybersecurity consultants, legal consultants, crisis management consultants.

Join online forums and groups

Engage in online communities related to your niche, offering advice and establishing your expertise. Best for: Tech consultants, SEO consultants, freelance writing consultants. Not good for: Medical consultants, corporate strategy consultants, or tax consultants.

Implement a referral program

Reward existing clients for referring new clients to your consulting business. Efficient referral program software can streamline this process, making it easy to track and reward referrals. Best for: Career consultants, small business consultants, fitness consultants. Not good for:  Forensic, industrial safety, and agricultural consultants.

Pitch to local media

Offer your expertise for free to local media in exchange for publicity.

Best for: Personal finance consultants, relationship consultants, wellness consultants. Not good for: I.T. consultants, biotech consultants, energy consultants.

Speak at conferences

Presenting at conferences can establish you as an authority and help network with potential clients.

Best for: Environmental consultants, scientific researchers, marketing consultants. Not good for: Personal shopping, etiquette, or hobby consultants.

Engage in direct email marketing

Sending targeted emails with valuable content to a segmented audience can generate leads. Best for: Sales consultants, digital marketing consultants, and e-commerce consultants. Not good for: Grief consultants, child behavior consultants, or art consultants.

Local business community involvement

Engaging with local business communities or chambers of commerce can help foster local client relationships. Best for: Retail consultants, local marketing consultants, and hospitality consultants. Not good for: International trade, space, and research & development consultants.

Sharing regular posts about industry insights or tips showcases your expertise and improves your website’s visibility on search engines. Best for: Marketing consultants, career coaches, nutrition consultants. Not good for:  Privacy consultants, forensic consultants, chemical consultants.

Hosting online seminars can display your knowledge to a wide audience and attract potential leads. Best for: Financial consultants, I.T. consultants, marketing consultants. Not good for: Art consultants, fashion consultants, or local retail consultants.

Creating or participating in podcasts can help you reach new audiences and discuss industry trends and insights.

Best for: Personal development coaches, financial advisors, and health consultants. Not good for:  Cybersecurity consultants, data privacy consultants, industrial consultants.

Speaking and teaching

Leading workshops or courses and speaking at events can build your reputation and network. Best for: Business consultants, educational consultants, leadership consultants. Not good for:  Legal consultants, risk management consultants, chemical safety consultants.

Social media marketing

Using platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to share content and engage with followers can enhance your online presence and credibility.

Best for: Social media consultants, branding consultants, travel consultants. Not good for:  Data security consultants, industrial safety consultants, forensic consultants.

Print or digital advertising

Placing ads in newspapers, magazines, or online platforms can promote your services to a broader audience.

Best for: Event planners, small business consultants, real estate consultants. Not good for: Scientific research consultants, aerospace consultants, and biomedical consultants.

Cold calling and emailing

Directly contacting potential clients might generate quick leads, but it might also have low conversion rates.

Best for: B2B service providers, sales consultants, and marketing consultants. Not good for:  Childcare consultants, mental health consultants, art consultants.

Remember, marketing becomes more straightforward once you’ve established a client base. According to this study , “43.7% of consultants reported that referrals were their top-earning marketing strategy”. Don’t hesitate to ask satisfied clients for referrals, as they can be a significant marketing asset.

Starting out, covering as many marketing channels as possible is wise. As you grow, you’ll naturally discover what methods work best for your consulting business.

8. Grow your consulting business

Starting a consulting business is thrilling, but it’s just the beginning. Here are five exciting steps to take your consulting business to the next level:

Study your competitors

Get your magnifying glass out and take a good, hard look at what other consultants or firms in your space are up to.

You’ll uncover their secrets to success and spot areas they’ve missed, carving out unique opportunities for you. Notice their marketing approach, service offerings, and how they price their services. A competitive analysis will give insights into your customers’ journeys and ways to make your service the top pick.

Be a storyteller

Starting a blog is like opening a window into your consulting world. It gives your business a voice, helps you become a trusted authority in your field, and boosts your online visibility.

If you’re scratching your head about what to write, your clients are your best inspiration. Address their challenges and questions in your blog posts. Plus, sharing these posts with potential clients can convince them of your expertise.

Be the thought leader

Beyond blogging, sharing your insights on social networks can amplify your reach. Use platforms like HARO to connect with journalists and bloggers who can quote you in their stories. This way, you can gain your consulting niche’s recognition as a thought leader.

Broaden your horizons

Your competitive analysis might reveal services your competitors offer that you don’t. Can you fill these gaps?

For example, if you’re a content marketing consultant, could you extend your services to include email or social media marketing? But remember, only add services that align with your expertise.

Make friends

The world is full of potential connections, and they’re only a click away from the internet. Networking online might seem tricky, but with platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, you can spark conversations with industry peers and potential clients. Regular interaction can rekindle old connections and forge new ones.

Test these strategies and find the ones that boost your client base and help your consulting business thrive. Remember, it’s not about copying others but learning from them and building a brand that reflects you.

Grow your team

The life of an entrepreneur can often feel solitary, especially when you’re launching your consulting business. While the journey may start with you at the helm, remember the goal is to grow and expand, which calls for additional hands on deck.

After all, time is a finite resource, and you can’t run a successful consulting business burning the midnight oil every night. As your business scales up, you must delegate tasks to ensure you continue delivering exceptional service to your clients.

However, expanding your team doesn’t mean hiring without a strategy. Each new member should bring immediate value to your business. This decision is highly specific to your business, as every consulting venture has unique challenges and requirements.

Reflect on your strengths and weaknesses to determine who your first hire should be.

For instance, if marketing isn’t your strong suit, consider hiring a marketing manager to help map your business plan. Just ensure you validate their credibility, perhaps through references or evaluation letters , to guarantee they’re the real deal.

If dealing with numbers gives you a headache, a billing specialist could be your saving grace, managing accounts and ensuring payments are collected on time.

In essence, your first employees should fill the gaps in your expertise. Building a well-rounded team ensures a sturdy foundation for your business.

For many entrepreneurs, the first hire is often a part-time virtual assistant – a jack-of-all-trades ready to dive in, learn, and grow with the company. This person should be reliable, proactive, and have a strong work ethic. Having someone dependable on your side will make your journey less stressful and more enjoyable.

So, take a moment to reflect: what does your business truly need? Who could help turn your weaknesses into strengths and pave the way for your consulting business to thrive?

Start your consulting journey today

Venturing into entrepreneurship, especially after years of enjoying the safety of a salaried job, can be daunting.

The fact that you’ve made it this far in the article indicates a spark within you, a desire for something more fulfilling, more liberating.

Starting a consulting business can be a transformative journey, not just a decision. It’s a courageous step, a move that speaks volumes about your passion, expertise, and readiness to shape your destiny.

Are you ready to embrace this adventure, empower others with your knowledge, and define your own path?

The world of consulting awaits your unique perspective and innovative solutions. Will you rise to the challenge and create your own consulting legacy?

Associations

• Airport Consultants Council
• American Marketing Association
• Association of Management Consulting Firms
• Canadian Association of Management Consultants
• Canadian Marketing Association
• Direct Marketing Association
• Direct Selling Association
• Information Technology Association of America
• Institute of Management Consultants USA
• International Advertising Association
• International Association of Registered Financial Consultants
• International Association for Wedding Professionals
• International Branding Association
• IWA – International Webmasters Association
• National Retail Federation
• Professional & Technical Consultants Association
• Public Relations Society of America
• Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization
• SMEI The worldwide professional association for sales & marketing
• The National Association of Sales Professionals
• The Society of Professional Consultants
• Word of Mouth Marketing Association

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about consulting

1. where can a consulting business identify government contracts to pursue.

You can find government contracts on official government procurement sites such as SAM.gov in the U.S. This platform lists federal business opportunities. Remember, each country has its own respective platform.

2. Can I establish a consulting business while still employed elsewhere?

Absolutely! Starting a consulting business as a side venture is possible. It allows you to test the waters and build a client base without risking your current employment. Just ensure that there’s no conflict of interest with your present job.

3. Which are promising sectors to launch a consulting business in?

The best field for your consulting business depends on your skills, experience, and passion. However, industries like I.T., H.R., business strategy, healthcare, and environmental sustainability are seeing high demand for consultants.

4. What credentials are required to start a consulting business?

While there are no specific requirements to start a consulting business, having relevant qualifications, certifications, and experience in your chosen field will boost your credibility and attract potential clients.

5. How can I price my consulting services?

Pricing can be based on factors like market rates, the complexity of the work, the client’s budget, and your experience. You can choose an hourly rate, a per-project fee, or value-based pricing.

6. How do I market my consulting business?

Multiple channels to market your consulting business include networking, social media marketing, blogging, speaking engagements, and email marketing. Highlight your unique value proposition and expertise.

8. Is a business plan necessary for a consulting business?

It’s not necessary but highly recommended. It provides direction, helps you understand your market and competition, and is necessary if you seek funding.

8. How can I differentiate my consulting business from competitors?

Differentiating your consulting business requires you to clearly articulate your unique value proposition, leverage your unique skills or experience, specialize in a niche, provide excellent customer service, and build a strong personal brand.

9. Should a consulting business be incorporated?

Incorporation can provide benefits such as limited liability, tax advantages, and a professional image. It’s advisable to consult with a legal professional or business advisor to understand the best structure for your business.

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How to write a consulting business plan

If you want to work as a consultant, you'll need a plan. Here's how to create one just for you.

Consultants do things differently

If you’re a self-employed consultant your work isn't like other forms of business. Unlike retailers or manufacturers, you're not making and/or selling tangible products. And unlike service companies, you're not employing a team of people to provide solutions.

Remember you’re not not just selling your time. As a consultant, you will be paid for the skills, knowledge and abilities you've developed over your career.

We have some useful background reading about the benefits of becoming a consultant or contractor , which will help explain how such businesses work. But having decided to become a consultant, what's the next step?

Like all new small businesses, you'll need a plan. That plan will have to cover funding, growth, pay rates, expenses, marketing, equipment costs, training and qualifications. It will also have to cover your goals, and the strategy you'll use to reach them.

Consulting business plans are a little different to other business plans. Here's what you need to know to get your consulting career off the ground.

Who are you writing the plan for?

This is an important question to ask yourself before you start. For most conventional businesses the answer will be "For the bank and investors." That's because small businesses usually need startup funding to get off the ground.

But consultants setting up their own business might not need much funding – if any. It's still important to have a business plan though – not only to clarify the details in your own mind, but also to help you understand the potential risks and rewards.

A good business plan will combine elements of both finance and strategy, but the contents will vary depending on the target audience. We'll take a look at the options next.

A business plan for banks and investors

You may not need funding for capital equipment expenses or office rent. But you might need a loan to tide you over for the first few months, until you have a regular cash flow. The initial period for any new business can be a tough time – money worries will just make it tougher.

You may also decide that you want to make more of an impression by hiring office space, perhaps in a shared office environment. Or you might want funds to spend on marketing and advertising, particularly if you're offering consulting services in a competitive market.

For all of this, you'll need money. You could apply for a bank loan, look for grants, or try other forms of capital-raising such as crowdfunding. Whichever method you choose, any potential investors will want to see the important numbers. That means you'll need to cover the following points in your business plan:

• target market and sector analysis
• business objectives and USP (unique selling proposition)
• startup expenses and assets, including equipment
• overheads and fixed costs
• marketing strategy and budget
• funding requirements, loan collateral and cost of interest
• pay rates, revenue and cash flow projections
• sales forecasts in monthly intervals
• ongoing expenses
• growth projections and strategy

Some of this information will be difficult for you to estimate. It might be even harder for you to present clearly. Use your accounting software to help with figures and to produce professional tables and charts. Then, an accountant can help you include the right information in your plan.

A business plan for you

Of course, you might not need any funding. Perhaps you have enough savings to keep you going for a few months and clients already lined up. Or you may be starting your consulting career after an inheritance or unexpected windfall.

If money isn't an immediate concern, you can afford to be less formal when drafting your plan. That means making sensible predictions and setting goals for yourself, not just financial targets – though you should include those too.

This isn't an exercise in creative writing. The purpose of creating a plan is to help you concentrate on what you want to achieve. Some points to consider include:

Reasons for being a consultant

Why are you doing this? It's important to answer honestly. If the answer is “to make more money” or “because I'm good at what I do” then write that down. Write down all the reasons you can think of, then read them back. Do they sound convincing? Make sure you know your true motivation, as it will help you focus on your goals.

Consulting can mean you have an irregular income. Sometimes you might be busy, other times less so. It makes sense to keep some money in savings accounts, especially if you'll be paying tax at the end of the year instead of while you're earning.

Relationship risks

Think about the impact of consulting on your family or friends. Consultants often work irregular hours, sometimes from home, and they might be working at weekends. That can put a strain on relationships. Be realistic about this and set boundaries around when and where you will work.

Which clients to avoid and which to take on

You will already have an idea of the types of client you don't want to work for, because you know the industry you work in. For example, known late-payers can damage your cash flow so it's sensible to avoid them where possible. Look for clients who are reliable, as they’ll help make your business a success. Know that you can let go of clients who are more trouble than they're worth.

Training and certification

In many industries, especially IT, it's important to keep your skills up to date. But your clients are unlikely to pay for you to go on training courses – that's an expense you'll have to cover yourself. How will you stay up to date? Think about industry magazines, websites, forums, news feeds, conferences, courses, distance learning, peer groups and self-teaching strategies.

Personal goals

Perhaps you're planning to be a consultant for the rest of your working life. Maybe you want to do it for a couple of years and then move back in-house as an employee. Or you might want to start employing other consultants at some stage and build up an agency – maybe even sell it. It doesn't matter what your personal goals are, as long as you have some. Write them down and bear them in mind when making big decisions.

What to do with your profits

This is a good opportunity to think about how much money you want to make . Consider how much you will charge and what you will do with your commission. For example you may decide to use 50% to cover costs, pay yourself with 30% and put 20% back into your business.

Some of this information would be inappropriate to include in a financial business plan for banks or investors. But it can be very helpful in guiding you through the early part of your consulting career.

Five top tips for writing a good consulting business plan

Business plans can be difficult documents to write. If you've never done it before, thinking clearly and logically about your business strategy may not be easy. Here are some tips to help you succeed:

1. Write the first draft

Don't worry about grammar, structure or neatness. Just get the thoughts out of your head and onto the paper or screen. Some people find this easier to do in an informal setting, such as a library or café.

2. Do your research

Understand the market you're going to be working in. Get to know all the details, as it'll help you write a more effective consulting business plan.

3. Identify your USP

That's your unique selling proposition. Why should companies hire you and not one of your competitors? Think carefully about what you're particularly good at, then use that as a basis for marketing yourself.

4. Get feedback

Talk to your peers, friends, previous business associates and potential customers. Show them your plan and listen to their feedback.

5. Keep it simple

Don't write dozens of pages. You'll bore the investors and your plan will end up on a pile where nobody will ever look at it again – including you. Stick to the important points.

Update your business plan regularly

A business plan isn't a static document. It should change and evolve over time as your business grows. You will learn a great deal in your first few months working as a consultant, and that knowledge should be applied to your business plan. It's a good idea to review your plan every month.

You may find that some of what you initially wrote turns out to have been misguided, inaccurate or just plain wrong. That's normal. Nobody can predict every step a business will take. The important thing is to learn as you go along – and make use of that knowledge to improve your plan.

Plan for consulting success

A consulting business plan is written as much for you, the consultant, as for anyone else. The point of writing it is to concentrate on what's important. That clarity is what will help you succeed.

So don't look at a business plan as just another box to be ticked. It's a fundamental process when starting any business, particularly a consulting business where you will need initiative and drive to succeed.

Take the time to write a proper business plan, and keep it regularly updated as your business grows. You can use our free business plan template . You'll find it an invaluable guide to becoming a successful consultant.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This guide has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business or before taking action in relation to any of the content provided.

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How to start a consulting business in 2024 (in 7 steps)

• 12 min read

What is a consulting business?

• steps to start a consulting business in 2024

Can anybody start a consulting business?

Copilot: how consultants manage their consulting business.

Two years ago, I realized that what I was doing at my 9-5 job could easily be turned into a consulting business where I made my own hours and decided who I wanted to work with.

Time flexibility, autonomy, and income potential were at the top of my list of things I wanted to accomplish.

But, I also noticed that there were many consultants and agencies in my niche giving lackluster advice. I wanted to bring a new approach and be a guiding light to business — which is what essentially allowed me to consistently bring in new clients and help me achieve what I wanted in terms of time freedom and finances.

However, starting my consulting business isn’t something that happened overnight. In fact, when I quit my job, it took me almost a full year to figure out what I was doing and to make any sort of living income.

But, don’t let this discourage you. I clearly made A LOT of mistakes. When I first started, it felt like trying to scale Mount Everest barefoot. Though it seemed like an impossible task, the journey need not be so daunting.

This guide is your sherpa up that mountain, offering practical steps on identifying your niche expertise, creating an effective business plan based on client pain points, and managing finances like a pro. We'll even dive into legal aspects and relationship-building strategies for long-term success.

Intrigued? Let’s make this journey together!

A consulting business, at its core, is about problem-solving. It's where an expert in a specific field offers advice and strategies to individuals or companies who need it.

This kind of business opportunity can be highly rewarding since businesses are always looking for ways to enhance productivity, generate more revenue, and find solutions to intricate issues.

The essence of being a consultant lies not just in having specific knowledge, but also knowing how to apply that knowledge effectively. That's why experience plays such a crucial role here — the more problems you've solved before, the better equipped you'll be to tackle new ones.

In addition to solving problems, consultants often help with implementing solutions too. This might involve coaching team members on new processes or helping set up systems that facilitate improvement.

Consulting spans many industries — from IT and management, all the way to finance and HR. What ties them together? The fact they're built around offering specialist insight others don't have access to.

Now, let’s get into the steps you can take to start your own consulting business. These steps are based on my own experience of starting my marketing consulting business two years ago.

7 steps to start a consulting business in 2024

Here are nine steps on how to start a consulting business:

• Master a craft in a specific niche
• Create a business plan based on pain points
• Setting up your online workspace
• Marketing your business to acquire clients
• Managing cash flow and your finances
• Building relationships and referrals
• Taking care of the legal stuff

Okay, let’s dive deeper into each step.

1. Master a craft in a specific niche

Before you launch your consulting business, hone your skills to become a master in the specific niche. It's insufficient to just be familiar with an industry or field — you need to excel .

Your clients will rely on your expertise and advice for their business decisions. If you aren't fully equipped with deep knowledge of the field, it might lead to ill-advised guidance which can harm both parties involved .

This doesn't mean spending decades working in that particular field before taking the plunge into consulting though. But yes, having years of experience would certainly add credibility.

Finding your niche

Choosing a niche isn’t as complicated as it sounds — it’s all about identifying where your passion meets proficiency. Start by analyzing what interests you most and then look at how proficient or skilled are in that area. Here’s some help if needed.

Becoming an expert

To achieve mastery in any given domain, consistent learning is crucial along with hands-on experience. HubSpot has detailed insights on how anyone can grow from being good at something to becoming great.

Avoid client disservice

If I’m honest here, entering consultancy without sufficient expertise may do more harm than good to your client’s businesses due to its high-stakes nature (depending on the industry). This reinforces why mastering a craft within a chosen niche is non-negotiable when thinking about starting your own consultancy business.

2. Create a business plan based on pain points

Building your consulting venture starts with a solid game plan. A solid business plan addresses the real issues potential clients face in their businesses.

To start, you need to know what keeps your target market up at night. Your expertise should align with these concerns and provide solutions that alleviate them.

The next step is setting goals for your consulting business that directly address these pains. This will not only guide the direction of your services but also show prospective clients how valuable you can be to their success.

You'll then want to map out strategies for attracting new customers who experience these specific problems. The aim here is to position yourself as an expert problem-solver within this space.

Try looking in online communities for what problems and conversations are happening in your niche. Reddit is a great place to start if you’re not sure where your community hangs out. Try Googling something related to your niche and type in “reddit” after to see what conversations show up.

And last but not least, sketch out financial projections considering all these factors into account. Here’s where you’ll outline anticipated income streams and expenses tied specifically to solving client problems — this helps ensure sustainable growth for both parties involved.

Note: Don't forget tools like Copilot make managing finances easier by offering features such as invoice templates and third-party integrations like QuickBooks.

Once you have a general idea of what your goals and objectives are, it’s time to take some tangible action.

3. Setting up your online workspace

If you're about to start a consulting business, getting organized is crucial. But it doesn't mean having papers and sticky notes scattered all over your desk.

Your workspace needs to be as digital and streamlined as possible. This is where Copilot , a modern client portal for service businesses, comes in handy.

The power of Copilot: Everything at your fingertips

Copilot offers an intuitive platform that lets consultants manage everything from contracts , invoices, files, messaging, intake forms, and more in one place. Imagine having a clutter-free desktop but with access to every essential tool needed for your work.

A community you can count on

You might be wondering if this setup works for other consultants too. Absolutely. In fact, one of the largest customer bases of Copilot consists of successful consultants who decided to streamline their operations digitally.

Copilot isn’t just about managing paperwork, it's also about fostering relationships with clients through seamless communication features built into the system. It keeps conversations flowing smoothly while making sure important messages don't get lost in translation or buried under heaps of emails.

Say goodbye to disorganization chaos

To say starting a consulting business can be chaotic would be an understatement. But thanks to tools like Copilot, keeping track becomes less daunting and more efficient — letting you focus on what truly matters: providing exceptional services for your clients.

4. Marketing your business to acquire clients

Realizing who requires your services is the key to advertising them successfully. To stand out in the crowded market, you need a unique selling proposition (USP) . This is what sets you apart from others and makes clients choose you over competitors.

Once you figure out who you want to speak to, and what you want to speak about, it’s time to figure out how you’re going to reach your ideal clients. Many consultants initially take an outbound approach — usually reaching out to prospective clients via LinkedIn.

Social media platforms are excellent places for promoting your consultancy. You can use these channels to share valuable content related to your niche, positioning yourself as an expert.

However, note that taking the “content creation” route on social media can take a while to see some tangible results. This is definitely the route to go down for the long term. But, if you’re just starting out, you need to sign your first client as quickly as possible. And, to do this, many consultants (myself included) do a cold reachout approach.

Email remains one of the most effective ways to reach potential clients directly. An email newsletter filled with insightful advice can be just the thing that converts prospects into paying customers.

If you have the time, you can also go to events related to your industry and network with people. The rate of how efficient this will be depends on your industry. For me, as a marketer, this wasn’t the best option as it is very time-consuming (and I’m sort of an introvert). But, for non-tech-related industries, this is often a great place to start.

Some things you can do to network include:

• Nurture relationships within professional networks such as LinkedIn or industry-specific forums.
• Join local business groups and attend events where prospective clients might hang out.
• Talk at conferences or webinars — sharing knowledge helps build credibility and attract potential leads.

As your business grows, you can shift your focus to acquire clients “passively.” By passively, I mean inbound marketing. Here are some strategies:

• A well-optimized website attracts organic traffic; consider SEO blogging regularly on topics relevant to your expertise.
• Publish whitepapers or case studies demonstrating how you've helped previous clients achieve their goals. It’s proof that gives confidence.
• Copilot's client portal software , a powerful tool used by many consultants like myself, integrates smoothly with other marketing tools, letting you automate processes and focus more on delivering value.

5. Manage Cashflow and Your Finances

Running a successful consulting business isn't just about your expertise. It's also about smart money management. In the early days of your business, you’ll most likely act as the CEO, CMO, COO, and CFO — yeah, it’s a lot. But you’ll gain a lifetime of experience in a short amount of time.

One of the most crucial “roles” early on will be the CFO (chief financial officer). Most businesses die because they run out of capital. So, don’t take this aspect lightly.

When starting out, consider packaging your services . Determine the appropriate pricing for your consulting services that is competitive yet does not undervalue yourself. Don't undersell yourself but make sure you're still competitive.

Invoicing made easy with Copilot

Sending invoices shouldn’t be a chore. With Copilot’s invoicing feature , it doesn’t have to be. Create branded invoices and even set up recurring subscriptions — no sweat.

Also, to manage cash flow effectively, keep track of all expenses – both big and small. From office supplies to travel costs, every penny counts. This is where integrations with your back office platform, like Copilot, comes in handy.

Copilot integrations make life easier

Fumbling between different apps? Let Copilot do the heavy lifting by integrating with third-party applications like QuickBooks for seamless financial management.

6. Building relationships and referrals

You might be wondering how to get more clients for your consulting business. The secret? It's all about building solid relationships.

People trust people, not businesses . So it's crucial that you focus on developing genuine connections with your clients. They're much more likely to recommend someone they like and trust — that could be you.

In my marketing consulting business, after just two years of dedicated relationship-building, I started seeing a consistent stream of client referrals from past customers I'd done great work for. This is the power of word-of-mouth.

The power of networking

Beyond individual clients, don't forget the potential power within professional networks too. Connect with other consultants or professionals in related fields — these contacts can also provide valuable client referrals if they know and respect your work.

Maintaining client relationships

Maintaining those strong bonds even after projects end is equally important because happy clients are the best advertisers for your services. Regular check-ins let them know you value their partnership long-term.

Acing customer service

Finally, ace customer service at every step along the way. Delivering high-quality results is a given but being responsive, respectful, and easy to work with gives added reasons for referral recommendations.

Remember: Happy clients = more referrals.

7. Take care of the legal stuff

To start a consulting business, you'll need to tackle some paperwork first.

Make sure to check your local laws and register your company name with the authorities in your area so they know you're ready to conduct business and pay taxes. Registering your small business with the local government informs them that you're in operation and prepared to pay taxes. It might sound daunting, but it's not as scary as it seems.

Choose your business structure

The type of structure can affect how much you pay in taxes and your personal liability. Do some research or get help from an attorney or CPA. In the US, many consultants operate with an LLC (Limited Liability Company). But, this will all depend on your preference and practice.

You’ll also want to open a separate business bank account to separate your personal finances from that of your business. This will help you avoid headaches when it comes to tax season.

Nail down licenses and permits

You may also need specific licenses or permits depending on what kind of consulting work you do. For example, if environmental consultancy is your thing, certain certifications are required.

Tax obligations

Avoid any unpleasant surprises by understanding tax obligations upfront. Are you aware that consultants often have self-employment tax?

Breathe easy with liability insurance

Last but certainly not least, consider getting liability insurance for peace of mind because accidents happen even when we wish they didn't. This isn't everything there is to starting a consulting biz legally, but these steps will set solid foundations.

Well, the short answer is yes. But it's more about who should. The truth of the matter is that anyone can technically become a business owner and start a consulting firm. You don't need any special license or degree to hang up your shingle and call yourself a consultant.

This may seem like great news for those itching to escape their nine-to-five grind and set off on an entrepreneurial adventure.

However, there's more than meets the eye

Becoming successful in this field requires something money can't buy — expertise. It’s not just about having knowledge; it’s also about being able to apply that knowledge effectively for clients' benefit.

Your success hinges on demonstrating your skills in tangible ways. This could be through past work experience, professional certifications, academic achievements, or even client testimonials praising your abilities.

To really hit home with potential clients and succeed as a consultant you'll need a solid business plan. This helps demonstrate how you're going to solve problems for clients — essentially why they should choose you over someone else.

Above all else though, remember confidence counts. To thrive as a consultant you must believe in yourself before expecting others (clients) will too.

The journey of starting a consulting business is an adventure filled with twists and turns. But one tool that can help smooth out the bumps in this road is Copilot.

Crafting your workspace with Copilot

A well-organized workspace is essential for success, and that's where Copilot shines. This client portal platform lets you keep track of contracts, invoices, files, messaging, and forms all in one place.

Financial management made easy

No need to dread financial management anymore. Copilot makes it simple by letting you create branded invoices and recurring subscriptions right from your dashboard.

Bonus? It even integrates seamlessly with third-party apps like QuickBooks so you have everything under control without breaking a sweat.

Fostering client relationships

I've been running my marketing consultancy for two years now — believe me when I say relationships are key.

If done right using platforms like Copilot can get consistent referrals from past clients who loved working with us because we did an amazing job managing their projects smoothly through the portal.

Growing Your Consulting Business With Confidence

In conclusion, there’s no doubt about it: Starting a consulting firm isn’t easy. But, having tools such as Copilot on your side gives both newbies & experienced consultants the confidence they need to grow their businesses effectively and efficiently.

Launching a consulting startup is a complex adventure that goes far beyond just announcing your readiness to serve. Finding your niche where your expertise aligns with industry trends and new business needs is key.

If you’ve made it this far into the article, you've mastered the art of crafting an effective business plan that's not just a document, but a strategic roadmap addressing the real pain points of new clients. We've dove into client portals, equipping you with robust online workspace setups and innovative marketing strategies to captivate and retain clients .

We navigated the financial landscape, providing practical advice on project management tools like Copilot, designed to streamline your invoicing and financial tracking — crucial for any entrepreneur eager to maintain a healthy cash flow. We also shed light on the significance of relationships in the consulting industry — these connections are not merely advantageous but are the lifeblood of referrals and sustained growth.

Legal stuff? Consider it covered. Everyone is now equipped with the knowledge that diligent attention to legalities and choosing the right business name from the outset can prevent future legal entanglements.

Whether you're eyeing a niche in management, IT consulting, or any of the other types of consulting, this guide has laid the foundation. You're not just starting a new consulting practice — you're sculpting a beacon in the consulting industry.

Launching your consulting business is no longer akin to scaling Everest barefoot — it's an exhilarating climb we've prepared for together. With the toolkit you've assembled, the path to success is clear, and the summit is within reach.

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

How to create a consultant business plan

• Nirit Braun
• Oct 30, 2023
• 12 min read

When launching your consulting business, one of the essential first steps is crafting a well-structured and detailed business plan. Your consulting business plan is like a strategic playbook that lays out your goals, tactics and financial projections. It not only steers you toward success but also equips you to adapt and thrive in the dynamic world of consulting.

Keep reading for tips on how to build a strong business plan for your business. Use the template provided at the end to get started on your own plan.

Looking to kick off your consultancy business? Create a business website today with Wix.

Why create a consultant business plan? Top benefits to consider

A business plan forces entrepreneurs to thoroughly evaluate their business idea, target audience and competitive landscape. This process clarifies their vision and mission, ensuring that they have a clear understanding of how their consultancy will provide value to clients. A business plan helps you in the following ways:

Create a business blueprint : With a business plan in place, entrepreneurs looking to start a business can make informed decisions based on a solid foundation of research and analysis. They can choose the most effective strategies for marketing, pricing and service delivery, enhancing their chances of success. Your business plan can also be used to explain what type of business you'll start - whether that's an LLC, Corporation or something else. Learn more about how to start an LLC .

Secure funding : The cost to start a consultancy business can range from around $60 to several thousand dollars . For those seeking external funding, a well-developed business plan demonstrates credibility and professionalism. Investors and lenders are more likely to support a venture with a thought-out plan that showcases its potential for growth and profitability.

Set measurable goals : A business plan sets measurable goals and performance metrics, which is vital with this type of business . This allows entrepreneurs to track their progress, adapt strategies as needed and celebrate milestones along the way.

Want to remind yourself of the basics? Learn more about how to start a service business .

How to create a successful consultant business plan in 6 steps

In this section, we'll break down the key components involved in crafting a successful consultant business plan in six steps.

Executive summary

Business and domain names

Market analysis and research

Operations plan

Marketing and advertising plan

Financial plan

01. Executive summary

An executive summary serves as a concise overview of the consultant's business plan, providing a snapshot of the key components and the business' essence. It's usually the first section investors, lenders and stakeholders read, so it must encapsulate the business' value proposition, objectives, strategies and projected growth. To write a clear executive summary for a consultant business make sure to keep it succinct yet informative. Clearly state the purpose of the business, the services offered, the target market and the unique value proposition. Avoid technical jargon that may confuse readers.

Then you can mention the business' strengths, such as the expertise of the consultants, unique methodologies or specialized services. Emphasize factors that set your consultancy apart from competitors.

Briefly discuss the market need for your services and how your consultancy plans to fulfill it. It’s worth noting that strategy and management consulting, as well as technology consulting, financial consulting and HR consulting are in high demand . Highlight any trends or changes in the industry that your business can capitalize on.

Remember to include a snapshot of your financial projections, indicating expected revenue, costs and profitability. This provides a glimpse into the business' potential financial success.

Example of an executive summary for a consultant business

"XYZ Consulting is a boutique consultancy firm specializing in digital transformation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With a team of seasoned professionals, we offer tailored solutions to help businesses harness the power of technology for growth. Our unique approach blends strategic consulting with hands-on implementation, ensuring tangible results. In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, XYZ Consulting is poised to be the partner SMEs need to thrive. Our financial projections forecast a steady growth trajectory, with a focus on achieving profitability within the first two years. With a proven track record and a finger on the pulse of industry trends, XYZ Consulting is well-equipped to guide businesses toward digital success."

02. Business and domain names

Knowing how to name a business is crucial for a consultancy venture and a key step before you register your business . It's the foundation of your brand and influences how clients perceive your services. With Wix , you can use a free business name generator or consulting company name generator as helpful tools for brainstorming unique and memorable names. Ensure the name reflects your expertise and the services you offer.

Similarly, the domain name for your business website is vital. It should be easy to remember, relevant to your services and ideally, match your company name. Check the domain's availability using domain registration platforms. Ensure the domain name aligns with your consultancy's focus and services. Generally, this means keeping it short and easy to spell and pronounce.

Learn more: How to make a consulting website

03. Market analysis and research

Incorporating a thorough market analysis within your consultant business plan is essential. Understand the competitive landscape, target audience and market trends. Research your competitors' strengths and weaknesses, pricing strategies and client base. This information will shape your business strategies and help you identify gaps in the market that your consultancy can fill.

04. Operations plan

The operations plan outlines the logistical aspects of your consultancy. It covers location, premises, equipment and staffing requirements. Determine whether your consultancy will be home-based, have a physical office or operate virtually. Define the equipment and software needed to deliver services effectively. Outline your staffing needs, including the roles and expertise required.

05. Marketing and advertising plan

Your marketing and advertising plan outlines how you will promote your consultant business. Identify the most effective strategies to reach your target audience. Consider content marketing, social media campaigns, networking events and speaking engagements to showcase your expertise. Emphasize how your marketing efforts will build brand awareness and attract clients.

You’ll need to develop a suite of brand assets to use in your marketing as well, starting with a company logo. You can use a free logo maker to get a professional logo in minutes.

06. Financial plan

The financial plan is a critical component of any business plan. It outlines how you will raise money for your business initially and provides a timeline for reaching profitability. Detail your startup costs, including equipment, marketing expenses and personnel. Present your revenue projections, taking into account different pricing models and growth scenarios. Highlight your break-even point and the strategies you'll employ to achieve profitability.

By addressing each part of their plan, entrepreneurs can create a robust business plan that guides them toward achieving their business goals and building a reputable consulting brand.

Consultant business plan examples

These templates illustrate two hypothetical consultant business plans, each tailored to a specific niche. These are just templates and should be adapted to your specific business goals and industry dynamics.

Consultant business plan template 1: XYZ Digital Consultants

XYZ Digital Consultants is a pioneering consultancy firm focused on digital transformation for businesses seeking to thrive in the digital age. Our team of experienced professionals offers strategic guidance and hands-on implementation to drive growth through technology adoption. With projected profitability within two years and a commitment to excellence, XYZ Digital Consultants is poised to lead businesses into a successful digital future.

Company and domain name

Company name: XYZ Digital Consultants

Domain name: xyzdigitalconsultants.com

Market opportunity: The rapid shift toward digital operations has created a substantial demand for expert guidance. Our analysis reveals a gap in the market for holistic digital transformation solutions tailored to the needs of SMEs.

Competitor research: We've identified key competitors and their strengths, which informs our strategy to emphasize personalized service and comprehensive implementation.

Location: Primarily virtual, with occasional in-person consultations as needed.

Premises: Home-based setup with access to modern communication tools.

Equipment: High-speed internet, latest software tools and virtual meeting platforms.

Staffing: Founder and lead consultant, supported by contract specialists as projects demand.

Content marketing: Regular blog posts on digital transformation trends, case studies and client success stories.

Social media campaigns: Active presence on LinkedIn and X to engage with potential clients and share valuable insights.

Networking events: Participation in industry webinars, seminars and local business events to showcase expertise.

Speaking engagements: Leveraging speaking opportunities at conferences and workshops to establish authority in the field.

Startup costs (equipment, website development, marketing materials): $15,000

Revenue projections (year one): $150,000

Revenue projections (year two) : $300,000

Break-even point: Achieved by the end of year one

Funding: Initial investment and savings from the founder

Consultant business plan template 2: LeadersEdge Consultants

LeadersEdge Consultants is a dynamic consultancy dedicated to leadership development and organizational excellence. Our experienced team offers customized programs that empower leaders to drive positive change. With a projected growth trajectory and a commitment to fostering impactful leadership, LeadersEdge Consultants is poised to transform organizations and elevate their success.

Company name: LeadersEdge Consultants

Domain name: leadersedgeconsultants.com

Market opportunity: Our analysis reveals a growing need for leadership development programs in diverse industries.

Competitor research: We've identified competitors' offerings and recognized an opportunity to provide a unique blend of coaching, training and strategy implementation.

Location: Virtual consultations, with the option for on-site workshops

Premises: Virtual office setup with video conferencing capabilities

Equipment: High-quality audiovisual tools, assessment software and learning platforms

Staffing : Founder will serve as the lead consultant, supported by certified leadership coaches

Customized workshops: Designing tailored leadership development programs for individual organizations.

Webinars: Hosting webinars on leadership best practices to showcase expertise and engage potential clients.

Thought leadership content: Publishing whitepapers, eBooks and video content on leadership topics.

Collaborations: Partnering with HR and talent development professionals to expand reach.

Startup costs ( making a website , training materials) : $10,000

Revenue projections (year one): $120,000

Revenue projections (year two): $250,000

Break-even point: Achieved within the first six months

Funding: Initial investment from the founder.

How much should you be charging as a consultant?

The amount you charge as a consultant will depend on a number of factors, including:

Your experience and expertise

The type of consulting services you offer

The value you provide to your clients

The market rate for consulting services in your field

In general, consultants charge between $100 and $500 per hour. However, some experienced and highly specialized consultants can charge upwards of $1,000 per hour.

To determine your consulting rate, you can use the following formula:

Consulting rate = Hourly rate * Value multiplier

Your hourly rate should reflect your experience and expertise, as well as the type of consulting services you offer. For example, if you have 10 years of experience and you offer specialized consulting services, you can charge a higher hourly rate than a consultant with less experience and who offers more general consulting services.

Your value multiplier should reflect the value you provide to your clients. For example, if you can help your clients to achieve significant results, you can charge a higher value multiplier.

Here is an example of how to use the formula:

Consultant: Experienced consultant with 10 years of experience offering specialized consulting services

Hourly rate: $200 per hour

Value multiplier: 2

Consulting rate: $200 per hour * 2 = $400 per hour

Can a consulting business be profitable?

Yes, a consulting business can be profitable. In fact, consulting is one of the most profitable industries in the world. According to a report by IBISWorld, the average profit margin for consulting businesses is 20%. This means that for every $100 in revenue, consulting businesses generate $20 in profit.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the profitability of consulting businesses. First, consultants are able to charge high fees for their services. Second, consulting businesses have relatively low overhead costs. Third, the demand for consulting services is high, and it's only expected to grow in the coming years.

Of course, not all consulting businesses are successful. Some consultants struggle to find clients or to charge high enough fees. Others may not be able to deliver the results that their clients expect. However, for consultants who are able to overcome these challenges, the potential rewards are great.

Here are some tips for increasing your chances of success as a consultant:

Specialize in a high-demand area of consulting. This will allow you to charge higher fees and attract more clients.

Build a strong reputation and network of clients. This will help you to generate word-of-mouth referrals and land new clients.

Market your services effectively. Make sure that potential clients know about your services and how you can help them.

Deliver high-quality results. This is the most important thing you can do to ensure that your clients are satisfied and that they continue to use your services in the future.

How much does it cost to start a consulting business?

The cost to start a consulting business can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of consulting services you offer, the size of your business and your location. However, in general, you can expect to spend between $10,000 and $50,000 to start a consulting business.

Here is a breakdown of some of the typical start-up costs for a consulting business:

Business formation: $100 to $1,000

Website and domain name: $100 to $2,500

Marketing and advertising: $500 to $5,000

Office equipment and supplies: $500 to $5,000

Professional liability insurance: $500 to $1,000

Other miscellaneous expenses: $500 to $5,000

Total start-up costs: $10,000 to $50,000

You can reduce your start-up costs by working from home, using free or low-cost marketing tools and purchasing used equipment. You can also start your consulting business part-time while you continue to work your full-time job. This will give you a chance to generate revenue and build a client base before you leave your full-time job.

If you need financial assistance to start your consulting business, you may be able to qualify for a loan from a bank or credit union. You may also be able to find investors who are willing to invest in your business.

Which clients to avoid and which to take on?

Here are some tips on which clients to avoid and which to take on in a consulting business:

Clients to avoid

Clients who aren't willing to pay your rates. If a client isn't willing to pay your rates, it's a sign that they don't value your services.

Clients who are unrealistic about their expectations. If a client has unrealistic expectations about what you can achieve, you're likely to set yourself up for failure.

Clients who are difficult to work with. If a client is demanding, rude or disrespectful, it's best to avoid them.

Clients who aren't a good fit for your business. If a client isn't in your target market or if their business isn't aligned with your values, it's best to decline working with them.

Clients to take on

Clients who are willing to pay your rates. This shows that they value your services and are committed to working with you.

Clients who have realistic expectations. This makes it more likely that you will be able to meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

Clients who are easy to work with. This will make the consulting process more enjoyable and productive for both of you.

Clients who are a good fit for your business. This means that they're in your target market and that their business is aligned with your values.

In addition to the above, here are some other factors to consider when deciding which clients to take on:

Your own skills and experience. Make sure that you have the skills and experience to help the client achieve their goals.

The client's budget. Make sure that the client has a budget that's sufficient to cover your fees.

The client's timeline. Make sure that you have the time and resources to meet the client's timeline.

Your gut feeling. If you have a bad feeling about a client, it's best to trust your gut and decline working with them.

It's important to be selective about the clients you take on. By avoiding difficult clients and focusing on good-fit clients, you can set yourself up for success in your consulting business.

Consultant business plan FAQ

What qualifies you as a consultant.

To qualify as a consultant, you need to have the expertise and experience in the area that you're consulting in. You also need to be able to communicate your ideas effectively and build relationships with clients.

How do you start off as a consultant?

How to make 6 figures as a consultant, how do you pay yourself as a consultant, do consultants pay their own taxes, want to create another business plan.

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Consulting Business Plan: Complete Consultant Template & PDF

This consulting business plan is a comprehensive copy/paste example that includes an operating and marketing plan for any kind of consulting business. You can download it and make edits to create a plan for your business, whether you’re a startup consultant business or an existing consulting firm that wants to grow faster.

(Estimated reading time: 19 minutes)

Table of Contents

Consulting Business Plan Template

This plan for consultants contains in-depth information to build your own version. Simply modify the examples in this consulting plan to fit your specific line of work and you can quickly create a plan for industries such as (but of course not limited to):

• management consulting business plan
• advertising and marketing agency business plan
• healthcare consulting business plan
• IT consulting business plan
• fintech consultant business plan
• environmental consulting business plan
• security consulting business plan
• software consultant business plan

This business plan for consultants covers the following topics that go into a plan: your service list and descriptions, target market, marketing strategies for consultants, competition, and financial projections. You can download this example plan as a Google Doc for easy editing in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or save it as a PDF:

How to Use This Consultant Business Plan to Attract Clients

• Consulting Business Plan Template – This section provides guidance on what to include in each part of your business plan.
• Sample Consulting Business Plan Text – This part includes actual text from a real consulting business plan example that you can use as-is or modify to fit your specific needs.

Since many consulting businesses are established by solo practitioners, this consulting business plan example will focus on one-person firms. However, if you have partners or are part of a larger company, you can easily adapt this plan by replacing singular pronouns (I) with plural forms (we).

To help you chart a revenue course to starting your consulting business, this business plan example also includes a brief overview of a marketing plan. I recommend taking a look at (even downloading) my detailed marketing plan example as a model for yours.

Sample Consulting Business Plan

Let’s begin with the sections that make up your consulting business plan. I include sample text below the description of what to focus on within each section.

The first section of your business plan introduction is critical for framing your consulting practice.

1. Consulting Business Plan Executive Summary

Here are the key topics to focus on in this section of your consultant business plan:

• An introduction to your consulting business and the services you offer
• A summary of your target market and their needs
• Your key differentiators and what sets your consulting business apart from competitors
• Your approach to delivering high-quality consulting services and achieving measurable results
• A summary of your marketing strategy and how you plan to reach your target market

Consultant Business Plan Executive Summary Example

I specialize in strategic planning, market research, and growth strategies for small and medium-sized technology businesses that cater to the financial sector (i.e., fintech). Additionally, I offer consulting resources such as training programs, workshops, and customized solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

My consulting business is built on the belief that every business has the potential for growth and success. To achieve this, I work closely with my clients to understand their goals and challenges, and develop customized solutions that help them achieve their objectives.

My target market consists of small and medium-sized businesses in the financial technology industry, a.k.a. fintech, who are looking to make their operations more efficient based on data and methodical research. My management consulting services are tailored to meet their unique needs, and my approach is focused on delivering measurable results that align with their business objectives.

What sets my consulting business apart from competitors is my focus on collaboration and transparency. I believe in working closely with my clients to develop solutions that are customized to their specific needs, and I keep them involved in the process every step of the way.

To reach my target market, I will establish a strong online presence through content marketing and search engine optimization (SEO for consultants). I will leverage social media platforms to engage with potential clients and showcase my expertise in the fintech industry as a top consultant.

My consulting business is committed to helping businesses solve challenging business management problems that require rigorous analysis and careful calculations. With a focus on delivering innovative solutions and building strong relationships with my clients, I am confident in my ability to help businesses succeed and thrive in today’s competitive market.

2. Consulting Business Plan Service Description

Every consulting business description is slightly different. I’ve provided two variations in this section so that you can identify which one resonates best with your goals. Each version provides similar information, but is structured differently. I have also included consulting service description examples for each version.

Version 1: Service Description

Focus on these elements for this section of your business plan:

• The types of consulting services you offer and their value proposition
• A description of the types of clients you serve and the problems you solve for them
• A summary of your consulting methodologies and tools
• An explanation of the benefits your clients can expect to receive from your services

If you are an independent consultant or small group, even in serving in a consulting capacity at a different firm, you can introduce the fact that your years of experience enable you to offer the same caliber of services that larger more expensive firms provide at significantly higher rates.

Sample Consulting Service Description

• Achieving product-market fit
• Improving operational efficiency
• Enhancing strategic planning and decision-making processes
• Implementing change management initiatives
• Developing growth strategies and market expansion plans
• Optimizing financial performance and risk management

My consulting methodologies are based on a data-driven approach that combines qualitative and quantitative analysis to identify and solve business problems. I use a variety of tools and techniques, including process mapping, benchmarking, and SWOT analysis to develop customized solutions for each client.

Working closely with my clients, I help them develop actionable plans and implement them efficiently to achieve measurable results. By leveraging my expertise and experience, my clients can expect to:

• Improve profitability and reduce costs
• Increase efficiency and productivity
• Enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty
• Expand into new markets and drive growth
• Stay ahead of the competition and achieve sustainable success

I will share examples of past projects that provide a detailed framework along with results to show clients what they can achieve by hiring my consulting business.

With my 15 years of niche industry experience and wealth of successfully completed projects, I am able to offer exceptional high caliber service at lower overall rates than larger firms. My management consulting services are designed to help businesses achieve their full potential and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.

Version2: List of Business Consulting Services

Before you start writing this section, ask yourself the following questions to help define and refine your consulting services. For this consultant business plan example, I’ve included the following prompts to focus on what a management consultant would focus on. Tweak these as needed for your line of consulting.

• Types of consulting services : Describe the different types of management consulting services you offer, such as strategy consulting, organizational design, change management, or project management.
• Delivery methods : Explain how you deliver your consulting services, such as through workshops, one-on-one consultations, or online platforms.
• Benefits : Highlight the benefits of your consulting services for clients, such as increased efficiency, optimized performance, improved profitability, or streamlined operations.
• Unique value proposition : Describe how your consulting services are unique and different from those of competitors. This could include your methodology, tools, experience, or industry knowledge.
• Website URL : Include the URL of your website where clients can learn more about your consulting services and contact you for more information.

Below is my example of a management consulting services write up, including descriptions of each service, the benefits they provide, and your unique approach to delivering them. You can modify this section of your consultant business plan to fit your exact services offered.

This version is a little shorter than the one above and also includes a case study example link, since content like that will help clients understand the value you bring to the table. You can add a link like this in version 1 above as well.

Example: Management Consulting Services Offered

• Strategy consulting : We work with businesses to develop effective strategic plans that align with their mission and vision and drive business growth.
• Organizational design and development : We help businesses optimize their organizational structure and processes to improve performance and efficiency.
• Change management : We assist businesses in managing organizational change effectively to minimize disruption and achieve desired outcomes.
• Project management : We provide project management services to help businesses plan, execute, and deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Performance management : We help businesses implement performance management frameworks that align employee goals with business objectives and drive results.

Our management consulting services are delivered through a combination of workshops, one-on-one consultations, and online platforms. We use a data-driven approach that combines qualitative and quantitative analysis to identify and solve business problems. Our unique value proposition is based on our extensive experience working with businesses in diverse industries, combined with our personalized approach and commitment to delivering results.

Clients can expect to achieve a range of benefits, including improved organizational performance, increased profitability, enhanced employee engagement, and optimized project outcomes. See our go-to-market strategy case study example for details on the types of results clients can expect from our team.

3. Consultancy Business Plan Target Market and Buyer Persona

It is important to focus on a niche rather than offering generic services.

Consulting as an industry is highly competitive, so prospects may not be able to determine who is the best consultant for them. When you focus, your marketing efforts can be customized to the niche you specialize in.

Think of it this way: if you were to implement Salesforce or Hubspot in your business, would you hire a general IT consultant or a specialist in the product? A general IT consultant may have experience with different systems but may not be as familiar with the intricacies of how to set up Salesforce or Hubspot in a way that makes the most sense for your company.  A specialist, however, will have in-depth knowledge and experience and most all will use best practices for your business.

You would pick the Salesforce or Hubspot specialist without question. In my prior companies, I went through this exact exercise and hired specialists for each of these products.

Similarly, your management consulting business plan should focus on a specific target group so that you become known as a specialist for your niche.

Additionally, create a buyer persona – or a few – to get a clear picture of who you plan to target.

What Goes Into a Buyer Persona for a Consultancy

• Sample Name, Job Title and Role : I always like to give each persona a name to make it more real. Then, include the specific job title and role of the individual who is most likely to hire a management consultant, such as a CEO, CFO, or HR Director.
• Industry and Company Size : Add the industry and size of the company that the individual works in, as the challenges and needs of a small startup may be different from those of a large corporation.
• Goals and Objectives : Be sure to list the most common goals and objectives that the individual is trying to achieve, such as improving operational efficiency, increasing revenue, or expanding into new markets. These should tie into your product or service offering.
• Pain Points and Challenges : Know the pain points and challenges that the individual is facing, such as difficulty retaining top talent, ineffective decision-making processes, or lack of innovation.
• Decision-Making Criteria : Identify the factors that the individual considers when making a decision to hire a management consultant, such as experience, reputation, price, or industry expertise. This can include the influences – or rather, influenc ers , that the buyer relies on to make final purchasing decisions.
• Communication Preferences : Add what you believe to be the preferred communication channels and styles of the individual, such as email, phone, text or in-person meetings.
• Personal Characteristics : You can include the personal characteristics of the buyer, such as their values, beliefs, and personality traits, which may impact their decision-making process.

I’ve created several samples that you can download and have also provided one for this consulting business plan below.

Download 5 Free Buyer Persona Examples →

Sample Management Consulting Target Market

Given my strong background in financial technology (fintech), I specialize in working with fintech startups and small to mid-sized financial institutions.

My clients are typically looking for help in implementing new technology solutions, improving their operational efficiency, or expanding into new markets. As a fintech consultant, I help them identify market expansion opportunities where they could increase their total addressable market ( TAM ) and clarify the marketing plan to penetrate deeper into existing accounts, also known as the land-and-expand strategy.

My consulting services are tailored to each client’s specific needs and can include everything from strategic planning to project management. By working with me, my clients gain access to my expertise in fintech, as well as my extensive network of contacts in the industry.

4. Marketing for Consulting Firms

As a consultant starting a new business or growing an existing one, it is crucial to have a well-planned marketing strategy to acquire clients. In the Marketing Strategy section of your consulting business plan, you should outline how you will promote your consulting firm and services to potential clients. This section should also include information on your consulting branding strategy and how you position yourself in the consulting market.

Here are ten marketing ideas to consider when developing your consulting marketing plan, written as tactics that you can copy/paste into a consulting business plan template or PDF. You can even use ChatGPT, Bard, or other AI-writing tools to create a starter outline, but be sure to include your own original content.

Sample Marketing Plan for a Consulting Firms

To acquire new customers and expand deeper within existing clients, I will deploy the following marketing ideas for consultants and leverage partners to expand my brand’s reach:

• Developing an educational website : My website will contain information on my services, but more importantly it will include case studies and thought leadership content. The key to success will be my educational content as part of my long-term content marketing strategy. I will add lead capture forms on each high-intent article to convert website visitors into leads that I can nurture through email marketing and social media.

• Leveraging SEO : I will identify specific high-intent keywords related to my fintech consulting niche and optimize my website content accordingly. This will help my website rank higher on search engines and attract more potential clients through my educational content. Many of my articles and guides will include videos because research shows that content with videos and images enhances SEO. While many firms rely on paid advertising, using long-tail keywords can be an effective and cost-saving approach. By targeting “low keyword difficulty” and “high search volume” phrases, I can tap into organic search traffic that can continue to generate leads even after the initial investment. Therefore, as a consulting firm, I will prioritize SEO as part of my overall marketing strategy to increase my online visibility and attract potential clients. I will use MoreBusiness.com’s SEO Coaching services to accelerate my footprint online to drive sales from organic traffic.
• Podcasting with thought leadership content : I will share my knowledge and expertise by starting a podcast . This way, I can repurpose the content I create into multiple channels, including writing articles, blog posts, and white papers and using clips to sprinkle throughout my social media channels. I will also produce webinars and slide decks from these podcasts to educate my target market. Having experts as guests on the podcasts will allow me to expand my reach when the guests share posts on their social channels as well.
• Attending industry events : I will attend relevant industry events to network with potential clients and showcase my expertise. I will identify 10 unique events every quarter and inquire about speaking to build my reputation and attract new clients. My goal is to speak at least twice each quarter to new audiences.
• Partnering with complementary businesses : Partnering with complementary businesses can help me reach new clients and expand my services. These businesses would provide services such as IT managed services, accounting, legal and HR, which can lead to referral business.

• Building a referral network : I will leverage my existing network to generate referrals by first providing opportunities for others to get more business. This approach builds trust first, which can lead to getting referrals from others.
• Advertising on industry-specific platforms : I will advertise on industry-specific platforms such as trade publications, industry associations, and job boards and look at the cost-benefit of Google and LinkedIn advertising.
• Using email marketing : I will send regular email newsletters with business consulting topics to stay in touch with clients and prospects. I will send newsletters with trending topics, case studies, and other relevant content to keep them engaged and informed about the industry as a whole as well as projects related to my services.

5. Consulting Business Plan Financials

To calculate your projections, your business model needs to consider several factors such as your revenue streams, cost structure, market size, and growth potential. You’ll also need to look at any historical financial data you have to create realistic projections.

It’s important to keep in mind that financial projections are not a guarantee of your business’s future performance, but rather an estimate based on the information you have available. That’s why it’s essential to make sure the assumptions in your business plan are realistic and backed up by data.

Overall, the financial projections section of your consulting business plan is a critical component that helps you understand the financial feasibility of your business and attract investors or lenders. In the example below, I’ve included an outline of what an individual business plan consultant might put into their business plan. If you are operating with partners as part of a larger entity, modify this example to accommodate for your team’s output and productivity. This consulting plan example also includes various sources of revenue, not just billable time.

Sample Financial Projections for Consulting Business Plan

As a consulting firm, I have several sources of revenue aside from billable hours. These include:

• Retainer Fees : Some clients prefer to pay a fixed monthly fee in exchange for a set number of hours or a specific scope of work. This can provide a predictable revenue stream for the firm.
• Project-Based Fees : For larger projects with a defined scope, I may charge a fixed fee based on the work required. This allows clients to budget more effectively and can provide a higher profit margin for the firm.
• Commission Fees : For certain types of work, such as sales, I may earn a commission on the results achieved. This can be a win-win for both the client and the firm, as the client only pays for results achieved and the firm is incentivized to achieve those results.
• Product Sales : I will develop proprietary online courses to share my expertise in fintech consulting and grow advisory services with those who are not yet ready or unable to afford my consulting services. These will provide an additional revenue stream and can also be used as a freebie given to select clients to share with their staff.
• Referral Fees : By referring clients to other businesses or consultants, I may earn a referral fee. This not only provides an additional source of revenue, but can also help to build relationships and expand my firm’s network.

By diversifying revenue streams, my consulting firm can create a more stable and profitable business model. Our expected revenues for the first three years are as follows:

Year 1 Consulting Firm Financial Projections:

• Billable hours: 1,000 hours x $300/hour = $300,000
• Retainer clients: 3 clients x 10 hours/month x $300/hour x 12 months = $108,000
• Product sales: 5 sales x $197 = $985
• Commissions/referral fees: $10,000
• Total revenue: $419,985

Year 2 Consulting Firm Financial Projections:

• Billable hours: 1,400 hours x $300/hour = $420,000
• Retainer clients: 3 clients x 10 hours/month x $350/hour x 12 months = $126,000
• Product sales: 7 sales x $197 = $1,379
• Commissions/referral fees: $15,000
• Total revenue: $562,379

Year 3 Consulting Firm Financial Projections:

• Billable hours: 1,800 hours x $300/hour = $540,000
• Retainer clients: 3 clients x 10 hours/month x $400/hour x 12 months = $144,000
• Product sales: 10 sales x $197 = $1,970
• Commissions/referral fees: $20,000
• Total revenue: $705,970

6. Consultant Business Plan Conclusion

The conclusion section of a consulting business plan should summarize the key points of the plan and reiterate the main goals and objectives as you start your consulting firm. It is similar to your executive summary and should reinforce the value that your consulting firm brings to clients and how it will address their needs and solve their problems.

Your goal is to leave a positive and lasting impression on the reader, highlighting your consulting firm’s strengths and capabilities and conveying a sense of confidence in your ability to build a successful consulting business. Again, as in previous sections, I’ve written the example below for an individual consultant, which you can easily modify as you need.

Consulting Business Plan Conclusion Example

My consulting firm is well-positioned to provide exceptional services to our clients in the fintech industry. I have a highly experienced team through partnerships with individuals who have a track record of success in this fintech consulting, and we are committed to helping our clients achieve their business goals through innovative and effective solutions. I believe that by leveraging our expertise in operations management and technology, we can help our clients optimize their operations, increase efficiency, and ultimately, drive growth and profitability.

Through strategic partnerships, I’m able to offer a comprehensive suite of services to meet our clients’ needs, from project management and process improvement to software implementation and data analytics. My goal is to establish long-term relationships with our clients and become a trusted partner in their success.

I understand the challenges facing the fintech industry and are constantly adapting and evolving to stay ahead of the curve. I am committed to staying up-to-date with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in my field, and we are excited to bring this knowledge to clients.

Overall, I am confident in my ability to deliver exceptional value to our clients and achieve the business goals outlined in this plan. I am excited to embark on this journey and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

Start Your Consulting Business

Ready to get started? Download this consulting business plan template and save it as a PDF or doc file for future reference as you build out your business model and growth path.

Connect with me at MoreBusiness.com to help you grow faster! I’ve built several businesses and can help you fast-track your marketing and sales, especially through a managed podcast and thought leadership.

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How To Write A Consulting Business Plan

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for consultants who want to establish their credibility and get ahead in the industry.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines your vision for the company but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective business plan, you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article will provide an overview of the key elements that every consultant should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Consulting Business Plan Template

What is a Consulting Business Plan?

A consulting business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons why you will be profitable, how you can succeed in your market, what will set your product or service apart from others, and includes information about your team members, if applicable, to convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you have what it takes to make your venture successful.

Why Write a Consulting Business Plan?

A consulting business plan is required for banks and loan companies, and it is often requested by investors. This document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Consulting Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful consulting business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of a consulting business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your consulting firm
• Provide a short summary of the key points of each section of your business plan.
• Organize your thoughts in a logical sequence that is easy for the reader to follow.
• Include information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how it all started, and provide a timeline of milestones the company has achieved.

If you are just starting your consulting business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your consulting firm, mention this.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of a consulting business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends, identify your potential customers, and the potential size of this market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the consulting industry are you targeting?
• Who are your competitors?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now?

You should also include information about your research methodology and sources of information, including company reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or consulting services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you  determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what you are using as your unique selling proposition (USP) that will set you apart in this industry.

Complete a SWOT Analysis. Your SWOT analysis should include:

• Strengths : what are your strengths?
• Weaknesses : what are your weaknesses?
• Opportunities : how can you take advantage of competitive weaknesses and strike back at them with your strengths and possible new product or service offerings?
• Threats : what are the potential threats to your company? How can you prepare for them? What can you do to mitigate potential risks?

You will then use this information to develop your own competitive strategy. Determine your competitive advantage and how you will differentiate your business from these competitors.

Marketing Plan

Your consulting marketing plan is where you determine how you are going to reach your target customer(s). Your marketing strategy should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Make sure your service offering is clearly defined and differentiated from your competitors, including the benefits of using your service.
• Price : How do you determine the price for your service? You should also include a price strategy that takes into account what customers will be willing to pay and how much the competition within your market charges.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution will you use to reach them?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target market? You can use social media or write a blog, create an email marketing campaign, post flyers, pay for advertising, launch a direct mail campaign, etc.

You should also include information about your paid advertising budget, including an estimate of expenses and sales projections.

Operations Plan

The operations plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Management Team

Include a list of team members including names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific consulting industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Financial Plan

Now include a complete and detailed financial plan. This is where you will need to break down your expenses and revenue projections for the first 5 years of operation. This includes the following financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how will you generate revenue?
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, what is the net income or loss? 

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Consulting Firm

Balance Sheet

Include a balance sheet that shows what you have in terms of assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Consulting Firm

Cash Flow Statement

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Income : all of the revenue coming in from clients.
• Expenses : all of your monthly bills and expenses. Include operating, marketing and capital expenditures.
• Net Cash Flow : the difference between income and expenses for each month after they are totaled and deducted from each other. This number is the net cash flow for each month.

Using your total income and expenses, you can project an annual cash flow statement. Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup consulting business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Consulting Firm

You will also want to include an appendix section which may include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• A list of your hard assets and equipment with purchase dates, prices paid and any other relevant information
• A list of your soft assets with purchase dates, prices paid and any other relevant information
• Biographies of the key employees listed in the executive summary section above.
• References to people you have done business with who are willing to confirm their positive business holdings with your company.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and grow your consulting company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step by step process of how you are going to accomplish it. Sometimes it may be difficult to get started, but once you get the hang of it, writing a business plan becomes easier and will give you a sense of direction and clarity about your consulting company.  

Finish Your Consulting Business Plan in 1 Day!

Wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your consulting business plan?

With our Ultimate Consulting Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Consulting Firm Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Business Plan Outline

• Consulting Firm Business Plan Home
• 1. Executive Summary
• 2. Company Overview
• 3. Industry Analysis
• 4. Customer Analysis
• 5. Competitive Analysis
• 6. Marketing Plan
• 7. Operations Plan
• 8. Management Team
• 9. Financial Plan

Start Your Consulting Firm Plan Here

Consulting Business Plan

If you need a business plan for your consulting business, you’ve come to the right place. Our consulting business plan template below has been used by countless entrepreneurs and business owners to create business plans to start or grow their consulting businesses.

Important note: If you are looking for a business plan consultant , specifically, a consultant to help you write your business plan, we recommend Growthink who offers a business plan consultation service here.

Sample Consultant Business Plan & Template

Below are links to each section of your consulting business plan template:

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Industry Analysis
• Customer Analysis
• Competitive Analysis
• Marketing Plan
• Operations Plan
• Management Team
• Financial Plan

Next Section: Executive Summary >

Consulting Business Plan FAQs

What is a consulting business plan.

A consulting business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your consulting firm. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan, and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your consulting firm business plan using our Consulting Firm Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Consulting Firms?

There are many types of consulting firms. Most consultant companies are in business concentrations such as Management, Strategy, Operations, IT, Human Resources, Financial Advisory, and Marketing/Sales. There are also firms that are singularly focused such as those that offer business plan consulting.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenue and Expenses for a Consulting Business?

The primary source of revenue for consulting firms are fees paid by the client. The client will either sign a contract or agreement of the services it will choose and the pricing for those services beforehand.

The key expenses for a consulting business are the cost of leasing the office, employee cost, marketing/advertising costs, and any office technology or software.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Consulting Business?

Consulting businesses are most likely to receive funding from banks. Typically you will find a local bank and present your consulting business plan to them. Angel investors and other types of capital-raising such as crowdfunding are other common funding sources.

What are the Steps To Start a Consulting Business?

Starting a consulting business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Consulting Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed consulting business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your consulting business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your consulting business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Consulting Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your consulting business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your consulting business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Consulting Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your consulting business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your consulting business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful consulting business:

• How to Start a Consulting Business

Where Can I Get a Consulting Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free consulting business plan template PDF here . This is a sample consulting business plan template you can use in PDF format.

How To Start A Consulting Business In 2024 (6 Steps & Study)

This is the ultimate guide — with data — on how to start a consulting business in 2024.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to turn your skills and expertise into a profitable and successful consulting business .

Let’s dive right in.

(If you want to read our “ How To Start A Consulting Business Study “, click here to scroll down to that section)

Step 1: Choose Your Consulting Business Model

First, let’s define the term consulting.

Consulting is “the business of giving expert advice to people working in a professional or technical field.”

For example, I’ve spent over 21 years being a consultant.

I’ve spent 10,000+ hours on marketing , sales , fees , proposals — and everything else that consultants do.

So, I’ve accrued experience that enables me to give expert advice to people in the consulting field.

If you can provide advice that helps business-to-business (B2B) or non-profit organizations based on your past experience, you can consult.

People and organizations will pay you for your advice to help them get results.

Results like more sales, a lower employee turnover rate, a risk-free software project, help with executive decision making — the list goes on.

But before you start consulting, it’s important that you choose your consulting business model first.

Why should you do this first?

At Consulting Success®, we believe that your consulting business should support your lifestyle — and not the other way around.

That means that you should build the type of business that helps you live the lifestyle you want to live.

I’ve seen too many people end up building consulting businesses that trap them into a lifestyle that’s just like their 9-5 job…or worse.

To avoid that, you’ll aim at the type of consulting business you want by choosing the right model for you.

Watch the video below for an introduction to the 4 proven consulting business models :

Let’s talk about each model.

The Solo Consultant Model

As a solo consultant, you work closely with your clients and complete the project work yourself.

For example: Martin Krumbein is a strategy consultant who helps companies implement the right strategy for growth, enabling them to scale.

The solo consulting model is great for you if you want a lean, profitable, and flexible consulting business — a “lifestyle” business.

The solo consulting model is not right for you if you intend to sell your business (because you are the face of it), and if you don’t like the fact that if you stop working, it will be challenging for you to generate revenue.

Six-Figure Blueprint

The consulting firm model.

In the consulting firm model, you are responsible for running the firm instead of just working on client projects.

For example: Amanda runs an HR consulting firm , where she helps technology companies with culture, hiring, and talent retention. Instead of working on client projects, she manages a team of consultants who are implementing projects for their clients.

The consulting firm model is great for you if you don’t want to be focused on the “day-to-day” work, want to build a business that runs without you, and would like to sell it one day.

The consulting firm model may not be the right fit for you if you don’t like managing people, don’t like the idea of a lower profit margin, and if you would feel stressed about making payroll.

The Productized Consulting Model

The productized consulting model is where you turn your expertise into a “ productized service ” — a repeatable series of steps that deliver a predictable outcome for clients.

For example: Kristen’s provides brand consulting for food and beverage brands. After years of delivering custom branding projects, she’s turned her expertise into a process. She’s branded this process, has put a fixed price on it, and delivers that instead of custom branded projects.

The productized consulting model is great for you if you want to build a business that scales , you want to create a saleable asset, and you want to remove yourself from the day-to-day work.

The productized consulting model might not be a great fit for you if you want to work on new projects or you don’t like managing or training people to deliver your productized service.

It also takes years of experience and delivering custom projects before you’re ready to turn it into a repeatable process that delivers a predictable result.

The Hybrid Consulting Model

The hybrid consulting model is a mixture of the previous 3 models.

You pick and choose what you like about the other models and combine them into your own unique hybrid.

For example: Our business, Consulting Success®, is a hybrid consulting business. We offer a digital course, Momentum , and a training program, the Clarity Coaching Program that includes personalized coaching and consulting with it.

The hybrid model is ideal once you’ve been running your consulting business for a few years. After a few years, you’ll know what you like, what you don’t like, and can start to customize your business model into what works best for you and your clients.

After reading those descriptions, examples, and pros & cons, which model excites you the most?

Remember: you can always change your consulting business model later.

But it helps to get clear on the type of consulting business you’d like to build from the start.

With that, let’s move on to the next step and think about your ideal client.

Step 2: Get Clear On Your Ideal Client

Who will your consulting business serve?

This is one of the most important questions you’ll answer to start a consulting business.

And it’s one that many people skip over.

As a result, it’s very hard for them to attract clients, price their services, and win consulting projects.

Pay particular attention to this step and take the time to get it right.

Watch the video below to learn why being crystal clear on your ideal client is critical to your consulting business:

Here’s how to think about choosing your ideal client.

The “Big Fish In A Small Pond” Mindset

Imagine that you’re dealing with severe back pain.

You’re looking for a physiotherapist who can help get rid of your back pain — so you can get back to living a healthy, active lifestyle.

So, you begin searching for physiotherapists to help solve your problem.

You find one clinic called “ActiveFit Physiotherapy.” They’re a generalist physiotherapy clinic that helps people with all types of pain.

After that, you find a clinic called “SpineExperts Back Pain Specialists.” They’re a clinic that specializes in helping people with their back pain.

Given your specific problem — your back pain — which clinic draws your attention?

Which one are you most likely to attend?

You’re more likely to go with SpineExperts because they speak to your exact problem.

It feels like they are talking directly to you — your pain, your problem, and the results that you want.

This example shows how important it is to get specific on who your ideal client is.

As a consulting business, you provide your expert advice to people or organizations.

Who are those people or organizations, exactly?

The more specific this “who” is, the more your business will stand out to them.

Without standing out, your ideal clients won’t pay attention to your messaging and content (which is marketing).

They’ll be less receptive to having a call with you about how you can help them (which is sales).

To start a consulting business, you want to start by being the big fish in a small pond.

You’ll stand out more, garner more attention, and become an expert faster.

It will make it much, much easier to get clients. And clients are what you need to start a consulting business.

So how do you actually figure out who your ideal client should be?

Brainstorm & Write About Your Ideal Client

The next step is to brainstorm about the niche that you’d like to serve in your business.

A niche is an industry or type of client.

For example, Nic Campbell works with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.

Jason Fearnow of Prime Contract Solutions works with mining companies.

Husain Shekhani of Ultrasonic Advisors works with companies in the ultrasonic device industry.

None of these consultants target “businesses” or even “small businesses.” These are far too general.

Instead, they serve a specific niche.

To start a consulting business, you must pick your niche.

How do you actually do that?

In our Clarity Coaching Program , we instruct clients to use the Niche Scoring Method.

Here’s how it works.

Pick a couple of niches that you’re interested in serving.

If you can’t think of any, pick the industries that you’ve worked with before. What industry does the company you work for now belong to? What about companies you’ve worked with in the past? Or, how about companies you applied to work at?

Once you’ve picked out a few of these industries, score them on the following factors on a scale of 1-5 — with 1 being weak, and 5 being very strong:

• Experience : How would you rate your experience with this niche?
• Expertise : How would you rate your status as an expert within this niche?
• Results : How would you rate your confidence that you can deliver results for this niche?
• Potential : How would you rate this niche’s growth and how willing they are to hire consultants?
• Interest : How would you rate your interest in this niche?
• Access : How would you rate your ability to speak with ideal clients in this niche?

Then, you add up the total scores for each niche.

Pick the one with the highest score to start with.

And pay attention to the “Interest” score.

You’ll enjoy your work more if it’s an industry or niche you are passionate about helping.

You can always change your niche later. But if you want to start a consulting business, you must pick a niche, and then go on to the next step.

Once you’ve made your selection, you’ll start talking to people about the potential of this niche.

Validate Your Ideal Client Potential

Picking your niche is the first step.

And now, it’s crucial that you validate your niche.

By validate, I mean going out and talking to people in that niche and learning about their problems and results that they desire in their organization.

People pay consultants to solve their problems and help them get their desired results.

Instead of guessing what those are, you validate your niche’s potential by asking them about these problems and desired results.

Use a tool like LinkedIn Sales Navigator to make a list of 10-20 ideal clients — people in the industry you’d like to serve.

Then, send them a connection request. In your connection request, send a message that introduces yourself, and that you’re connecting with people in your niche.

For example, if your niche is “Financial Services”, and you are connecting with Andrew, a CFO at a financial services company, you might say:

“Hi Andrew, you do great work at COMPANY NAME — would be great to connect with another person in the INDUSTRY NAME space.”

Notice how you’re not pitching anything like most people do.

You’re simply mentioning the person’s company, and that you’d like to connect with people in a similar space.

Tweak this example so that it suits your style.

The next step is to ask them a question. What are they working on? What’s new with their company?

Ask them something you are genuinely curious about.

If they are receptive and open to talking, you can ask them for a 5-10 minute call to learn more about that.

What you’re trying to do on this call is to learn about the industry — the problems they have, the type of projects they work on, and the results that they are working towards.

And if they have the types of problems that you’re interested in, can solve (or have solved before), then that is evidence that you’ve found a good niche to target.

Go and set-up these short, introductory calls with 10 ideal clients. Take notes on the call and record their feedback.

After you’ve done 10 calls, review your feedback.

Is this a niche that has problems that you have experience solving?

Is this a niche that works on the types of projects that you can deliver?

Would you enjoy working with this niche?

You want to select a niche where you can answer “Yes” to the questions above.

Now, reaching out to connect with ideal clients and then asking them for a call might scare you or make you uncomfortable.

If starting a consulting business was easy, everyone would do it.

To start a consulting business, you’ll have to embrace this discomfort.

You’ll have to take imperfect action.

Reaching out to prospects and calling them is a big part of marketing and sales, which we’ll get to later on in this article.

If you can’t do that, then you might be more comfortable sticking with a 9-5 job.

However, if you make your outreach more about your prospect instead of about you or your services, you’ll be surprised about how willing they are to connect and speak with you.

So, who’s your ideal client?

What industry are they in?

What’s their job title?

How big is their company, and where are they located?

By brainstorming and validating your ideal client, you’ll write specific answers to these questions.

Your ideal client — who you serve and add value to — is the foundation of your consulting business.

Once you’ve got that foundation down, you’re ready for the next step.

You’ll write messaging that attracts these ideal clients to you.

Step 3: Write Messaging That Attracts Clients

I once had a friend who was looking into joining a weekly yoga class to work on his flexibility.

He worked a desk job, and outside of some running, he didn’t do a lot of stretching.

However, he was intimidated by most yoga studios.

They looked as though they were all for experienced yoga practitioners.

On their website and their advertisements, they showed off impossible-looking poses, ridiculously fit instructors, and all kinds of spiritual mumbo-jumbo.

He almost gave up his search.

But then, he came across one Yoga studio that spoke to him:

“Yoga For Stiff Guys — Get More Fit & Flexible With Our Relaxed Classes For Beginners”

This message attracted him like a magnet.

It spoke to what he wanted — yoga for beginners — but also who he was: a stiff guy.

That’s what good messaging does.

It makes your ideal client feel as though your marketing is speaking specifically to them.

It makes them take interest in your business and want to learn more.

Watch the video below to learn more about creating a magnetic message that attracts clients :

In this step, you’ll learn how to put together your magnetic message — and how to put it on display so that your ideal client starts to notice you.

Problems/Action/Results

Your ideal clients have problems they want to solve.

You, as the consultant, take actions to solve those problems.

As a result of those actions, your expertise creates results for your clients.

Problems, Actions, and Results are essential components of a magnetic message.

For example, let’s say you’re a sales consultant who helps enterprise software technology companies.

• Problem : Your ideal client’s sales team is performing poorly.
• Action : You offer a 6-week sales training program.
• Result : On average, your program increases the sales team’s performance by 33%.

Consultants — especially beginners — tend to focus too much on the actions.

But if you really want to get the attention of your ideal clients, focus on results.

Your ideal client wants results, not just actions.

Do this exercise now.

Write down 10 problems that your ideal client has.

Write down 10 actions you can take to solve those problems.

And then write the result of each of those actions.

If you’re unsure of what problems they have, then you haven’t done enough validation from the previous step. That’s where you learn about the problems your ideal client is facing.

By writing down problems, actions, and results, you have the building blocks of a magnetic message.

Now, we’ll put these blocks into a formula.

The “Magnetic Messaging Formula

We designed the “Magnetic Message Formula” to help you write a simple, effective message to draw the attention of your ideal client.

Here’s how it looks:

I help [WHO] to [solve WHAT problem] so they can [see WHAT result]. My [WHY choose me]…

Inside the square brackets are your “variables.”

You fill them in with the right words to match who your ideal client is, the problem you solve for them, the results you create for them, and why they should choose you.

For example: I help enterprise software companies with underperforming sales teams so that they can boost sales and revenue. My 10 years of experience and 6-step program has helped over 20 clients boost their sales by an average of 33% in 6 months.

• WHO : Your ideal client (ex: enterprise software companies).
• Solve WHAT problem : The problem that you solve for your ideal client (their sales team’s underperformance).
• See WHAT result : The result you create for your ideal client (ex: boost sales and revenue).
• WHY choose me : Why your ideal client should choose you (ex: 10 years of experience and 6-week program has helped over 20 clients boost their sales by an average of 33% in 6 months).

The Magnetic Message has everything you need to draw the attention of your ideal client.

Its purpose isn’t to win the sale. It’s to simply get them interested in you and want to learn more.

Use the example above to write your own Magnetic Message.

Your first message won’t be perfect. Instead, aim for “good enough.”

You’ll make it better once you make it public and start gathering feedback.

Applying Your Magnetic Messaging

Once you’ve written your Magnetic Message, it’s time to make it public.

It won’t draw the attention of your ideal clients unless you’ve put it in places where they can see it.

First, put it in your email signature.

That way, everyone you email will be aware of what you’re doing, who you’re serving, and how you can help them.

This is great for when you reach out to your ideal clients. It’s also great for creating referral opportunities.

You’ll interact with many people who don’t need your consulting service — but they know someone who might.

Second, put it in your LinkedIn profile.

Make your magnetic message your tagline.

Unlike your job title or the type of consultant you are, your magnetic message is more about your ideal client.

It’s about what you can do for them and the results you can create for them.

If ideal clients see your tagline, you want them to take interest and click to read your profile.

Finally, you want to put your magnetic messaging into your consulting website .

It should be one of the first things your ideal clients read when they visit your consulting website’s homepage.

And throughout the website, you back up your magnetic message with articles, testimonials, case studies, and other forms of content that demonstrates your expertise.

Your magnetic message won’t do you any good if it’s on a piece of paper in your drawer.

Put it out there and make it work for you.

Ask people to give you feedback.

Keep making it better and better until your ideal clients can’t help but want to learn more.

Once you start getting the attention of your ideal clients, you’re ready for the next step, creating your strategic offer — and pricing it.

Step 4: Create & Price Your Consulting Offer

By this point, you’ve chosen your consulting business model, gotten clear on who your ideal client is, and have written messaging that attracts that ideal client to you.

Now, you need to create and price your strategic consulting offer.

Remember: Your ideal client has a series of problems.

You, the consultant, have the expertise and experience to carry out actions to solve those problems.

As a result of your actions, you’re able to create your client’s desired results.

Your strategic offer is those actions you take to create your client’s desired results.

And your consulting fees are what your ideal clients must invest for you to work with them and achieve their desired result.

Creating and pricing your offers is a very nuanced topic. There are strategies for beginners and for more advanced consultants.

We’ll focus on beginner and intermediate strategies for now.

If you want to learn more about advanced strategies like value-based pricing , discovery offers , and retainers , check out our Momentum or Clarity Coaching Program .

Let’s start with a popular topic: setting your consulting fee .

Set Your Consulting Fees

Why do you pay for products or services?

Because you want to get a result.

If you purchase a massage session, you want your body to feel better.

If you purchase accounting software, you want an easier time managing your money.

Now, how much you invest depends on many factors.

• How painful is the problem?
• How reliable is the product or service?
• How will getting this result impact your life?
• How much money do you have to invest in it?

Your clients are paying for your service because they want a result.

And much they are willing to pay depends on these factors.

Consultants in our programs regularly charge $25K, $50K, or even $100K+ for a single project.

That might sound crazy to you.

But if you think about the results their clients are getting, these prices become much more understandable.

As a beginner, the easiest way to set your consulting fee is by using the hourly method or the project-based method.

(See our consulting fees guide for a more in-depth tutorial on how to set your fees using these methods.)

With the hourly method, you charge your client by the hour.

It’s a good option for your first few consulting projects.

For example, let’s say you earn $80 dollars per hour in your day job.

Take your hourly fee and double it for your consulting projects.

You’ll charge at least $160 for consulting.

As a new consultant, you’re not working 40-hour weeks with your clients.

You have to spend just as much time (if not more) to actually go out and win business.

Your fee must account for this.

If it doesn’t, you won’t be able to do your best consulting work.

Clients are happy to invest higher fees if it means working with an expert and feel certainty about getting the results they want.

With the project-based method, you charge your client a fixed price.

It’s a better option than hourly because your clients know exactly how much they are paying upfront.

With the hourly method, they don’t have this same certainty.

For example, let’s say your consulting service will take 30 hours to deliver.

Take your hourly rate, and times it by 30.

$160 x 30: $4800.

Then, times that by 1.5.

Projects will take longer than estimated when starting out.

This multiplier helps account for revisions, scope creep, and any add-ons.

Once you’ve chosen a pricing strategy and set your fee, you’ll begin to create some options for your clients.

Create Three Options

Buyers like options for getting their desired results.

And when you offer them options, their thinking shifts from “Should I use you” to “How do I use you.”

So now, you’ll create three options to help your clients get their desired result.

NOTE: You will customize these options after speaking with each ideal client. You design your options to help your client get the specific results they want.

By having some stock options, you have a foundation.

It will be much easier for you to craft and customize your offers when you aren’t working from scratch.

Here’s how to think about your three consulting offers.

Option 1 – $

• Basic offer
• Minimum effort required
• Provides value
• Lowest investment

Option 2 – $$

• Helps them get their result quicker than option 1
• Provides more value than option 1 (ideally, without having to spend more time)
• Highest investment

Option 3 – $$$

• If money isn’t an issue
• Best results
• Shortest time to result

For example, let’s say you’re a marketing consultant who serves accounting businesses.

Your client, Acme Financial Services, wants to win 3 new clients per month.

Each client is worth $500 per month recurring revenue to the client.

You offer her client 3 options:

Option 1 – $6000

• Brand positioning overhaul
• Website messaging audit
• Direct outreach sequence

Option 2 – $15,000

• Website content strategy
• LinkedIn content + outreach plan

Option 3 – $30,000

• Search engine optimization
• Lead-magnet development & implementation
• Direct mail campaign

Notice how as the options increase in price, the value for the client increases.

The more they invest, the quicker they get their desired results, and the more certainty they get about achieving those results.

Think about it this way: your offer is a series of actions you take to deliver your client their desired result.

By offering multiple offers, you give the client about how they’d like to get their desired result.

Next, we’ll “brand” your offers and make them more intriguing to your ideal client.

Brand Your Offer

You don’t just offer “consulting.’

You offer more sales, increased efficiency, cost savings, stress reduction, etc.

So it’s important that your consulting services reflect that.

Branding your offer means to make them more memorable, unique, intriguing — and easier to sell.

No clients will be excited about a “sales workshop.”

But a 1-Day Sales Revolution Workshop?

That’s going to get people’s attention.

But how do you come up with a branded name for your offer?

Start by looking at your Problems/Actions/Results — specifically, your results.

Like a good headline, you want to include the result your clients want in the title of your offer.

For example, if your consulting services increase sales, then you want to incorporate that into the name of your offer.

Then, think about the format in which you deliver your consulting service.

Is it a workshop? Ongoing consulting? A bootcamp? One-off?

Add the format to the title as well.

Then, you’ll want to add a power verb to it.

Power verbs are action words that add color and force to your offer.

So, if you help your clients increase their sales by 33%, then use a word like “revolution” instead of “increase.”

With these three steps in mind, you’re ready to start brainstorming your offer’s name.

Here’s the formula: result you create + power verb + how you deliver it.

Example: 1-Day Sales Revolution Workshop.

Have some fun with this one.

Make it eye-catching. Make it original. Make it reflect your personality and style.

That’s what branding is all about — attracting the right people for you and your business.

Once you’ve created a few consulting offers, you’re ready to begin the marketing process.

It’s time to tell the world what you’re up to, and how you can help your ideal clients.

Step 5: Rev Up Your Marketing Engine

Early on in your consulting business, you can’t expect your ideal to come knocking on your door and asking to work with you.

You’ll have to find and approach them.

This is what marketing is for consultants: getting your ideal clients to know you, like you, and trust you.

When they know you, like you, and trust you, they’ll want to have a conversation with you about how you can help them.

At this point, you’ll start putting all of your work to the test.

Marketing is a complex topic — but in this step, we’ll make it easy for you to start reaching out and generating conversations with your ideal clients.

The Marketing Engine Mindset

Should you be on Instagram?

Is YouTube the way to go?

What about paid Google or Facebook ads?

There are thousands of ways to get the attention of your ideal clients.

However, most of these are shiny objects and tactics.

Some of them work, some of them don’t.

But if you don’t focus on what actually creates conversations with your ideal clients, you’re stuck in “no-mans land.”

Here’s what you want to focus on with your marketing:

1. Outreach : reaching out directly to start having meaningful conversations with your ideal clients.

For example, a direct LinkedIn message or email sharing valuable content with an ideal client to add value to their lives — and to get them interested in what you offer.

2. Follow-up : following up with ideal clients and adding more value.

For example, sending a direct mail to them — something they would find interesting, meaningful, unique (like a case study or white paper), and prompts them to reach out to you to learn more.

3. Authority-building : Publishing content to position yourself as an authority and to support your outreach/follow-up efforts.

For example, using your consulting website to publish articles that help your ideal clients.

If you combine outreach, follow-up, and authority-building, your marketing will be effective and fulfill its purpose: to build relationships with your ideal clients and to create conversations with them.

Now, reaching out to ideal clients might sound intimidating to you.

But this exercise will help.

Magic Number Exercise

People who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them.

If you know your monthly revenue target, how much your average project is worth, and how many conversations with ideal clients it takes to win a project, you can be VERY specific on what it would take to reach your monthly goals.

For example, let’s say you want to make $50K per month in your consulting business.

Your average project is worth $25K.

And 1 out of every 4 conversations with an ideal client leads to a project.

That means you need to win 2 projects per month.

That’s 8 conversations with ideal clients per month — or, 2 conversations per week.

Now, the question is…

What are you doing TODAY to have 8 conversations this month?

We’ve created a simple spreadsheet for you to do this exercise and plug in your numbers:

Magic # Exercise Spreadsheet

Click File > Make a copy to save a copy of the spreadsheet for yourself so you can adjust the numbers.

This exercise makes it crystal clear as to what you need to be doing to reach your monthly revenue target.

It’s all about having more meaningful conversations with your ideal clients.

Now, how do you actually reach that number of conversations?

That’s what we’ll cover next.

Daily/Weekly/Monthly Plan

You need a plan — a daily list of activities — that will help you create X number of conversations with your ideal clients.

Remember your three key marketing activities: Outreach, Follow-Up, and Authority-Building.

You should be doing Outreach, Follow-Up, and Authority-Building EVERY DAY.

Early-stage consultants will spend more time reaching out to clients and following up with them.

Writing content to build authority is a longer-term strategy, whereas outreach and follow-up can create conversations very quickly.

You need to wake up each day and know exactly what to do every day in order to hit your numbers.

Doug Nelson , one of our Clarity Coaching clients, put his magic # everywhere around his home.

His day wasn’t finished until he had his required number of conversations with ideal clients.

As a result, he grew his consulting business to over $2M dollars.

Here’s a sample daily plan you can use to start your Marketing Engine:

• 8:00 AM: Start your Marketing Engine outreach in the morning
• 8:30 AM: Follow up with any potential clients from the previous day
• 9:00 AM: Make warm follow-up calls
• 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM: Client work
• 2:00 PM: Marketing Engine conversations/Authority Building
• 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM: Client calls and meetings
• 4:00: Daily review (focus on the most direct path and stage of your marketing maturity)

If you follow this plan, you’ll be reaching out to ideal clients, following up with ideal clients, and creating content for your ideal clients — every day.

This is what it takes to reach your magic # and hit your revenue goals.

With your marketing engine up and running, ideal clients will start scheduling calls with you.

They’ll want to learn more about your offers and how you can help get them results.

This brings us to the final step of starting your consulting business:

Having meaningful conversations with ideal clients — and winning consulting projects.

Step 6: Generate Meaningful Conversations (& Win Your First Consulting Project)

You’ve created your consulting offers .

You’ve started up your marketing engine.

What’s the sign that it’s all working?

Your ideal clients are receptive. They want to learn more about how you can help them.

Of course, you help them through your strategic offers.

But how do you bridge the gap?

How do you take someone who’s interested in your services to say “yes” to your offer and send you the check?

That’s where sales come in.

Just the word “sales” might make you feel icky.

But in consulting, “sales” take on an entirely different meaning.

The Truth About Consulting Sales

When people who are uncomfortable with selling think about sales, they think about the loud, aggressive car-salesman who doesn’t care about the customer.

They just want to “close.”

The good news is that effective selling in consulting takes the opposite approach.

As a consultant, sales is about having a meaningful conversation with a buyer to learn about their situation and needs.

If you help improve their situation and add value, then you can tell them about your offer.

You’re not trying to “close.”

Instead, you’re trying to help the client get clear on their desired situation, what’s holding them back — and then (and only then) if you can help, you make them an offer.

So, what do you ask a client to have a meaningful, valuable conversation that leads to the sale if the fit is right?

Meaningful Conversation Sales Framework

To figure out if there’s a fit between you and an ideal client, you have a conversation with your ideal client that’s about their business, their goals, and their challenges.

This conversation is meaningful but it prompts the client to get crystal clear about the problem they are facing, where they want to be, and what’s holding them back.

If your expertise can help solve those problems and get them to where they want to be, then you introduce your offer.

We’ve created the Consulting Sales Conversation Framework, which is designed to create three outcomes:

• The client accepts your offer on the call
• The client says they will review your proposal at an assigned future date
• The client says no to your offer.

Here’s a loose outline of the framework.

• Part 1: Establish rapport. Ask your client a few questions about where they are from and what they are up to this week.
• Part 2: Set the agenda. Give them an outline of the meeting, that you’ll explain your offer if there is a fit, and confirm that it sounds good to them.
• Part 3: Learn about their current business and important details. Ask them questions about their problems, why it’s important to fix, and the impact it’s having on their life.
• Part 4: Ask where they want to be. Ask them about their key goals in the next 6-12 months and what they want their future to look like.
• Part 5: Uncover the main challenges . Ask them where they need the most help.
• Part 6: Discovery “why now?” Ask them why it’s important for them to fix this now.
• Part 7: Make your offer. If you feel as though your offer can help get them to where they want to be, explain how it helps solve their problems — and present your investment options.

After you finish guiding a client through this framework, they’ll often have questions — or “objections.”

When clients ask you questions about your service, it’s a good sign.

Objections just mean they’re interested.

Objection handling is all about answering truthfully which minimizes the risk the client is feeling.

After you hear an objection, write it down. Then, after the call, write your best answer to it.

After many calls, you’ll know all the objections your ideal clients have, and you’ll be able to handle them with ease.

Now that you’re having these calls with your clients, it’s important to track each one with the consulting sales pipeline.

The Simple Consulting Sales Pipeline

There is a very clear progression to take a prospect and turn them into a paying client.

The consulting sales pipeline is a series of stages that outlines this progression.

By using a CRM and pipeline to track this progression, you’ll have a much easier time understanding your “lead flow” — the amount of consulting business you have in the works.

What gets measured gets managed. Manage your pipeline, and you’ll have an easier time closing consulting business.

You can break the consulting sales pipeline down into 5 columns:

• LEAD . You’ve identified the prospective client and have begun reaching out to them to set-up a conversation.
• CONVERSATION . You’ve had a sales conversation with the prospective client.
• PROPOSAL . You’ve sent a proposal to the prospective client.
• WIN . The prospective client has accepted your proposal and you won the business.
• LOSS . The prospective client has declined your proposal and you lost the business.
• NURTURE . Most people you reach out to won’t be ready to buy or make a decision right away. In fact, even people who say ‘No’ to a proposal now, may buy from you later as long as you stay top of mind through your nurture process.

By having your leads organized in these columns, you’ll understand what aspect of your marketing or sales you need to work on most.

Remember: consulting is a long-term sales cycle.

That nurture column is very important.

We’ve had clients who have followed us for years before they were ready to invest in our programs.

If you consistently nurture and follow-up with your leads, then you create top-of-mind awareness. So when the need for your service arises, they’ll think of you.

Selling is an integral part of starting a consulting business.

If you can’t sell your consulting projects, you can’t earn revenue.

If you don’t have revenue, you don’t have a business.

But by following this 6-step guide, you know how to identify, message, market, and sell your ideal clients.

And that’s how you start a consulting business: by winning your first few clients.

Once you can do that, the logistics of starting will be easier.

What Comes Next? Start A Consulting Business Checklist

Getting clients is where consultants — especially new ones — struggle the most.

If you start your business by mastering this crucial skill, you’ll be in much better shape.

That said, there are some other considerations for starting your consulting business.

We’ve put together a simple checklist to walk you through the logistics.

Remember: focusing on your office or accounting before you can win clients is a bad idea.

Your ability to win new business comes first.

Start A Consulting Business Checklist

There are a few things you’ll need to set up a professional consulting business.

5 factors you must consider:

• Incorporation

We’ve put together a checklist to help you start a consulting business and cover these 6 areas.

Equipment For A New Consulting Business

You don’t need much equipment to start a consulting business, but you’ll need a few logistical things.

• An office space (can be a home office)
• Telephone with voicemail
• Mailing address
• Computer/laptop with high-speed internet

Do You Need To Incorporate A Consulting Business?

In most cases, you don’t have to incorporate a brand new consulting business. But you should consider it.

• I’ve incorporated my consulting business (recommended only if you are making far more than you need to live on — or if you’re at risk of litigation)

Accounting For Your Consulting Business

Trying to do my own accounting was one of my biggest mistakes as a young consultant.

Make sure you hire an accountant and set up a separate business account for your consulting business.

The return on your investment in time saved and with regards to your taxes will be worth it.

• I’ve hired an accountant to do my invoicing and taxes
• I’ve set up a bank account for my business

Legal Considerations

As a newfound consulting business owner, connect with a lawyer who understands small businesses. Then, if you have any questions, you can call them for help.

• I know a lawyer who can help me with any legal questions I might have

Your Consulting Office

You don’t need a fancy office — but you do need a quiet space where you can do deep work.

My office space is distraction-free: where I can think, work, and make calls.

My temporary consulting office while in Japan. You can run a million-dollar consulting business from an office space like this

Now, you know everything you need on how to start a consulting business.

Follow these steps in order and get started!

Get Help To Start Your Consulting Business

Feeling a bit overwhelmed?

I get it. There’s a lot to this article.

If you’ve been excited about starting your own consulting business, you might even be feeling a little discouraged at this point.

That’s OK. There’s a lot of work ahead of you.

But now, you know how to start a consulting business the right way.

You now have a guide that gives you the process of building a profitable consulting business.

And if you’re still reading, taking notes, and not discouraged by the work ahead, then you’re serious about becoming a successful consultant.

If you’d like our help to guide you through this process so you can avoid spinning your wheels and hoping that you’re going about it the right way, get in touch.

Our Coaching Program For Consultants

We’ve helped over 500 consultants from all around the world in all different industries grow their consulting businesses and add six and seven figures to their annual revenues along the way.

Coaching has been the single best investment for our consulting business — and it’s the same for our clients.

So, are you ready to accelerate your success and realize your true potential as a consultant?

If you’re interested in learning more about our coaching program for consultants go here now: Clarity Coaching Program .

Why are you interested in starting a consulting business and becoming a consultant?

What are the biggest challenges you’re facing right now in getting your business off the ground?

Let us know and join the discussion in the comments below.

And if you enjoyed this guide, please take a minute right now to share it with others through social media!

How To Start A Consulting Business Study (2024)

Want to see the data on how to start a consulting business?

We sent out a survey to consultants asking how they started their consulting business — and over 500 people responded.

We analyzed the data and used it to help inform our 6 steps to start a consulting business.

If you want to learn how to start a consulting business based on data from real consultants, this study is for you.

QUICK LINKS

• Key Findings

Reasons To Start A Consulting Business

Transitioning from corporate to entrepreneurial consultant, consulting business operations, consulting fees, marketing, & proposals, consulting demographics, key findings from our “how to start a consulting business” survey.

Let’s start with our 12 key findings from the survey data.

1. For 60% of consultants, their first consulting client is a referral from their network .

2. Consultants find mentorship/coaching more helpful than any other form of learning.

3. 63% of consultants cite networking and referrals as their most powerful marketing channel , followed by social media (25%).

4. Marketing, sales , and fees are what consultants feel the least prepared for before starting their consulting business — and are the most challenging part of the business.

5. 63% of consultants win less than 60% of their consulting proposals . Consultants who discuss their proposals with the client on Zoom are twice as likely to win 60%+ of their proposals .

6. Over 50% of consultants reach their previous income level as employees within 2 years of starting their consulting business .

7. The most common average dollar value (in USD) for consulting projects is $5000-$15K and $15K-$50K . 33% of consultants’ average project value is in the $15K-$50K range. 6% of consultants’ average project value is over $100K. In North America, $15K-$50K+ projects are much more common.

8. The majority of consultants (63%) state this as their long-term goal: “ I want a profitable business to provide a great lifestyle for me (and my family) ”

9. The most popular pricing models for consultants are project rate (36%), followed by value pricing (26%) and hourly fees (23%). In our previous 2022 study, the breakdown was project rate (37%), value pricing (26%), and hourly (21%).

10. When compared to male consultants, female consultants were more than twice as likely to answer “ Fees : figuring out what to charge and why” as their biggest challenge in consulting .

11. Consultants who have invested in mentorship or coaching are more than twice as likely to use value pricing .

12. Over 50% of consultants quit their jobs and then started their consulting business compared to 25% who started their business while still at their job.

Now let’s take a closer look at the data.

We began the survey by asking respondents WHY they decided to start a consulting business.

The #1 Reason People Start A Consulting Business

People decide to start a consulting business for many different reasons:

• Realize my potential (26%)
• Be my own boss (22%)
• Flexible schedule (14%)
• Was laid off from my job (12%)
• Other (10%)
• Unlimited income potential (9%)
• Ability to work from anywhere (7%)

Starting a consulting business offers you the opportunity to create more freedom, wealth, and impact than traditional employment.

Were Consultants Unhappy With Their Former Careers?

42% of consultants were dissatisfied with their former job.

25% of them were very dissatisfied.

However, 33% liked their jobs.

Upon further analysis of the data for this survey question, here’s what we found:

• Of consultants who were dissatisfied with their jobs, the most popular answer for why they started their consulting business was “Be my own boss.”
• Of consultants who were not dissatisfied with their jobs, the most popular answer for why they started their consulting business was “Realize my potential.”

How Long Consultants Thought About Starting Their Consulting Business

45% of consultants had thought about starting their business for a few years.

26% had been thinking about starting their own business for more than 5 years.

And 29% had been thinking about starting their own business for less than a year.

In 2024, starting a consulting business has never been easier.

• Consultants who had been thinking about starting a consulting business for more than 5 years were more than twice as likely to start their business while still employed compared to those who had thought about starting a consulting business for less than a year.

What Consultants Felt MOST Prepared For Before Starting A Consulting Business

We asked consultants what they felt most prepared for before starting their business:

• Project Delivery : delivering on projects for my clients (49%)
• Operations : setting up and running the business (accounting, legal, etc) (12%)
• Sales : turning conversations with prospective clients into paid projects (10%)
• Prioritization : Knowing what to focus on and when (9%)
• Marketing : generating conversations with prospective clients (8%)
• Time Management & Organization : getting everything on my to-do list done (7%)
• Emotional : loneliness and frustration with starting a new business (3%)
• Fees : figuring out what to charge for my services and why (1%)

When starting a consulting business, the biggest challenge isn’t delivering projects.

It’s winning those projects.

What Consultants Felt LEAST Prepared For Before Starting A Consulting Business

Here’s what consultants felt least prepared for:

• Marketing : generating conversations with prospective clients (31%)
• Sales : turning conversations with prospective clients into paid projects (22%)
• Fees : figuring out what to charge for my services and why (16%)
• Prioritization : Knowing what to focus on and when (7%)
• Emotional : loneliness and frustration with starting a new business (6%)
• Project Delivery : delivering on projects for my clients (3%)
• Time Management & Organization : getting everything on my to-do list done (2%)

Marketing and sales are the hardest part of starting a consulting business.

That’s why they are a major focus in our Clarity Coaching Program (get in touch if you’d like help taking your marketing and sales to the next level so you can see greater growth in your consulting business).

How Families Feel Before You Start A Consulting Business

If you decide to start a consulting business, how will your partner/family feel?

For 46% of consultants, their partners were very confident and happy to support their decision.

42% said their partner was somewhat confident and happy to support their decision.

11% said their partners were somewhat unconfident and unhappy to support their decision.

And 1% said their partners were very unconfident and unhappy to support their decision.

Support from your partner or family is important to your level of success as a consultant.

• For consultants whose partners were very supportive of their decision to start a consulting business, 38% of them reached their previous level of income as an employee within 1 year (compared to 14% of those whose partners were unconfident and unhappy to support their decision).
• For consultants whose partners were somewhat unconfident and unhappy to support their decision, 61% of them are still working on reaching their previous level of income as an employee after 3 years (compared to 30% of consultants whose partners were very confident and happy to support their decision).

So, you’re in a corporate job and want to start a consulting business.

How do consultants actually make this transition?

Here’s what they had to say.

Did Consultants Start Consulting On The Side Or Quit Their Job?

51% of consultants quit their job and then started their consulting business.

24% started their business while they were still at their job.

Both of these are valid transition strategies.

Which one you choose depends on your risk tolerance, financial runway, and network

(25% of consultants selected “Other” on whether they started consulting on the side or quit their job and went all in)

Upon a deeper analysis of this question’s survey data, we found that…

• Consultants who quit their jobs and then start a consulting business reported a higher level of income than those who started their consulting business on the size.
• Consultants who quit their jobs and then start a consulting business reported a higher average revenue per engagement than those who started their consulting business on the side.

How Consultants Get Their First Consulting Client

Getting your first consulting client is a critical first step.

• 60% of consultants get their first client as a referral from their network.
• For 12% of consultants, their first client is their previous employer.
• 7% of consultants also get their first client from an outbound marketing method.
• 7% of consultants’ first client is a previous employer.
• 2% of consultants get their first client via an inbound marketing method .

(12% of consultants selected “Other” for how they got their first consulting client)

Consulting is a relationship business.

Getting your first client by tapping into your network is a powerful approach that has worked well for hundreds of consultants and it’s what we teach in our programs.

Do The Skills You Learn In Your Career Help As A Consultant?

84% of consultants say that the skills they learned in their former career helped “a lot” as a consulting business owner.

13% said these skills “helped a bit.”

And only 2% said the skills “didn’t help at all.”

Sharpening up your consulting skills is a high-ROI move. You’ll need more than what you learned in your corporate role.

The Biggest Challenge For New Consultants

Here are the biggest challenges for new consultants:

• Marketing : generating conversations with prospective clients (36%)
• Sales : turning conversations with prospective clients into paid projects (26%)
• Fees : figuring out what to charge for my services and why (13%)
• Operations : setting up and running the business (accounting, legal, etc) (9%)
• Prioritization : Knowing what to focus on and when (5%)
• Emotional : loneliness and frustration with starting a new business (4%)
• Time Management & Organization : getting everything on my to-do list done (3%)

Consultants accurately predicted what would be their biggest struggles once they’ve started their business: marketing, sales, and pricing.

Do Solo Consultants Ever Feel Lonely?

If you’re transitioning from corporate to consultant, you might find yourself dealing with newfound feelings of loneliness.

36% of consultants have felt lonely and still do at times.

21% of consultants felt lonely in the past, but no longer do.

And 43% of consultants never felt lonely as solopreneurs.

Upon a deeper analysis of this question’s survey data, we also found that…

• Consultants who feel lonely running a consulting business are more likely to have been dissatisfied with their former jobs.
• Consultants who don’t feel lonely running a consulting business reach their previous income level faster compared to those who do feel lonely. For consultants who don’t feel lonely, 40% of them reached their previous level of income within 1 year. For consultants who do feel lonely, 48% of them are still working to reach their previous level of income after 3 years of consulting.

How Long Does It Take Consulting Business Owners To Exceed Their Previous Income?

32% of consultants reached their previous income in less than 1 year.

21% reached their previous income within 2 years, and 10% within 3 years.

But 37% of consultants are still working on reaching their previous income level as an employee after 3 years.

The quickest shortcut to replacing (and exceeding) your previous income level is to invest in a program by consultants, for consultants .

Do Consulting Business Owners Invest In Courses, Coaching, Or Mentoring?

42% of consultants invested in courses, coaching, or mentoring and found it very helpful.

21% of consultants found these resources somewhat helpful.

37% of consultants have not invested in courses, coaching, or mentoring.

Upon a further look at the survey data for this question, we also found that…

• For consultants who have invested in mentorship and coaching, the most popular answer for what form of learning they found was most helpful was “mentorship.”
• For consultants who have not invested in mentorship or coaching, the most popular answer for what form of learning they found most helpful was “free online content.”
• Consultants who have invested in mentorship or coaching are more than twice as likely to use value-based pricing.

How do consultants run their business — and what are their goals?

Here are a few questions we asked about their current stage

Consultant Annual Income

How much money do consulting business owners make?

• 27% make less than $50,000
• 21% make $50K-$99K.
• 18% make $100K-$149K.
• 16% make $150K-$249K.
• 14% make $250K-$499K.
• 1% make $500K-$999K.
• 2% make $1M-$3M.

We have many high-six and seven-figure consultants in our consulting community.

Of consultants who are earning mid-six figures or more…

• 60% of them quit their jobs and then became a consultant instead of starting their business while still at their jobs.
• Over 50% invested in courses, coaching, or mentorship.
• Over 50% of them have at least an admin/assistant on their team (or more team members).
• The most helpful form of learning/resource was mentorship and coaching.
• 66% of them get on Zoom (or the equivalent) to review their proposals with the client.

Do Consultants Have Teams

As a consultant, there are a few different consulting business models to choose from.

63% of consultants do not have a team and do everything alone.

22% of consultants have a team of 2-9 employees or contractors.

10% of consultants have an assistant/admin to help them stay organized.

4% of consultant business owners have 10 or more employees or contractors.

Resources Most Helpful For Consultants

What form of learning do consultants find most helpful?

• 29% said that mentorship and coaching is most helpful .
• 25% said free online content .
• 18% said books .
• 12% said courses .
• 12% said communities .
• And 6% said “other.”

There is an endless amount of information on the web about consulting.

But it can be challenging to find actionable information.

That’s where we focus on our content and programs: helping you implement the information and get the results you desire.

Primary Consulting Goals

What are the primary goals of consulting business owners?

52% want growth : to build a team, get systems in place, and grow the business.

29% want productization : to earn more while working less.

11% want maintenance: they’re happy with where they’re at.

7% have an “other” goal.

And 1% want to sell their consulting business .

Long-Term Goals For Consultants

So, what do consulting business owners want in the long term?

63% want a profitable business to provide a great lifestyle for them and their families.

18% want to keep growing and making more money, but they haven’t thought about selling their firm.

12% plan to sell their business one day.

And 7% haven’t given their long-term plan much thought.

Consulting fees, marketing, and proposals are always hot topics.

Here are some specific questions we asked about these topics.

How Consultants Set Their Consulting Fees

There are a few different ways you can set your consulting fees .

Here’s how consultants do it:

• 36% use a project rate.
• 26% use a value-based rate .
• 23% use an hourly rate.
• 14% use monthly retainers .
• 2% use a performance-based model.

Over 50% of consultants use a pricing method we DON’T recommend: project rate and hourly.

One of the highest ROI moves you can make is to switch to value-based fees .

• Consultants who use a value-based fee report a higher consulting proposal win percentage over those who use an hourly rate.
• Consultants who use a value-based fee are much more likely to review their proposal with their client on Zoom instead of emailing their proposal to the client.
• Strategy consultants are the type of consultants most likely to use value-based fees.
• Management consultants are the type of consultants most likely to use an hourly rate.
• A higher percentage of men (68%) use value-based fees compared to women (32%).

What Marketing Channel Works Best For Consultants

How do consulting businesses get their clients?

• For 63%, networking/referrals is their best marketing channel.
• 25% said social media is their best marketing channel.
• 9% said speaking/presentations are their best marketing channel.
• 3% said cold email/cold calling.
• 1% said Blog/SEO.
• 0% said either paid advertising, videos/youtube, or podcasting.

A good marketing strategy for consultants will have you doing a bit of each.

But, it’s important to put your energy into the channels that are working best for your particular business.

What % Of Proposals Do Consultants Win

24% of consultants win less than 20% of their proposals.

22% of consultants win 40-59% of their proposals.

21% of consultants win more than 80% of their proposals.

17% win 20-39% of their proposals.

And 16% win 60-79% of their proposals.

Consulting proposals are a critical part of winning consulting projects.

Here’s our consulting proposal template to help you win more proposals.

At the very least, you should be winning 60%+ of your proposals.

• Of consultants who win 80% of their proposals, 43% of them reached their previous income level within a year.
• Of consultants who win less than 20% of their proposals, 54% of them are still trying to reach their previous income level after 3 years.
• There is virtually no difference in the pricing model used by consultants who win 80%+ of their proposals versus those who win 20% or less (which suggests it’s about sales skills, not the pricing method).
• For consultants who win 80% of their proposals, 53% of them review their proposal live with the client on Zoom (as opposed to 29% of consultants who win less than 20% of their proposals).

How Consultants Deliver Their Proposals

49% of consultants review their proposals with the client on Zoom (or equivalent).

34% of consultants email their proposal to the client.

And 17% of consultants meet the buyer in person to review the proposal.

We recommend that you get on a call with buyers to review the proposal together. This will drastically increase your win rate.

Upon further analysis of this data, we also found that consultants who get on Zoom to deliver proposals are…

• 104% as likely to win 60%+ of their proposals.
• 133% more likely to use value-based fees.
• Have a higher average dollar value of typical client projects.

Average Consulting Project Value ($USD)

How much do consulting business owners make per project?

• 33% make $15K-$50K per project.
• 29% make $5000-$15K per project.
• 18% make less than $5K per project.
• 14% make $50K-$100K per project.
• 5% make $100K-$500K per project.
• And 1% make $500K per project.

Upon further analysis of the survey data for this question, we also found that…

• Consultants with an average project value of $50K-$100K have a much higher annual income than those charging $15K or less.
• For consultants who are charging $50K-$100K+ per project, the most popular answer for what form of learning they found most helpful was mentorship (43%).

We also asked consultants some basic demographic questions.

Here are their answers:

Types Of Consultants

There are many different types of consultants . Here is a breakdown of the type of consulting that people who took part in this study identify as…

• Management consultant (24%)
• Strategy consultant (21%)
• Other (16%)
• Operations consultant (10%)
• IT/Tech consultant (5%)
• Marketing consultant (4%)
• HR consultant (4%)
• Non-profit consultant (4%)
• Sales consultant (4%)
• Financial advisory consultant (4%)
• Science/Pharma Consultant (2%)
• Data consultant (2%)
• Design/branding consultant (0%)
• E-commerce Consultant (0%)

On our client results page , we have stories about helping ALL types of consultants start, grow, and scale their businesses.

How Many Years Have You Been In The Consulting Business?

We saw everyone from consulting business “newbies” to consulting business veterans.

• 26% of consultants have been in the business for 1-3 years.
• 21% have been consultants for 15+ years.
• 19% have been consultants for 4-6 years.
• 15% have been consultants for less than 1 year.
• 11% have been consultants for 7-10 years.
• And 8% have been in the business for 11-14 years.

Age of Consultants

There are consulting business owners within every generation.

• 37% of consulting business owners are 50-59.
• 29% of consulting business owners are 60+.
• 25% of consulting business owners are 40-49.
• 8% of consulting business owners are 30-39.
• And 1% of consulting business owners are 20-29.

You can be a successful consultant at any age.

Consulting Gender Demographics

63% of consultants we surveyed are male.

37% are female.

Here are some additional insights on the gender differences in consulting:

• Female consultants were twice as likely to say that they were very dissatisfied with their former jobs when compared to male consultants.
• When compared to male consultants, female consultants were more than twice as likely to answer “Fees: figuring out what to charge and why” as their biggest challenge in consulting.
• Female consultants were nearly twice as likely to list “Productization” as their primary goal as a consultant compared to male consultants.

Where Consultants Live

You can start a successful consulting business from anywhere in the world. Here are where the 500+ respondents of this study live…

• 64% of consulting business owners are in North America.
• 11% are in Western Europe, and 2% are in Eastern Europe.
• 7% are in Africa, and 7% are also in Asia.
• 5% are in Australia/New Zealand.
• 4% are in South America.

As a consultant, your demographics don’t matter.

As long as you can solve problems and create results for your clients, you can be successful in this business.

31 thoughts on “ How To Start A Consulting Business In 2024 (6 Steps & Study) ”

Great article Mr Michael, truly to establish a successful consulting business requires strategy, tactics and a proven mindset. I have been fortunate to be part of your mailing list, following your blog post and listening to your podcast for quite some time and it has truly helped me. Thank you so much for what you do. I will like to ask, how do one create a discovery offer? Is creating a discovery offer possible for all consulting practices?

Otobele, you’re very welcome and glad you’ve been finding value. Yes, every business can develop a discovery offer. We go deep into this in the Clarity program: https://www.consultingsuccess.com/coaching-for-consultants

Thank you Michael, as one new to the consulting business, I look forward to registering with your program once am able to raise the fee. I appreciate you

Really enjoying all of your articles and podcast. So helpful in getting my consulting business off the ground. Thank you Michael.

Appreciate the comment Janice and glad to hear you’ve found the resources here helpful. Wish you great success!

This is super helpful. Did you really have a consulting practice for 18 years?

Hi Andrea, glad you found it helpful. I’ve been consulting and building consulting businesses for going on 19 years and have been working with consultants to help them grow their businesses for the last 10 years. Wish you great success with yours.

This is very nice information. Thanks for sharing this informative information.

You are very welcome glad it’s helpful.

Hello Mr.Michael, I am a 25yr old student pursuing my masters, i have experience of a year in the field of finance and accountancy and i am very much driven to start a consulting business, as i am excited towards helping a business grow and be profitable,so i just wanted to ask you that am I in a position to start a consulting business with this much experience or do i have to wait some more years to go ahead with consulting? Awaiting your reply. Thanks.

Huzefa, don’t wait for anything. Go after what you desire. I started my first consulting business my first year in university. I had a lot to learn and still do. Focus on your strengths and where you can provide value. That’s your starting point. From there work on developing your skills and expertise. Keep at it.

Your article shows the best practical way to start a consulting business. Novice will gain more knowledge from this.

Thanks for your comment Anthony.

I’ve been in the restaurant business since I was five. I’ve continued to expand in a food service Industry in different areas. I’d like to further my career by becoming a consultant. Not only to help others but to learn more.My question is what is my first step to get started?

Hi Andrew! That’s great you’ve been in the industry since age 5! Here’s where to start: Identify your ideal client and who you want to serve that you can bring value to. Then go and have conversations with them to validate what they want and how you can help. If you’d like a proven guide to follow step by step to launch your consulting business use this: https://www.consultingsuccess.com/momentum

Loved the information as I am in the process of forming a consultancy. Please feel free to send further guidance in particular regarding financials as I require assistance in that area.

Glad you loved it. Appreciate the comment Leighton

To start any business, it is very essential to make proper planning, set the budget, check out various issues that can happen later, risks involved while opening a business, etc.

Glad this helps Kartik

My former supervisor sent me this when I shared my intention of starting an HR consultancy outfit with him. He mentioned he wished he had come across this before he started off his and now I know why! Thank you so much this is very useful since I am just starting!

Glad to see this is helpful Femi – wish you great success!

Very Nice content

Glad it resonates Aman!

Very much helpful Michael. I hope to start consulting in refugee camps in Uganda. I’ve always helped some local CBOs and refugees on finance and business respectively. Though not much paying, but its worth helping.

I’m glad it’s helpful Alison. Wishing you great success!

I appreciate the story of you and your cousin … particularly the “dark period” and having relinquished the “dream job”, to come out on the other side.

I just taught a workshop with a segment about being world class. Your story resonates with those principles.

Appreciate the thoughtful comment Kent and nice to hear the story resonates. Great to have you in the community here.

Really nice article! Thanks for that. I’m a web developer working for companies for 10 years (began to code 20 years ago) and I’ve worked quite a lot with CMS. I was thinking being a remote and international consultant, helping non-profit with their content (strategy and technical). Of course I’m afraid, I feel I don’t have enough expertise; so many things I don’t know… I’m definitely considering momentum though, it looks great!

Glad to hear that Matthieu and welcome to the community!

Is it possible to start as a side business to eventually wean out the current employee status? If so, how?

Hi Stuart, it is very possible and we’ve helped many people do exactly this. Take a look at our Momentum course for a self-study option or our Clarity Coaching program if you want to be coached through the process. Happy to help.

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How to Start a Consulting Business: A Step-by-Step Guide

• The Speaker Lab
• April 3, 2024

Table of Contents

Launching a consulting business can feel like navigating uncharted waters, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you’re wondering how to start a consulting business , this guide will give you the scoop on understanding the industry landscape and pinpointing where your expertise fits best. We’ll also touch on business plans and legal steps for setting up shop, as well as innovative marketing strategies to attract clients. So, if you’re to roll up your sleeves and get to work, we have practical guidance at your disposal. Let’s start transforming those dreams into a thriving consulting business.

Identifying Your Niche in Consulting

Before you can start a consulting business, you first have to find your sweet spot in the consulting world. Navigating the consulting landscape involves matching your fervor with the demands of the market. With industries ranging from management consulting to IT, healthcare, and even DEI and financial consulting, the options are vast. Finding where you shine brightest is key. Let’s look at a couple of these sectors together.

Management Consulting Market Size

The management consulting industry isn’t just big; it’s colossal. As a billion-dollar industry, its breadth encompasses everything from strategic planning to improving organizational efficiency. Like any consulting sector, its size indicates that carving out a niche here requires not just expertise but an understanding of emerging trends and sectors within the market itself. For those with a knack for solving complex business problems or guiding companies through significant changes, this could be your arena.

Growth in IT Consulting

Currently projected to reach over $72 billion in 2024 , revenue in the IT Consulting & Implementation market continues to grow. This number truly shows the critical role technology plays in every aspect of how businesses run today.

This sector thrives on technological advancements and businesses’ ever-growing need to stay ahead digitally. Companies continue seeking expertise outside their core teams for everything from cybersecurity strategies to cloud migrations. So if tech is your turf—whether it’s cybersecurity measures or software development strategies—the growth trajectory of this sector suggests ample opportunities for specialists ready to tackle today’s digital challenges.

Navigating Niche Industries

Picking a niche goes beyond identifying what areas are hot right now. It involves deep dives into industry trends while matching them against your skills set and passion. Looking into niche industries allows for specialized focus which can significantly benefit client outcomes. After all, tailored advice often translates into actionable insights they couldn’t find elsewhere.

To stand out amidst the sea of consultancy services vying for attention means becoming synonymous with excellence within your chosen field. This could include something like optimizing hospital operations as part of healthcare consulting or navigating companies towards more inclusive practices under DEI initiatives.

So, if you’re eyeing the consulting world and searching for your niche, go ahead and get researching. In addition, it’s wise to reach out and network with industry experts. Their insights can help guide you towards areas ripe for innovation and growth, ensuring your consulting journey starts on solid ground.

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Crafting Your Business Plan and Strategy

In the business world, it’s common to hear words like “business plan” or “five year plan” thrown around casually. But how important is it really to create something like a business plan? And how do you even start to create one for your consulting business? If these are the questions you’re asking yourself, stay tuned—we have answers for you.

Importance of a Strong Business Plan

Think of your business plan as the GPS for your consulting journey. Crafting a business plan goes beyond merely listing ideas. It involves creating a blueprint that details how you plan to grow your consulting enterprise. Crafting this robust business blueprint not only meshes with your proficiency and the demands of the marketplace but also serves as a lighthouse during moments of doubt.

A key component to any successful business plan is understanding its structure. A good business plan includes an executive summary, company description, market analysis, organization and management structure, service or product line description, marketing and sales strategies, funding request (if applicable), financial projections, and an appendix. Every section contributes vitally to sketching an all-encompassing portrait for prospective backers or collaborators. For help writing a business plan, check out Forbes’ guide here .

Aligning Your Expertise with Market Needs

To ensure success in the burgeoning field of consulting, identify where your unique skills intersect with client demands. As this article discusses, consulting can extend beyond merely offering recommendations. Instead of waiting for clients to come to you with issues, you can take the initiative by researching specific pain points within target markets first.

Diving deep into industry trends helps uncover niches ripe for innovation or underserved areas requiring expert advice. Such diligence allows aspiring consultants not only to carve out their niche but also strategically position themselves as indispensable assets amidst competitive landscapes.

Setting Up Your Consulting Business Legally

As with any business, it’s important to take the correct legal steps before you can start consulting. Let’s take a look at a couple of these steps together.

Choosing Your Business Structure

The first step to making your consulting business official is deciding on the legal structure. This decision influences not only your tax filing process but also the degree of personal risk you bear and the avenues through which you can secure funding. A popular option for many consultants starting out is operating as a sole proprietor because it’s simple and doesn’t require registering with the state. But simplicity comes at the cost of increased personal risk.

If limiting personal liability sounds appealing, forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company) might be a better fit. It provides more protection against lawsuits and debts related to your business without complicating taxes too much since profits pass through to owners’ tax returns. Then there are S Corporations, which offer similar protections but differ in their tax structures. They’re ideal if you plan on growing quickly or taking on investors.

To help make this decision clearer, weigh pros and cons based on what matters most for your consultancy. For instance, would you prefer ease of setup or potential for growth? As you consider these questions, remember that changing structures down the line, while possible, could get complicated fast.

Opening a Business Bank Account

Once you’ve settled on a legal structure for your consulting firm, opening a business bank account should be next up on your list. Keeping finances separate from personal accounts isn’t just about organization. It’s crucial for protecting yourself legally and financially.

A dedicated bank account makes tracking income easier come tax time or when assessing financial health during quarterly reviews. Ensuring every penny is accounted for becomes all more important in such competitive fields like consulting.

To open one up, gather required documents including EIN (Employer Identification Number), articles of incorporation if applicable, and owner identification. Next, choose between traditional banks or online options based on convenience, needs, and costs involved. Not only does having separate account help manage cash flow efficiently, it also significantly reduces headaches down road should you ever face IRS scrutiny.

Marketing Strategies for Consultants

As a consultant, your expertise can transform businesses. But before you change the world, clients need to find you. If you’re just getting started, we’re here to uncover how to elevate your consulting business’s visibility.

Building an Online Presence

Leveraging digital platforms like social media isn’t just about posting. It’s about brand visibility and engagement. Social media marketing offers a direct line to your target market, letting them see the real value of what you offer. Platforms such as LinkedIn are gold mines for consultants because they allow for networking with other professionals and sharing insightful content directly related to your field.

To start marketing effectively online, consider which platforms host your ideal client base. Are they scrolling through Twitter or engaging in industry-specific groups on Facebook? Identify where they spend their time and craft messages that speak directly to their pain points.

Content Marketing Essentials

Craft content that not only highlights your proficiency but also empathizes profoundly with the obstacles your clientele encounters. This could be through blog posts hosted on sites like Medium, informative videos, or even podcasts discussing hot topics within industries relevant to yours.

Your goal should be establishing yourself as a go-to resource—someone who doesn’t just provide expert advice but also gives practical solutions business owners can implement immediately. Consider leveraging tools like Respona to get featured in articles looking for expert opinions in your area of specialization. This is a fantastic way to build credibility quickly.

Leverage Digital Platforms For Brand Visibility

The right social media strategy involves more than consistent posting. It requires interaction with followers, participation in relevant conversations, and sharing thought-provoking content that encourages shares and comments from others within the industry. Your aim should be not just gaining followers but building relationships with future clients by providing snippets of the kind of insight they’d gain from working with you.

Create Valuable Content That Showcases Your Expertise

In addition to social media marketing, consider making guest appearances on established websites or hosting webinars and workshops to showcase your knowledge. This approach allows prospects an inside look at how consultations might proceed while giving them actionable takeaways.

By combining these two strategies, you can not only elevate your profile but also ensure that each step you take is a stride towards building lasting professional relationships and establishing yourself firmly in the industry.

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FAQs on How to Start a Consulting Business

How do i start my own consulting business.

First, pinpoint your expertise. Then craft a detailed business plan. Get the legal stuff sorted and kick off marketing.

How much does it cost to start a consulting business?

Startup costs vary widely but expect initial expenses for legal setup, branding, and tech tools. Often under $5k .

How do I set up myself as a consultant?

Determine your niche and value proposition. Legally establish your business, then build an online presence to attract clients.

Can anybody start a consulting business?

Sure, if you’ve got deep knowledge in a field and can solve specific problems for clients, you’re on track.

Setting out to launch a consulting venture paves the way for an array of possibilities. Having absorbed the essentials, from evaluating the industry terrain to devising your own distinctive approach, you’re well-equipped.

Remember: Identify your niche. This makes you stand out. Craft a solid business plan; it’s your roadmap to success. Legally setting up? It safeguards your dream.

Dive into marketing with gusto. Social media isn’t just for scrolling—it’s where future clients live.

Every step taken is one closer to that consultant title next to your name. Make every move count, listen closely to market needs, and adapt swiftly.

You’re not just starting a business; you’re building an empire—brick by brick, client by client.

• Last Updated: May 15, 2024

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Start a Consulting Business in 6 Steps [+Ideas for Your Venture]

Learn about the types of consulting and how to start a lucrative, successful consulting business.

8 FREE CONSULTING TEMPLATES

Access 8 templates for consultants in The Complete Consultant's Success Kit.

Updated: 02/08/24

Published: 02/08/24

Did you know the strategy consulting market is expected to grow by $70.08 billion between 2022 and 2027? This is great news for those wanting to start their own consulting business this year.

A career in consulting may be a good fit for you if you’re passionate about helping others in your industry succeed and you are considered an expert in your career field. In fact, consultant jobs are predicted to increase by 11% from 2021 to 2031, making consultants more in demand than ever.

We’ve compiled this guide to dig deeper into the world of consulting and how to start marketing your own consulting business. Learn about the types of consulting and how to start a lucrative, successful consulting business.

Table of Contents

What is consulting?

How to start a consulting business in six steps, the 16 different types of consulting, how to grow your consulting business.

Consultants are experts in their field. They possess knowledge so valuable that someone else — an individual, department, or entire organization — is willing to pay for it. Consulting can include many activities beyond simply giving advice , including problem diagnosis, data collection, feedback, strategy-building, and implementation.

“The defining characteristic of a consultant is their talent. It’s an intrinsic capacity to look beyond the apparent, make connections that others might miss, and motivate people to take initiative and be confident,” says Hrair Tcholakian , founder of eksperts.net.

Sometimes, business leaders need a new set of eyes when approaching an issue. As a consultant, you can provide that unbiased perspective. Consultants and consulting firms are highly sought after for their fresh perspectives on a pressing business problem or challenge. Simply put, consultants work to make their clients more successful.

Consultant vs. Contractor

You may have heard the words consultant, contractor, and even freelancer used interchangeably. While all of these parties work with businesses and aren’t full-time employees, that’s where their similarities end.

• Contractors (including freelancers ) are self-employed workers that companies contract to provide services.
• Consultants, however, primarily offer assessments and their expert advice. They can be self-employed or employed by an outside consulting firm.

However, if, as a consultant, you were asked to provide a service or deliverable, you could be hired into a contractor-type role.

Now, let’s explore how to begin your own consulting business.

• Assess your skills and strengths to choose your niche.
• Analyze your market needs and pain points.
• Develop your brand, website, and service offerings.
• Open your business.
• Market your business to attract new clients.
• Stay organized and scale.

Are you specialized in a certain field or niche industry and believe you could offer quality advice to others? You may consider opening your own consulting business. Here are six steps to follow to start a consulting business that helps both you and your clients succeed.

1. Assess your skills and strengths to choose your niche.

A good first step to starting your consulting business is to brainstorm and define which valuable skills and strengths you have that make you a great consultant. Ask yourself these questions:

• What makes you an expert?
• What do you love to do and talk about?
• If you had to stand in front of a classroom and teach any subject, what would that be?
• What do your friends, family, and coworkers ask for your advice on?

I consider myself to be an expert in content marketing, so during this step, I would explore which skills I’m often asked about, such as SEO, website and user optimization, and more. Consider what skills were key in getting you hired in the past, as these could be your most lucrative offerings.

2. Analyze your market needs and pain points.

Once you establish your consulting niche, you should better understand what industry and market you’ll be targeting.

Narrowing your market as a consultant allows you to understand your potential clients’ needs, challenges, and pain points. This can help clarify how you can use your skills to provide solutions.

For example, content marketing is a wide field, but my niche experience is in tech content marketing, like SaaS companies and cybersecurity firms. I can position myself in a niche industry because this is where I will do the most good.

Just as you specialize in a certain skill set as a consultant, you should also specify what services you provide for your clients. This information can also help you better market to clients, which we’ll talk about below.

3. Develop your brand, website, and service offerings.

Next, create the external-facing components of your business, including your website, branding , and services. These resources can help clients distinguish you from competitors.

Whether you identify your business with your name or with another name, you should give it an official name and website to boot. Ask yourself what you bring to the table that makes you so valuable, and highlight this offering.

Another important part of this step is outlining how much your consulting costs. Be clear about what services are included in your price.

4. Open your business.

This step is more complicated than flipping a proverbial sign from Closed to Open.

First, consider the legal structure of your business. Legitimizing your business gives you credibility and direction when it comes to taxes, staffing, and other legal details.

Next, consider what tools you need to conduct business and connect with clients. These might include tools to help find new clients and jobs — like a LinkedIn membership — and video conferencing software like Zoom or Skype.

In my experience, the more hype you can generate around your new business, the better. Ask your friends, LinkedIn contacts, previous clients, and others to share your new business. Consider offering a discount on future services if they do.

At this stage, you should also open a business bank account, invest in an accountant (and eventually an assistant), and order business cards with your branding and information.

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5. Market your business to attract new clients.

Now that you’ve opened your business, it’s time to grow . Marketing yourself correctly is key to reaching new clients.

Consulting marketing can adopt a variety of marketing methods:

• Podcasting .
• Speaking and teaching.
• Social media marketing.
• Print or digital advertising.
• Cold calling and emailing.

Regardless of how you promote your consulting business, invest in consulting marketing methods that will get you in direct contact with your potential clients.

Methods like blogging, podcasting, and social media marketing don’t necessarily draw a direct line to new revenue, but they are powerful for growing awareness and establishing expertise. Content marketing is often a marathon, not a sprint, so be sure to create a consistent publishing schedule.

Once you get in front of potential clients, have an established elevator pitch and client proposal template ready to go. Half the consulting “battle” is providing advice. The other half is selling your advice in the first place.

As you grow your client base, use a CRM like HubSpot’s all-in-one CRM platform (which comes in a free version for small-to-medium businesses or a paid version for enterprises). It can help you keep track of client information as well as the context of your relationship with each client.

6. Stay organized and scale.

As you grow and master your consulting business, stay organized and consistent. High-quality results are the best way to incite referrals from previous clients — and referrals can be your best source of new sales .

In fact, as you build successful relationships with clients, don’t be afraid to ask for referrals for new leads.

Once a month or so, sit down and analyze your consulting business. Look at your client list, software tools, and other business practices. Analyze what’s working and what’s not.

Understand where you can cut extra effort and resources to ultimately save money. Lastly, subscribe to industry trends to keep your business relevant to the challenges and trends your clients face.

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Another source of great blog content is your client base. Pay attention to what issues or questions your clients face and gather feedback about what information would be helpful to write and share.

In the same vein, blog content can also serve as sales enablement content — sharing a popular blog post or two with potential clients can help them understand why they should hire you.

4. Share thought leadership content.

Like starting a blog, publishing thought leadership content can help you establish your authority. Consider platforms like Medium that already have an audience. Publish your most authoritative, data-driven content on there to boost your brand awareness.

You can also use tools like HARO to connect with journalists and bloggers looking for expert quotes, anecdotes, and stories for their content. Respond to queries to get your voice featured as a thought leader in your consulting niche.

5. Network and make new connections.

Between social media, dedicated Slack channels, and online masterminds, you are the only thing standing in your way of making new connections and friends online.

Networking in person is pretty straightforward. But networking online can be tricky. Thankfully, with today’s technology, there are countless ways to network and make new connections.

One of my favorite spots to network is on Twitter. It’s the easiest platform to engage with folks and start interesting conversations. I’m also reminded of old connections that I can revive with a short Tweet or email.

Angelique Rewers , founder of Premier Global Community, argues that clients need a compelling ROI story.

“Employee experience is reportedly on the budget chopping block this year, as are a lot of other things. That means every dollar companies invest needs to go a long way. Decision makers need and want to see big, visible dents being put in their problems quickly, and they want to see those results last for longer than sizzle on a steak,” Rewers says.

When you network, you need to share what exactly organizations will get from their investment in you.

Test a few platforms and programs and see which one helps you get connected, attract clients, and build a community.

Start Consulting Today

Consulting may be a fascinating, lucrative career, but it’s also a mindset. Successful consulting businesses begin with an individual or team of experts passionate about helping others.

Regardless of your firm’s size, keep your passion and expertise centered, and you’ll always find success. Top consultants are great at planning, presenting, and marketing their services. Start your consulting business plan by downloading our free consulting templates below.

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• Sample Business Plans

How to Write a Consulting Business Plan + Free Template

Are you someone people usually come to to get valuable business advice? Or do you really like sharing valuable business insights to help businesses grow? Well, starting a consultancy business can be one efficient move to monetize your expert skills.

Now, you wouldn’t start a business without solid planning, would you? Well, how about you take the first step and write an actionable management consulting business plan for your business idea?

Writing a business plan can be tough. But we are here to make it easier for you.

This step-by-step guide is here to help you write a forward-thinking, realistic plan in easy actionable ways and offers a free management consulting business plan template to kickstart your writing process. .

So let’s get started.

Key Takeaways

• Craft a remarkable executive summary summarizing the concept, strategies, objectives, financial projections, and mission values of your consulting business plan.
• Conduct in-depth industry analysis and market research identifying emerging trends and shifts that are likely to influence your consultancy business.
• Introduce the services of your consultancy firm along with its pricing plan to give readers a thorough idea of your service offerings.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis of your key competitors and determine your competitive edge over them to strengthen your competitive analysis.
• Lay down a clear organizational chart highlighting the key skills, salaries, and experience of people working in your consulting firm. .
• Create realistic financial projections for sales, revenue, costs, expenses, and cash flow for your consultancy after making room for contingencies and emergencies.
• Draft a detailed operations plan highlighting the processes and procedures for everyday activities at your consultancy.
• Devise a diversified marketing and sales plan to promote your business effectively to your target audience.

Key Elements of a Management Consulting Business Plan

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Competitor and Market Analysis
• Service Offerings
• Marketing Plan
• Management Consulting Team
• Operational Plan
• Financial Outlook

Since we are talking about a consulting business plan, let us walk you through this step-by-step outline to help you write a stellar plan covering all the essential facets.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary is the first and foremost section of your consulting business plan that will engage your readers and persuade them to dive further into details.

Begin by offering a brief overview of your business idea highlighting what it does. Take reference from the below example written using Upmetrics AI assistant .

Further, paint a picture, briefly highlighting your consulting services, market scenario, competition, USP, marketing and sales strategies, and financial objectives.

Ensure that you adopt a storytelling approach while crafting your executive summary. Ideally, this section of your business plan should concisely summarize your entire business plan in a page or two.

So ensure that you strategically place the information within this section to keep the readers hooked.

Now be smart and revisit this section after you are done writing for every other section of your plan. A thorough understanding of your business plan at that time will enable you to craft a compelling summary easily.

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2. Company Overview

This section of a business plan helps the reader get a thorough understanding of your consulting firm.

The company overview offers a detailed description highlighting what type of consultancy you would run, its physical location, legal structure, mission objectives, history, and all such related information.

Begin by clearly stating the concept and niche of your consulting firm. Further, highlight whether you would be running a sole proprietorship or partnership, and if it’s the latter discuss the profit-sharing ratio.

Don’t forget to mention your business structure and whether or not will you run a Limited Liability Company (LLC).

This section is your chance to introduce your business objectives, core value proposition, and mission objectives. Highlight any milestones you plan to achieve or have already achieved and make this section insightful.

Refer to this example describing the short-term objectives of a consulting firm from an Upmetrics plan.

3. Competitor and Market Analysis

An in-depth analysis of the consulting industry, market, and competitors is essential to build a successful consulting business. This is the most crucial part of your consultancy business plan helping you identify your target market, emerging trends, competitors, and your advantage over them.

Market analysis

The market analysis section of your consultant business plan will help you evaluate the market condition, target market, and business growth opportunities for your consultancy business.

Begin by researching and analyzing the consultancy market size and the serviceable obtainable market of your specific consultancy.

Further, determine your target audience by creating a buyer’s persona of your ideal customer. In this customer analysis section, determine their demographic and psychographic details to get a clear understanding of who your customer would be.

Refer to this buyer’s persona written using Upmetrics AI assistant:

Lastly, identify the emerging market trends within your industry, potential risks, and the shifts in consumer behavior likely to influence your business.

Competitors analysis

In the competitive analysis section of your plan, identify the consulting firms and other businesses that offer direct or indirect competition to your business.

Your direct competitors are other consultants in your local market, while your indirect competitors are in-house experts, software solutions, and an industry-specific business community extending resourceful help.

Conduct a SWOT analysis of your key competitors and analyze them based on their service offerings, target demographics, pricing, and other relevant factors.

Highlight your competitive advantage over these firms, suggesting that there are ample opportunities for you to succeed despite the competition.

Here’s an example of a competitive advantage for a consultancy business using Upmetrics.

4. Service Offerings

Consulting businesses offer a variety of consulting services. In this section of your consulting business plan, you will create a clear list of all the services you will be offering.

The list can include various business consulting services such as:

• Strategy consulting
• Operation consulting
• Human resources consulting
• IT Consulting
• Risk and compliance consulting

Now, elaborate on these services to help your readers understand what it truly entails. Refer to this example of legal and compliance services brief description:

As part of our risk and compliance service, the company will offer:

• Draft, negotiate, and conclude ‘Joint Venture Agreements’, and ‘Memoranda of cases for one of our key clients. 
• Legal Advice & Consultation
• Case Litigation & Pleading
• Legal Translation
• Business Start-up Advice
• Management Consultancy
• Representation and Attorney Services
• Legal Compliance

Determine the pricing of these services and place it alongside your service list. Ideally, you should create differential and tiered pricing plans for your services to cater to different target audiences.

All in all, make this section an informative read for your readers helping them understand your unique business offerings.

5. Marketing Plan

A well-defined marketing plan is among the most important components of your consulting firm’s business plan. Well, It’s time to design your marketing strategies using your market research about the target customers and the potential clients.

Multifarious marketing efforts are essential to make your new business visibly famous in the market. Well, here are a few strategies that a successful consultant follows religiously:

Social media marketing

Choose different social media platforms to build your consultancy brand online. LinkedIn can be a good choice for a consultancy business followed by FaceBook and Instagram. Create your marketing plans for different platforms and be consistent with your posting there.

Informative website

Build an informative website for your consulting business and enhance its ranking on search engines by creating a dedicated content marketing program.

Email marketing

A well-defined email marketing program to attract new clients, newsletters for subscribed customers, and promotional services offer to convert a potential customer base.

Targeted advertising

Running a paid ads program to reach targeted small businesses and potential clients.

Refer to this example of marketing and promotion programs for your consultancy from Upmetrics.

In this section of your consulting business plan, also highlight your marketing budget and its allocation to different marketing activities.

6. Management Consulting Team

Introduce your managerial team in this section of your consultant business plan by showing how you have the right people to run a successful consultancy.

Begin by introducing the people at top managerial positions and offer a brief description depicting their skills, expertise, and experience in offering specific consulting services.

Refer to this example introducing the managing director of a consulting agency.

Mr. Ashton will serve as the Managing Director of CCI. A highly motivated and dynamic individual, Thomas boasts vast experience in the field of aesthetics having spent a career spanning 14 years essaying various white-collar roles for aesthetic companies across America. His ability to multi-task and expertly weave through operational pitfalls equips him with exceptional management and administrative skills. The US operations include sourcing, interacting, and building client relations across the industry value chain involving professional salons and end-user clientele. Mr. Ashton’s expert management and industry-specific skills will play an instrumental role in achieving the parent company’s goal of establishing a sustainable and reliable aesthetic brand in the US.

Don’t limit this section to the introduction of owners and managers. Instead, introduce every person who’s an asset to your business and can contribute significantly to your business goals.

In this section, you will also highlight the organizational design to offer a clear understanding of the hierarchy in your consulting firm. And lastly, don’t forget to add the salaries and wages of these people alongside their roles while creating your management plan.

7. Operational Plan

The operations plan shows that you don’t only have the means but also the knack to operate the consulting business efficiently.

This section of your business plan highlights the processes and procedures essential to run the everyday operations of your consulting business and the milestones you wish to achieve.

Confused what should you include in your operations plan? Let’s check this out:

Hiring plan

Mention the number of project managers, analysts, BD, administrative, and support workers needed for your business. Briefly describe the qualifications, skill sets, and experience for these roles and lay your hiring plan to hire employees.

Refer to this example of a hiring plan for a consultancy by Upmetrics.

Operational processes

Briefly explain the different processes and procedures of your business in the consulting industry. This includes processes for client acquisition, service delivery, project management process, quality assessment, and client retention.

Tools and equipment

Mention all the equipment you will require to deliver quality consulting services to the clients. Also, include the pricing of these equipment and how you plan to source them from the market.

Overall, think of smaller nuances and make this section as brief and detailed as possible. Consider it as a guidebook that will answer all the operational queries that arise while running the business.

8. Financial Outlook

A comprehensive financial plan is the most crucial component of your business plan and sometimes it is the only section investors or readers might be interested in.

So work on putting together a well-detailed financial plan with realistic financial forecasts to increase the weight of your consulting plan.

The projections in a financial plan are important because they help the readers gauge the financial viability of your business idea. They offer a clear picture of the profitability, growth potential, and cash-generating capacity of your consulting business.

To create a befitting plan, begin by offering a detailed insight into your startup costs, revenue streams, profit margins, operational costs, and cash flow projections. Gather these projections to work on your key reports.

Refer to different business plans to see what more could you add to your financial section apart from these key essentials:

• Balance sheet
• Profit and loss statement/ Income statement
• Cash flow statement
• Break-even analysis
• Investment plan

While making a financial plan, ensure that you figure out the calculations for the next 3-5 years. And yes, we agree that calculating all these financial projections from scratch can get overwhelming. However, with this financial forecasting tool from Upmetrics , the entire task of creating a detailed plan will get much easier and more effective.

Simply enter the details in the tab and let the tool undertake all the manual calculations and create engaging visual reports to add to your plan.

Get Your Free Management Consulting Business Plan

Need help writing the contents of your management consulting business plan? Well, here you go. Download our management consulting business plan pdf and start writing.

Our intuitive and modern consulting business plan template offers a step-by-step guide with relevant examples to speed up your process of writing an effective business plan. It will get your actionable plan ready while ensuring that you add all the crucial details to it.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

Start preparing your business plan with Upmetrics AI

And here we are. Now that you are aware of how to write an effective business plan using our consulting business plan template, you are one step closer to starting your business with a bang.

But that’s not it. What if we tell you that your business planning process can be made easier and more efficient with a few cutting-edge tools? Well, the Upmetrics business planning app is here at your service.

With an AI assistant to speed up your writing process, financial forecasting tools to help you with projections, and thousands of free educational guides to help you set up the business- we think you get it all with Upmetrics.

Get started now.

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Frequently asked questions, what are the key components of a management consulting business plan.

While there are no fixed rules regarding what to include in your consulting business plan, you can ensure that you don’t miss adding these key components to your plan:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Market and competitor analysis
• Service offerings
• Management team
• Operations plan
• Financial plan

What financial projections should be included in the business plan?

While making your consulting business plan, ensure that you add the financial forecasts for startup costs, expenses, revenue, cash flow, sales, and expected profitability to your plan.

How often should I update my Management Consulting Business Plan?

Ideally, you should update your business plan at least once a year since you operate in a highly dynamic industry. However, if you feel that the yearly updates are insufficient, you can also review and update your plan every quarter.

How should I approach the funding section of my business plan?

Begin by calculating your startup costs and the actual monetary situation to evaluate the funding needs for your business. Thereafter check the potential funding sources and their application procedure to avail required funding.

As a consulting business, you can choose one of these funding sources:

• Private loan
• SBA approved loans
• Angel Investors
• Venture Capitalist firms
• Crowdfunding

Can the business plan help in securing funding or investments?

Absolutely it does. Investors, credit lenders, and banks will look after your business plan before accepting the funding request for your business. This is because a business plan offers a clear understanding of your business idea while simultaneously vouching for the financial feasibility of your plan.

What legal considerations should I include in my business plan?

Here are a few of the legal considerations you should make while writing your business plan:

• Business licenses and permits
• Health safety compliance
• Insurance coverage
• Legal business structure
• Employment laws

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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How to Write a Business Plan for a Consulting Business

There are four key areas that you should focus on when developing a business plan for your consulting business..

If you've found yourself holding a pink slip from your corporate employer or perhaps are just tired of the old 9 to 5 grind, one of the best ways to get back on your feet might be turning your experience and skills into a consulting gig since just about anyone who possesses specialized skills can hang out a shingle of their own. But before you do, you might want to consider taking the time to create a business plan for your new venture, which will not only help you map out the opportunities before you, but also the threats. While business plans doesn't appeal to everyone, especially if you don't ever expect to raise capital for your business, it can be a critical factor in getting your business off the ground, says Jennifer Leake, a certified management consultant and founder of Consultants Gold , an online community dedicated to helping consultants run their ventures successfully. That's why, as you get started, Leake offers the following tips for developing a plan:

• Write it! "Putting it on paper requires far more thought than just having it in your head," says Leake.
• Keep it simple so that you revisit it often—so don't make it too long or too complex, she warns.
• Spend the lion's share of your time defining your niche and why you are uniquely situated to serve it. "If you can't succinctly articulate what your business is selling, you'll never get people to buy," says Leake. 
• Don't create your plan in a vacuum. "You'll develop a better business plan if you have feedback, and you'll be more likely to take action if you have accountability from mentors, coaches, or success partners," she says.

But crafting a business plan for your new consulting company doesn't mean you should stick to the average template you can find online, as you should spend your time focusing on the elements that most often make or break companies in your industry. "Writing a business plan for a consulting firm sounds fairly straightforward because there are so many who call themselves 'consultants,' but it can be quite difficult for many reasons," says Michael Hermens, president of Finance Forward , a financial advisory firm in Dallas. That's why Hermens says that you should focus on four key areas when fleshing out your business plan: 1. Value Proposition Answer this question: What is your specific value proposition? "Thousands of ex-IT programmers are now 'Social Media Consultants,' " says Hermens. "What do you do that thousands of other people don't?" The keys to building a solid value proposition are to give decision makers solace that they made the right decision, he says, which can be done in three ways: 1. Offer a service guarantee, 2. Build and take prospects through a well-defined methodology, or 3. Specialize so narrowly that it is easier to increase your stature. "The challenge with a guarantee is that larger firms don't normally purchase on that basis and smaller firms generally take a service guarantee as a tacit admittance of being mistake prone," says Hermens. "A well defined methodology or approach takes a while to build, but is well worth it for prospects who do not know you. Narrow focus helps potential consultants gain exposure, increased stature helps clients be satisfied with their hiring decision."

Dig Deeper : Nobody Buys a Value Proposition 2. Target Market Answer this question: What is the best target market for you, or do you hunt every potential client that might possibly need your services? "Understanding your target market is the most difficult planning activity," says Hermens. But developing an understanding of the competitive landscape is crucial, particularly go-to-market and pricing strategies, as well as the specific problems that the industry or market segment is trying to solve. "Gaining insight into how companies in your industry go to market, the basis on which consulting firms compete, matters," he says. "In strategy consulting, it might be references of former clients or the published knowledge share that gets clients interested. In large IT deployments, it is probably the strength of the methodology. With forensic consulting, your name and personal credibility is a huge selling point." In other words, determining how you should go to market, how (or how much) you charge your clients, and your familiarity with specific industry jargon and problems the industry is trying to solve, are crucial in planning your consulting business, according to Hermens. One approach offered by Beth Corson, founder of Your FundingKey Advisors , is to choose a few industries and then outline the size and type of businesses that you'd like to work within those industries. "Rather than the desperate approach of taking any client that comes along, be selective and create a clear road map of where you want to go," she says. "Several years from now, your client roster should be fairly close to the plan that you make now. By working with similar clients in a specific industry, your company creates a level of expertise that makes it easier to perform well and get new clients because you understand their unique challenges and how to overcome them."

Dig Deeper : How to Define Your Target Market 3. Marketing Answer these questions: How do you market your consulting business? What tactics do you employ to get in front of decision makers to evaluate your offering? There's no question that in order to get your new consulting venture off the ground, you'll need to market your skills and experience to potential clients. That can be difficult, though, when you're a sole proprietor, since time spent marketing is time you're not billing for. While you can always hire an outside firm to help, your fledgling business might find the cost prohibitive. The answer, then, is to be creative in finding ways to promote your offering. One way to do that could be through landing public speaking engagements, which can be very effective at promoting your knowledge and point of view on your industry's challenges, says Hermens. Another option can be to partner with other companies that might offer complementary services to your own, a tact that may also help you build experience in new areas. But, at some point, you must develop your own client relationships independently if you want to keep your company growing.

Dig Deeper : How to Promote Your Consulting Business 4. Employees Answer these questions: If you have employees, what is the best way to deploy them, given the reality of project work? Do you plan to pay them hourly, by confirmed project, or salaried? "The issue here is how do you leverage yourself to grow revenue?" says Hermens. "Consultants who develop their brand can write books and charge an hourly rate, but they still cannot serve two clients simultaneously. Leverage allows your consultancy to flourish as your company takes on more projects." The key, then, is to think about how you align revenue arrangements with employee compensation and how to pay employees to ensure they are available when you need them by asking yourself questions like: Do you pay a salary and risk a lull in projects? Or, perhaps you pay employees on a project basis, only when they work, risking their availability when you get a new contract? "The goal here is to align revenue with employees compensation in the beginning as your consultancy grows," says Hermens. "Once your business becomes large enough, put key people on a salary, with performance bonuses. They will stick with you, have learned your go-to-market strategy, and know your methodology inside and out."

Dig Deeper : The New Rules of Employee Compensation

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How to Start a Consulting Business: Your One Page Business Plan Learn the three critical components of your business plan and download a template to get started

By Terry Rice Edited by Dan Bova Apr 28, 2021

I wrote several business plans while obtaining my MBA from the University at Buffalo. But, for some reason, I totally skipped that part when it was time to launch my consulting business. My only real plan was to generate revenue, which often involved saying "yes!" to any opportunity that came my way, and not charging nearly enough for the services. And, when my daughter was born, I was too concerned about the future to be fully present. I was there, but I was more preoccupied with worrying about how I would provide for her than I was with enjoying and appreciating the experience.

Fortunately, that all changed once I decided to create a real plan aligned with the vision I had for my business and my family. That was six years ago and I've now packaged it as the One Page Business Plan for Consultants . I'm sharing the framework with you so you can avoid my mistakes, and compress the amount of time it takes for you to find fulfillment. This is by no means a hack - you're going to put in work - but this guide will reduce the confusion and frustration that can come from starting a new business.

I should also note that you may not complete it in one sitting. By design, it will challenge you and expose blind spots you may not be aware of. That's a good thing! Addressing these critical issues now will save you from months - possibly even years - of self-doubt and lost revenue.

And, if you're currently offering professional services , but are wondering why you haven't been able to "figure it out" just yet, this plan could be the key to unlocking your revenue potential.

It's all centered around answering three critical questions, which I've highlighted below.

Related: Learn how to package, price, and promote your consulting services

What do you do, who do you do it for, and why?

Clarity is the precursor to confidence. Once you establish clarity on your services, audience and motivation; you'll be able to confidently move forward with the next steps. I address how to get clear on your services in the article How to Start a Consulting Business: 3 Steps to Finding Your Idea , so I suggest checking that out in addition to the guidance provided in the business plan.

Be sure not to skip defining your "WHY" - the purpose, the cause, or the belief that drives you - this will become a valuable differentiator as you grow your business. And, if you need help crafting yours, Simon Sinek literally wrote the book on it, but you can also check out his brief YouTube video that provides some valuable tips.

How do you attract clients and opportunities by expressing your expertise and personality? (Marketing)

When I first started offering Digital Marketing services, I visited a local business in Brooklyn so I could pitch them in person. I knew launching a business would require stepping out of my comfort zone and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to do so. Incredibly enough, they said "yes", but I never did door-to-door sales again. Why? Because I hated it, and I knew there had to be a more efficient way.

Your goal should be to land clients based on how you feel comfortable presenting yourself and the value you provide. Not by spending 20 minutes hyping yourself up by listening to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" on repeat before you finally get enough courage to ask for their business. Everyone may be telling you to join Clubhouse , but answering questions on Quora might be a better fit for your personality.

It's also crucial to attract the right prospects. I used to get contacted by people who asked how much I charged before asking how I could help. In time, you'll learn how to weed those people out so you can focus on prospects who understand the value you provide and are willing to pay you what you're worth.

Beyond that, your marketing tactics need to be measurable and repeatable. Otherwise, you won't know how to avoid making the same mistakes or double down on what's working for you.

Related: How to Grow Your Email List and Sales Pipeline by Creating Your Own Free Mini-Course

How do you deliver your services and scale revenue? (Delivery)

Experiencing burnout — emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress — is far too common with entrepreneurs. One way to avoid it: develop a process to deliver your services that is aligned with efficiency and impact.

While custom projects can be lucrative, they also require much more coordination and development. Defining the delivery - and pricing - of your services in advance allows you to create a business model that is aligned with your desired revenue and lifestyle goals.

You can see options for delivering your services below.

By documenting this process, you'll also be able to better project and scale revenue, which reduces uncertainty and gives you the freedom to take time off without worrying about where your next paycheck is coming from.

Related: How to Start a Consulting Business: Determining Your Rates

Download the One Page Business Plan and block off three hours to work on it. I suggest working for 50 minutes, taking a 10-minute break, and repeating that cycle three times. And, if you have any questions feel free to reach to me on LinkedIn or join a live Q&A session .

Ready to start your consulting business? Check out our Consulting Business Accelerator and get going today! You'll gain access to training videos, hands-on activities and join live weekly Q&A calls.

Entrepreneur Staff

Business Development Expert-in-Residence

Terry Rice is the Business Development Expert-in-Residence at Entrepreneur and Managing Director of Growth & Partnerships at Good People Digital ; an agency that provides marketing and monetization solutions for entrepreneurs. He writes a newsletter about how to build your business and personal resilience and personal brand in just 5 minutes per week and created a revenue optimization checklist to help you multiply your income potential. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

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Consulting firms earn revenues from fees charged to clients. These can be hourly fees or fees paid on a per project basis. A consulting firm is not a capital intensive business to start. The challenges are finding clients, effectively managing your time so you maintain a high average hourly rate and collecting the fees you have earned. In a business plan for a consulting firm, the section on marketing strategies is particularly important. Consultants must have strategies in place to continually generate new clients for the firm.

Determine the scope of your services. Match your skills and capabilities with the needs of your potential customer base. Be sure clients are willing to pay for the services you are offering. Identify market needs that are serious -- your services must solve a significant problem for your clients. Just having skills or knowledge to offer is not enough.

Devise points of differentiation. Be able to articulate why the package of services you will be offering is different -- and better -- than other consulting firms. Think about how to express your firm’s competitive advantages clearly and succinctly to prospective clients.

Create your business model. Finalize the types of services you will be offering and what you will charge for each. If you are doing a three-year business plan, consider offering additional services in years two and three -- you will have an established customer base to sell these new services.

Formulate a marketing plan. Make your website a key strategy in the plan. Show how your website content and search engine strategies will draw in potential customers. An effective website gives your firm the potential for obtaining clients all over the U.S. and internationally. List the conferences and trade shows you will attend for networking purposes. Think of non-competitive professional service firms you could reach out to to mutually refer clients.

Prepare a financial forecast. Be conservative with your projections. Don’t assume revenues will grow quickly -- it will take time to develop a referral network. Make sure you start with enough capital to sustain your consulting business until it reaches break even. Scrutinize the proposed expenditures in your plan and make sure each one will contribute to the growth of your business.

• To conserve capital, you might assume in your business plan that the business will initially be operated out of your home. Caution must be taken to maintain a professional image. Add a phone line dedicated to the business with a professional greeting on the answering machine. Set up the office space in an area of the house that can be closed off to interruptions.
• A risk to achieving your revenue forecast in the business plan is not being paid all the fees you have earned. Assume in your cash flow forecast that you will charge a retainer at the beginning of each consulting engagement. For fees charged by the project, collect a portion when the project starts, a progress payment and then a final payment when the project is completed. This will partially protect you from less than honest clients, or those who decide to abandon a project before it is completed.

Brian Hill is the author of four popular business and finance books: "The Making of a Bestseller," "Inside Secrets to Venture Capital," "Attracting Capital from Angels" and his latest book, published in 2013, "The Pocket Small Business Owner's Guide to Business Plans."

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How to Start a Marketing Consulting Business: Steps to Success

Step 1: Assessing your expertise and skills

Step 2: defining your marketing consulting services, step 3: creating a detailed business plan, step 4: choosing your business structure and setting up the business legally, step 5: designing your logo and brand identity, step 6: defining a content strategy, step 1: determining your rates, step 2: sales techniques for consultants.

• Step 3: Identifying client's needs and pain points

Step 4: Creating and executing marketing campaigns

Step 5: streamlining project management and implementing efficient systems, step 6: securing referrals and repeat business, step 7: handling contracts and negotiations, step 8: conducting performance evaluations, step 9: building trust and growing your business , step 1: establishing an effective website, step 2: utilizing social media platforms, step 3: networking and partnerships, step 4: keeping up with marketing trends and ai.

• Conclusion 

The marketing industry is growing, with many opportunities for new businesses. With companies investing in marketing, there’s great potential for success. However, succeeding in this field requires careful planning. Let’s learn how to build a marketing consulting business that meets client needs and achieves long-term growth.

What do you need to be a marketing consultant?

How do I start my own consulting business?

How much does it cost to start a consulting business?

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Stage 1: Getting started on your marketing consultancy

Starting a marketing consulting business involves assessing your expertise, defining your services, and conducting thorough market research to position yourself effectively.

Starting a marketing consulting business requires careful planning and legal organization. You need to develop a solid business plan, choose the right business structure, and handle all legal requirements.

Creating a strong brand identity is pivotal in starting a marketing consulting business. The key points include designing a distinctive logo, developing an online presence, and crafting a solid content strategy to communicate your value.

Before you begin, look at your background. Identify your strengths in areas like brand marketing , digital marketing , or media . Think about which areas you are most passionate about and where you have the most experience.

Consider taking an inventory of your skills. Writing, analytical skills , and communication are all crucial in this field. Identify any gaps and consider whether you need additional training or certifications. Specializing can help you stand out—if your strengths lie in SEO , focus on that niche. Your unique blend of skills and experience will be the foundation of your consulting business.

Next, define the services you plan to offer. Will you focus on marketing strategy , content creation , or social media management ? Be specific about what you can offer to clients. It’s helpful to create a detailed list of your services.

Think about how you can provide value to your clients. Create packages or bundles that make sense for different types of businesses. If you are skilled in digital marketing, offer a comprehensive package that includes SEO, PPC, and email marketing. Being clear on your services helps set client expectations.

Explore the market 

Conducting market research is necessary to understand your potential clients and competition. Begin by identifying your ideal client. Are they small businesses, startups, or large corporations? Knowing your audience helps tailor your services and marketing efforts.

Analyze your competition. Look at other marketing consultants and see what they offer. Identify gaps in the market where your services could fit. Research industry trends to keep your services relevant.

Gathering this information allows you to create a focused business plan and marketing strategy. Use your findings to highlight your unique selling points and differentiate your consulting business from others. Effective market research positions you for success right from the start.

By following these steps, you get a clear path to starting a marketing consulting business and position yourself to help clients succeed.

Your business plan is the roadmap for your marketing consulting business. It includes your goals, strategies, market analysis, and financial projections.

First, define your services . Specify exactly what marketing services you will offer.

Next, identify your target audience . Determine which types of businesses will benefit most from your services.

Then, study your competition . Understand who your competitors are and what makes them successful.

Finally, outline your finances . Estimate your startup costs, pricing strategy, and expected revenues.

Choosing the right business structure affects your taxes, personal liability, and ability to raise funds.

• Sole proprietorship : Simple to set up and run, but you are personally liable for debts.
• LLC (Limited Liability Company) : Protects your personal assets from business liabilities. It is more flexible in terms of management and tax benefits.
• Corporation : Offers the highest level of personal liability protection, but is more complex and expensive to maintain than other structures.

Consider your business size, future growth plans, and how much personal liability you’re willing to assume.

To operate legally, you need to register your business and meet all legal requirements.

First, register your business name . Ensure that it is unique and reflects your brand.

Second, obtain necessary permits and licenses . This could include general business licenses or specific marketing consulting permits.

Third, apply for an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS for tax purposes.

Fourth, open a business bank account . Keep your personal and business finances separate to simplify accounting.

Lastly, get business insurance . Protect your business from unexpected liabilities.

The first step is to design a unique logo. Your logo should reflect your brand’s vision and values. Consider hiring a professional designer if you’re not confident in your design skills.

A well-crafted logo helps in making a memorable impression. Use consistent colors, fonts, and visual elements . These elements form the core of your brand identity and should be present in all your communications.

Think about your unique value proposition. What sets your business apart? Ensure that your visual identity speaks to this uniqueness.

A solid content strategy is key to engaging your target audience. Start by identifying the topics relevant to your clients. Create high-quality content that provides value and demonstrates your expertise.

Use a mix of formats such as blog posts, videos, and infographics. Consistency is crucial. Stick to a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged.

Make sure to share your content across all your platforms . This increases visibility and reinforces your brand identity.

Stage 2: Developing the key strategies for your marketing consulting business 

When starting a marketing consulting business, pricing your services and selling them effectively are crucial steps. Additionally, delivering value through targeted campaigns, efficient operations, strong client connections, and clear demonstrations of impact are key components to ensure the growth and success of your business.

Setting your consulting rates can be tricky. You want to be competitive but also make sure you’re compensated fairly for your expertise. There are several pricing strategies you can use:

• Hourly billing: Charge clients for each hour of work.
• Retainer agreements: Clients pay a set fee regularly for guaranteed services.
• Project-based: A flat fee for specific projects.
• Value-based pricing: Charge based on the value your services bring to the client.

Each method has pros and cons. Hourly billing is straightforward but might limit income potential. Retainer agreements provide stability but require long-term commitments. Project-based fees are predictable but might not cover unforeseen issues. Value-based pricing can be very lucrative if you effectively show the value you bring.

Effective sales techniques are key to landing clients. Start by understanding potential clients’ needs. Listen carefully and ask questions to understand their challenges. Then, clearly explain how your services can solve their problems.

Here are some strategies to consider:

• Build relationships: Networking and building relationships can help gain clients’ trust.
• Offer free initial consultations: A free consultation can demonstrate your value.
• Showcase case studies: Display previous success stories to highlight your capabilities.
• Use value propositions: Clearly state the benefits and outcomes clients can expect.
• Follow up: Stay in touch with prospective clients without being too pushy.

Highlight your expertise and the success you’ve brought to past clients. Be confident, clear, and considerate. This can help you stand out and make clients eager to work with you.

Step 3: Identifying client’s needs and pain points

Start by thoroughly understanding your client’s business and market. Conduct surveys, interviews, and market research to find out what challenges they face. Look for specific pain points affecting their growth or customer engagement.

Use data and insights to tailor your strategies. Analyze the competition to see what’s working for others in the same industry. Identifying these needs will help create customized solutions that directly address the client’s issues.

Once you know the client’s needs, develop targeted marketing campaigns to address these pain points. Create clear objectives for each campaign, such as increasing brand awareness, driving sales, or attracting new customers.

Use various marketing channels to reach the target audience effectively. This could include social media, email marketing, or paid advertising. Track the campaign performance using analytics tools. Regularly update the client on the impact and adjust strategies as needed to maximize results.

These steps are essential for anyone learning how to start a marketing consulting business and deliver real value to clients.

Breaking down projects into manageable tasks is crucial. Use tools like Trello , Asana , or Jira to organize tasks with deadlines, assignees, and progress tracking.

Assign clear roles to team members. Define who is responsible for which tasks and ensure everyone understands their role.

Regular updates are vital. Hold brief check-in meetings to assess progress and handle issues promptly. Use Gantt charts to visualize project timelines and adjust as needed.

Document every step. Keep detailed records of project milestones, client feedback, and final deliverables. These records can help with future projects and improve transparency.

An efficient client relationship management (CRM) system can also make a big difference. A CRM automates client management, tracks interactions, and organizes data. Consider tools like Salesforce , HubSpot , or Zoho CRM for your consultant business.

Automate routine tasks. Set up automated emails for follow-ups, reminders, and updates. This ensures consistent communication and saves time.

Integrate your CRM with other tools. Link it with your project management software, email platforms, and calendar. This creates a seamless flow of information and avoids data duplication.

Run regular analysis. Use CRM reports to analyze client interactions, identify trends, and optimize strategies. This keeps your operations data-driven and client-focused. Using these approaches will help you navigate how to start a marketing consulting business effectively.

Securing referrals and repeat business is essential for sustaining and growing your marketing consulting business. Start by delivering exceptional service and ensuring client satisfaction. Building a positive relationship encourages clients to recommend your services to others.

Ask for feedback regularly to understand what you’re doing well and areas you can improve. Use testimonials to showcase your success stories in your portfolio . This illustrates your expertise and enhances your credibility.

Retain clients by frequently engaging with them and offering loyalty programs or discounts for continued use of your services. Also, consider implementing CRM software to keep track of client communications and project progress.

Handling contracts and negotiations effectively protects both you and your clients, creating a solid foundation for a professional relationship. Initially, draft clear and precise contracts that outline the scope of work, deliverables, timeframes, costs, and payment terms.

During negotiations, be transparent about your capabilities and limitations, and listen actively to your client’s needs. Foster a collaborative approach to find mutually beneficial terms.

Review contracts carefully before signing, ensuring all terms are well understood. Consider consulting with legal experts if necessary. By managing this process thoughtfully, you set the stage for successful engagements and lasting business relationships.

Follow these key steps to ensure your contracts and negotiations run smoothly:

• Draft clear and detailed contracts.
• Be transparent with your clients.
• Listen to client needs and collaborate.
• Review contracts thoroughly.
• Seek legal advice if needed.

Regularly measure the performance of your marketing strategies to understand their effectiveness. Start by setting clear, measurable goals for your campaigns, such as improvement in email open rates or website traffic. Use tools like Google Analytics and CRM software to gather and analyze data.

• Identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align with your client’s goals.
• Evaluate metrics such as conversion rates , click-through rates , and return on investment (ROI) .
• Schedule performance reviews to discuss these metrics with your clients.

By focusing on these steps, you can ensure your marketing strategies are meeting their objectives, and you can make adjustments as needed.

Case studies are powerful tools to demonstrate the success of your marketing consulting business. They provide real-world examples of how your strategies have made a difference.

• Choose diverse and compelling examples that showcase different aspects of your work.
• Include details such as the initial challenge, the marketing plan you developed, and the results you achieved.
• Use before-and-after statistics and quotes from satisfied clients to add credibility.

By sharing these stories, you can build trust with potential clients and highlight your expertise as a marketing consultant. Case studies make it easier for new clients to understand the impact of your services and envision their own success.

Diversifying your service portfolio

Offering varied services can attract a broader client base. Start by understanding your strengths and interests. Then, consider adding services such as social media management , content creation, or email marketing.

Consider types of consulting services : strategy consulting, digital marketing, and branding. Think about what each type involves and how it fits with your expertise. Expanding your services can increase your revenue streams and provide more value to your clients. Plus, it positions you as a full-service marketing consultant. This is a great step when you’re figuring out how to start a marketing consulting business.

Stage 3: Marketing your services

To grow your marketing consulting business, focus on creating an engaging online presence, leveraging social media, and building valuable connections with other professionals.

Having a strong website is critical for your marketing consulting business . This is where potential clients will learn about your services and reach out for more information. Make sure your website clearly outlines what you offer, showcases testimonials from satisfied clients, and includes a blog with helpful marketing tips . You can do it with 10Web, and here’s how: 

• Choose Yes to get a domain or click No if you have one already.

• Once your site is generated, preview it and make any necessary adjustments using the user-friendly tools provided by 10Web.

Ensure your website is easy to navigate and mobile-friendly. Use professional images and clear call-to-action buttons like Contact Us and Get a Quote . Investing in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can help your site rank higher in search results, making it easier for clients to find you.

Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your services. Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter allow you to connect with a broad audience and share your expertise. Regularly post content that highlights your skills, such as case studies, success stories, and marketing tips.

Use targeted ads to reach potential clients who may need marketing consulting. Engage with followers by responding to comments and messages promptly. LinkedIn is particularly useful for networking with other professionals and joining industry groups to expand your reach.

Building a strong network and forming partnerships with other businesses can significantly benefit your consulting business. Attend industry conferences, workshops, and webinars to meet potential clients and partners. Join local business groups and online communities related to marketing to stay informed and connected.

Collaborate with complementary businesses, such as web development firms or graphic design studios. This can provide mutual referrals and new opportunities. Establishing these connections can enhance your brand’s credibility and make it easier to find new clients.

Marketing evolves rapidly. Staying updated on trends like social media algorithms, SEO changes, and content marketing strategies is essential. Follow industry blogs, attend webinars, and join professional networks.

AI is transforming marketing. Tools that use AI can help with market research, customer segmentation, and personalized campaigns. Learn how to leverage AI in your work to offer cutting-edge solutions to your clients. Integrating AI tools into your practice can also streamline tasks and make your services more efficient.

Conclusion  

Starting a marketing consulting business is an exciting opportunity in a dynamic field. Success requires careful planning, market research, and strategic execution. Assess your expertise, define your services, and understand your target audience and competitors to differentiate your brand and attract clients. Using tools like 10Web can streamline website management. With diligent preparation and effective marketing, you can build a thriving marketing consulting business.

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More From Forbes

How To Start A Business Plan: A Step-By-Step Guide

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Creating a business plan is a critical first step for any entrepreneur. Knowing how to start a business plan will help you create a roadmap, guiding your business from startup to growth and beyond. Whether you're looking for investment, trying to set clear goals, or simply organizing your thoughts, a solid business plan can make all the difference.

Here is a guide to help you get started on your business plan:

1. executive summary.

What It Is: This section summarizes your business plan as a whole and outlines your company profile and goals.

What to Include:

• Business name and location
• Products or services offered
• Mission statement
• The purpose of the plan (e.g., seeking funding, guiding the startup process)

Tip: Keep it concise. Although it's the first section, it's often best to write it last, after you’ve detailed everything else.

2. Company Description

What It Is: This section provides detailed information about your company, including who you are, what you do, and what markets you serve.

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• Your business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation)
• The industry and marketplace needs your business meets
• Your business’s objectives and how you stand out from competitors

Tip: Use this section to highlight your company’s strengths and what makes you unique.

3. Market Research

What It Is: Market research demonstrates your understanding of the industry and target market.

• Market size and growth potential
• Target customer demographics
• Market trends and outlook
• Competitive analysis, including strengths and weaknesses of competitors

Tip: Include data and statistics to back up your findings and show that you’ve done your homework.

4. Organization and Management

What It Is: This section outlines your business’s organizational structure and management team.

• Organizational chart
• Information about the ownership of the company
• Backgrounds and qualifications of the management team
• Roles and responsibilities within the company

Tip: Highlight the skills and experiences of your team that will help the business succeed.

5. Products or Services Line

What It Is: Here, you detail the products or services you offer or plan to offer.

• A description of each product or service
• The lifecycle of products or services
• Research and development activities, if applicable
• Intellectual property, such as patents or trademarks

Tip: Focus on the benefits your products or services bring to your customers.

6. Marketing and Sales Strategy

What It Is: This section explains how you will attract and retain customers.

• Marketing strategies, including advertising, promotions, and public relations
• Sales strategies, including sales processes, channels, and tactics
• Pricing strategy and how it compares to competitors

Tip: Ensure your marketing and sales strategies are aligned with your market research findings.

7. Funding Request

What It Is: If you’re seeking funding , this section outlines your requirements.

• Your current funding needs
• Future funding requirements over the next five years
• How you intend to use the funds
• Potential future financial plans (e.g., selling the business, repaying debt)

Tip: Be specific and realistic about how much funding you need and how it will be used.

8. Financial Projections

What It Is: Financial projections provide a forecast of your business’s financial future.

• Income statements
• Cash flow statements
• Balance sheets
• Break-even analysis

Tip: Use realistic and conservative estimates. Consider hiring a financial professional to help with this section if needed.

9. Appendix

What It Is: The appendix includes any additional information that supports your business plan.

• Resumes of key management team members
• Permits and leases
• Legal documents
• Detailed market research data
• Product photos

Tip: Only include essential information that adds value to your business plan.

Final Tips for Creating a Business Plan

Creating a business plan requires clarity and precision. First and foremost, keep your business plan clear and concise. Avoid using jargon or complex language that could make the plan difficult to read or understand. Your aim should be to communicate your ideas effectively and efficiently.

Next, be realistic in your approach. Ensure that your goals and financial projections are attainable based on your research and understanding of the market. Overly ambitious projections can undermine your credibility and potentially lead to unrealistic expectations.

It's also essential to remember that a business plan is a dynamic document. As your business grows and market conditions change, you should revisit and revise your plan regularly. This helps you stay aligned with your goals and adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

Finally, seek feedback from experienced business professionals. Having someone with business experience review your plan can provide valuable insights and help identify any potential issues or areas for improvement. Their feedback can enhance the overall quality and effectiveness of your business plan.

By following these tips, you'll be better equipped to create a robust and effective business plan that can guide your business towards success.

The bottom line is that starting a business plan may seem challenging, but with careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a comprehensive guide to steer your business toward success. Use this step-by-step guide to ensure that all essential components are covered, giving your business the best possible start.

Melissa Houston, CPA is the author of Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Profitable Business and the founder of She Means Profit . As a Business Strategist for small business owners, Melissa helps women making mid-career shifts, to launch their dream businesses, and I also guide established business owners to grow their businesses to more profitably.

The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace any professional or expert accounting and/or tax advice whatsoever.

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How to Build a Consulting Website in 9 Simple Steps

Are you ready to boost your consulting business and find the right clients? Let's get started on the key steps to build a consulting website that will take your success to new heights.

In today's digital world, your consulting website is key to showcase your skills, draw in clients, and grow your business.

But the beginning can be challenging. You need to plan and execute well to make a website that truly represents your brand and speaks to your audience. This means defining your brand, picking the right design, and making sure users find it engaging.

Whether you're experienced or new, having a website that highlights your unique strengths can help you stand out.

We’ll go through 9 steps to help you easily design a consulting website without breaking a sweat.

What Is a Consulting Website?

A consulting website is a business website. The term consulting is very broad and contains different niches, such as business consulting, design consulting, and so on. One of the main aims when building your consulting website is to provide valuable information about the company, the process, and so on.

It is essentially an important marketing tool to help boost your online visibility. The idea is to provide a pathway for potential clients to find your firm without effort.

Here's an important guide on how to build a website from scratch .

What Are Some of the Benefits of Having a Consulting Website

Nowadays, if your business wants to flourish and gain the necessary traction, a website is a must. Basically, your website becomes the digital version of your business card. Especially when your area of expertise lies in consulting, creating a professional website can:

 Makes it easy to highlight your brand

Creating a website helps you bring more authority as to how you want prospective clients to view your business, the services you provide, and how they interact with different pages of your website.

Achieve your business goals

A website helps connect all your traditional and digital marketing efforts. For instance, if you post on social media, interested clients would love to know more about the company. To help convert these users, you need a business website with all the relevant information.

Firstly, you need to understand your goals. Ask yourself:

• Are you looking to generate leads? Add a "Signup button" for newsletters or special updates.
• Do you strive to achieve business reputation? Then, you'll need to include blogs.
• Do you want to instill trust? Then, you've got to include client testimonials on your home page.
• Do you want to begin the consultation process? You'll need to provide a "Contact Us" link on the home page, wherein users can fill out a form.

Establish strong relevance

No matter if you're starting out or are an established consultancy firm, building relevance is key to competing in your niche. Creating a website will help draw in potential clients, convert interested parties, and help them realize you can stand the test of time.

24/7 availability

Unlike a physical office, a website is available 24/7, allowing interested clients to access information about your services at any time.

Marketing and promotional tool

Your consultancy website serves as the center for all your marketing efforts. It provides a platform where you can share links to your socials and integrate strategies such as e-mail marketing, search engine optimization, and paid ads to establish your online presence and attract more clients.

How to Build a Consulting Website

Here are 9 essential points you need to consider when building your consulting website:

• Define your brand identity
• Obtain a custom domain
• Choose a website builder
• Build a website with all the relevant pages
• Streamline your workflow
• Market your consulting website
• Make it client-focused
• Showcase your expertise
• Keep content fresh and updated

1. Define your brand identity

Starting a successful consulting website means defining your brand identity first. Your brand is the heart of your business, including your values, mission, and vision. It shows how you want people to see and interact with your consulting services. A strong brand identity helps you stand out from others and connect deeply with your clients.

Your brand story is another crucial element. It tells people who you are, what you do, and why. It's the core of your brand identity.

Talk about your unique journey, the hurdles you've jumped over, and the values guiding your work. A strong brand story builds trust and connection with potential clients.

You need to really delve deep and find out your unique selling proposition—what are some of the main factors that differentiate you from the rest? This could be your deep industry knowledge, a special method, or a personal touch with clients.

Showing your brand personality and its benefits is crucial to being noticed.

2. Obtain a custom domain

Starting your consulting website means getting a custom domain name. This is the web address people will use to find your site, and it's the first thing they'll see about your business.

Choose a domain that matches your website or brand name for better branding and easier client recall.

Website builders, such as Pixpa, offer the option of a free custom domain as part of their paid plans. This will help ease the whole process without the hassle of DNS changes or domain transfers.

A consulting website domain helps solidify your online identity and makes it look more professional to potential clients.

Also, think about getting a custom professional email for consultants, like [email protected]. This email keeps you organized and lets you talk to clients in a more unified way.

The custom domain for consulting business coupled with your professional email creates a strong, trustworthy online image. This will make a great impression on your target audience.

3. Choose a website builder

The next step is to choose a website builder. Site builders such as Pixpa help create a consultant website that converts. With a user-friendly interface and a library of stunning pre-made website templates , you can create your consulting website without any knowledge of coding, saving a lot of time, effort, and budget.

Once you choose your website builder, you need to start working on your consulting website design, as this is the first thing a user sees when they visit your website. Having a visually appealing and functional web design will help draw clients into converting.

Pixpa's library of templates is visually appealing, functional, and fully customizable. All you need to do is use the drag-and-drop builder to change color schemes, move or edit elements, and build a site that suits the needs of your clients.

Explore Pixpa's list of high-level features here . 

4. Build a website with all the relevant pages

To decide on the right pages for your consulting website, you need to talk about including pages that align with your business strategy. By choosing and organizing these pages, you can create a website that effectively highlights your offerings.

Here are a few pages you want to include:

Your website's homepage is the first thing potential clients see. It's a chance to make a strong first impression. This page should explain what you do and who you help. It should also show what makes your business stand out.

Make sure your homepage grabs your audience's attention. Define your brand, talk about your unique services, and share any awards or client feedback. When people visit your site, they should quickly understand your expertise and why they should choose you.

To make a great consulting website homepage, focus on key elements. Include a clear value proposition, a nice-looking homepage layout for consulting website, and engaging homepage content for consultants. This way, your homepage will be a strong tool for drawing in and winning over potential clients.

The About Us page lets you share your story and details your background, skills, and process. It's a chance to build trust by showing your experience, successes, and what makes you different. A solid About page helps clients see why they should pick your consulting services.

Check out our detailed article on how to create the perfect About Us page .

Testimonials

Adding client testimonials to your site builds trust and credibility. About 72% of the customers trust a business more after reading testimonials. Show off good feedback and case studies from past clients to prove your services' effectiveness and ease new clients' minds.

Contact page

The Contact page is vital for consulting sites, offering various ways for interested clients to get in touch. Make sure to list your contact info, like phone, email, and social media links. Adding a contact form makes it simple for clients to ask about your services. A well-made Contact page makes it easy for people to reach out and connect with you.

Service page

The service page provides important information about your services and pricing. Depending on the number of services, a dedicated web page for each service is needed. This provides a more structured look and allows users easy access to what they're looking for. In addition, you can focus on the content and provide valuable information to users.

As a consultant, a proper strategy is to book a 20-minute one-on-one call to answer any queries or provide a detailed explanation of the services.

5. Streamline your workflow

As a consultant, your time is valuable. Consider adding features and automation to your website. This could mean using self-scheduling tools allowing clients to book appointments easily on their own time.

Custom intake forms can also help. They allow you to collect crucial info from clients and make starting work easier.

Self-scheduling tools can change the game for consultants. They let clients book appointments on your website. This saves you time and makes things smooth for your clients.

By using these tools, you can manage your calendar better, allowing you to focus more on your work.

Another strategy to streamline your work is custom intake forms. They help you get the information you need from clients and their projects. You can customize these forms to fit your requirements, so you get all the details you need.

Invoicing can also be time-consuming when running a consulting business. Invoice templates can be a game changer as they help you track finances accurately.

6. Market your consulting website

Launching your consulting website is just the start. You must continually market your website to draw in and turn potential clients into leads. Marketing your website will also help improve online visibility, helping you draw prospective clients from different channels.

Here are a few strategies you need to use:

Incorporate keywords naturally

First, find the main terms your audience uses to search for consulting services. These could be "consulting website development," "consulting website SEO," or "search engine optimization for consulting website.”

The keywords can also be niche-specific, like marketing consultant, management consulting, healthcare consulting, and more.

Make sure to incorporate these keywords naturally in your website content. Also, avoid keyword cannibalization as it can really hamper your SEO performance and website rankings.

Optimize for search engines

Building a successful consulting website means using the right keywords and optimizing for search engines. SEO is vital to making your site more visible. This helps potential clients find your consulting services.

There's more to SEO than just keywords. Make sure your site has an SSL certificate, as search engines see it as necessary. Also, write meta descriptions and alt text for images to help search engines understand your site better.

By employing these strategies, your consulting business will appear more prominently in search results. This brings more qualified leads to your site.

Leverage social media

Using social media platforms is a smart move for marketing your consulting website. Share your thoughts regarding your niche, promote your website, and connect with users who are part of your target audience.

Social media channels such as LinkedIn and X(Twitter) are popular platforms for consulting businesses.

Create Thought Leadership Content

Creating thought leadership content like blog posts, articles, and videos is key. It lets you share your knowledge and add value to your audience. This kind of content marketing for consulting websites makes you stand out as an expert. It builds trust and credibility with interested parties, thereby increasing the likelihood of a conversion.

7. Make it client-focused

When designing your consulting website, think about your target clients. Make sure it's easy for users to find what they need. Your site should focus on solving your client's problems, not just showing off your skills.

Make the user experience smooth and match your clients' preferences. Use tools like self-scheduling and custom forms to publish valuable content and connect with clients. This approach makes your website more engaging and valuable to your audience.

Your website's design and content affect how credible and trustworthy your business looks. Paying attention to details is key, as small mistakes can hurt your reputation. Highlight your skills and use testimonials to build trust.

8. Showcase your expertise

Your consulting website must have past successes to build trust and credibility. Include case studies that detail your work and its effects. Also, add client testimonials to highlight your skills and the value you offer. This way, you stand out and help show why you're the top choice.

Case studies

Case studies are a great way to show your expertise. They should cover specific projects, the challenges you tackled, the strategies you used, and the results you achieved. Real-world examples help potential clients see how you work, your process, and the benefits you bring.

Client testimonials

Your website should also include client testimonials to back up your expertise. These can be written quotes, videos, or logos of the companies you've worked with or are working presently. Showing these testimonials builds trust with potential clients who are looking at your services.

9. Keep content fresh and updated

Keeping your consulting website up-to-date is key. It helps your online presence stay effective and valuable to your audience. You should add new blog posts, update old ones with suitable content, and regularly update website content.

Regular updates highlight your expertise, build trust, and make your business stand out. By offering quality content often, user experience improves and helps your site rank higher on search engines.

Refreshing your website content should be part of your marketing plan. Use current events to keep things fresh, and try different formats like videos, infographics, and interactive checklists to engage your audience.

Your consulting website is an ongoing project. By regularly updating your content, you keep your online presence true to your brand. This helps you show your expertise and grow your business.

Key Takeaways

• Defining your brand identity is crucial for creating a cohesive and memorable online presence.
• Choosing the right website design can help you showcase your expertise and appeal to your target audience.
• Optimizing your website for search engines can increase visibility and attract more qualified leads.
• Continually marketing your website through thought leadership content and social media can help you build trust and establish your authority.
• Keeping your website content fresh and updated is essential for maintaining a strong online presence and meeting the evolving needs of your clients.

Creating a great consulting website needs a careful plan. Think about your brand, design, content, and marketing. This guide shows how to make a site that draws in your ideal clients and grows your business.

Key steps for a winning consulting website are clear branding, SEO, engaging content, smooth client experiences, and ongoing improvement. Follow these tips to set your consulting business up for success and growth.

What is the first step in creating a consulting website?

The first step is to define your brand. This includes your company's values, mission, and vision. Your brand story, personality, and identity are vital as they convey to users who you are, what you do, and why.

How important is the visual design of a consulting website?

The visual design is key. It's the first thing new clients see, and it helps show that you're a pro worth working with. In this step, you need to choose a template that resonates with your company and will need to include information such as testimonials, your process, etc.

What should be the focus of the homepage for a consulting website?

The homepage should grab attention by explaining what you do and who you help. It should show why you're the best choice. Use visuals that highlight what makes your business stand out.

What are some essential pages for a consulting website?

Key pages include an About page for your story and background. A Testimonials page to build trust. And a Contact page for easy client connection.

How can a consulting website streamline workflow?

Add features like self-scheduling tools and custom intake forms. These automations help streamline your work. You can focus more on your clients.

Why is a custom domain important for a consulting website?

A domain name is what people type to visit your site. For branding, it should match your business name. It's also good for a custom email address, making you look more professional.

How can a consulting website be optimized for search engines?

Use keywords in your copy and add SEO descriptions. Enable SSL for a secure connection. Search engines like SSL help your ranking.

How can a consulting website be continually marketed?

Keep marketing by creating content like blog posts and videos. Share on social media to get more traffic and connect with potential clients.

How should a consulting website be designed with the client in mind?

Design with your target clients in mind. Make it easy to navigate and address their needs. Focus on their pain points and interests, not just your services.

How can a consulting website showcase the consultant's expertise?

Show your expertise by sharing case studies and client testimonials. These prove your skills and the value you offer.

How often should a consulting website's content be updated?

Update your website often to stay relevant. Add new content and refresh old pages. This keeps your site fresh and accurate for your audience.

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• Best Online Advisor for Low Fees 
• Best Online Advisor for Diversified Investing
• Best Online Advisor for 529 Plans
• Best Online Advisor for Financial Planning and Personal Development
• Best Online Advisor for Retirement Saving
• Why You Should Trust Us

Best Online Financial Advisors 2024: Find the Right Fit for Your Needs

Paid non-client promotion: Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate investing products to write unbiased product reviews.

What Are Online Financial Advisors?

A financial advisor is a catch-all term that includes financial planners and investment advisors. Most online advisors offer investment management — whether it's carried out by a human or a sophisticated computer algorithm — and financial planning services or tools.

Types of Online Advisors

The main types of online financial advisors are: 

• Robo-Advisors: Automated investment platforms (aka robo-advisors) use algorithms to generate a custom investment portfolio based on an individual's risk tolerance, goals, and time horizon. Robo-advisors typically offer low-cost ETFs as a cost-effective way to instantly diversify an investor's asset allocation and mitigate risk. 
• Human Advisors (Virtual): Financial advisors that offer personalized financial planning and investment advice online through virtual meetings, email, and other virtual communication channels. 
• Hybrid Models: Some online brokerages offer hybrid financial advice, combining automated investment advice and management through a robo-advisor and one-on-one consultation from a human advisor. 

Benefits of Using Online Financial Advisors

Online financial advisors allow you to ditch the in-person hassle and access expert financial guidance from your phone or home computer. Online financial advisors leverage investment technology and generally low-cost compared to traditional in-person consultants.  

Not only does it make investing more affordable for many individuals, but clients can more easily adjust and monitor their investments on their own time. Robo-advisor and hybrid online advisors typically offer online dashboards and tools for convenient managing and monitoring. 

Compare the Top Online Financial Advisors 2024

For this list, we didn't consider online advisors that match clients and advisors for comprehensive financial  planning services, such as Zoe Financial or Facet Wealth . Instead, we focused on tech-driven firms where you can access an automated and personalized portfolio and consult a professional for advice when needed.

Here are our top picks for the best online financial advisors as picked by Business Insider editors in 2024.

SoFi Automated: Best Online Advisor for Low Fees 

SoFi Automated Investing supports individual investment accounts, joint accounts, traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs, and 401(k) rollovers.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No account minimum or management fees to invest
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Goal planning and automatic portfolio rebalancing
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Range of other account options across SoFi website
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. SoFi offers complimentary CFP access across all accounts
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No tax-loss harvesting
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No socially responsible portfolio options

SoFi Invest is one of the best investment apps and the best investment apps for beginners. It's a great platform for US investors who are looking for an intuitive online trading experience, an open active or automated investing account, and assets like cryptocurrencies.

• Promotion: None at this time.
• Consider it if: You're new to investing and want to leave the trading decisions to professionals.

SoFi Automated Investing offers individual and joint taxable brokerage accounts , traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA.

SoFi stands out for its lack of advisory fees, free one-on-one consultations with CFPs, portfolio diversity, and goal-planning features. SoFi builds a personalized investment portfolio based on your risk tolerance, goals, and time horizon. Additional SoFi membership perks include loan discounts and career counseling. 

What to look out for: SoFi doesn't have tax-loss harvesting features and limited portfolio diversity. 

SoFi Invest review

Betterment: Best Online Advisor for Diversified Investing

Betterment offers individual or joint accounts, IRAs, trust accounts, and cash reserve or checking accounts.

$0 to open, $10 to start investing ($100,000 for premium plan)

$4 per month (or 0.25%/year) for digital plan; 0.40%/ year for premium plan; 1%/year for crypto portfolios

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. No minimum for standard investing account
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Goal-based planning, tax-loss harvesting, charitable giving, and socially responsible investing available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Access to certified financial planners
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Mobile app with external account syncing options
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. You'll have to pay to consult a human advisor, unless you have the premium plan
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. $4 monthly fee (or 0.25% annual fee)

Betterment is best for hands-off investors who want to take advantage of professionally built, personalized ETF and cryptocurrency portfolios. The platform offers CFP access, so it could suit those in search of additional guidance from human advisors.

• App store rating: 4.7 iOS/4.5 Android
• Consider it if: You want access to robo-advice with multiple service levels.

Betterment Investing offers individual and joint taxable brokerage, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, inherited IRA, and trust.

What stands out:  Betterment is a robust trading platform offering premium plans with unlimited access to CFPs through phone or email. Investors can use the platform's goal-setting feature, ESG investing, automatic rebalancing, and easy-to-use financial dashboard. 

What to look out for:  Accounts with a $100,000 balance can upgrade to get advisor access, but the annual fee increases from 0.25% (an industry low) to 0.40%

Betterment review

Wealthfront: Best Online Advisor for 529 Plans

Fund your first taxable investment account with at least $500 in the first 30 days of account opening and earn a $50 bonus.

$1 ($500 for automated investing)

$0 for stock trades. 0.25% for automated investing (0.06% to 0.13% for fund fees)

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Low annual fee for investment accounts; crypto trust investments available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Tax-loss harvesting, portfolio lines of credit, 529 college savings plans available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Cash account
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Mobile app and investing and retirement tools
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. You need at least $100,000 to utilize additional investment strategies
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No human advisor access

Wealthfront is one of the best robo-advisor options if you're in search of low-cost automated portfolio management, and one of the best socially responsible investing apps for features like tax-loss harvesting, US direct indexing, and crypto trusts.

• Consider it if: You're balancing several goals and want to streamline your finances.
• Promotion: Fund your first taxable investment account with at least $500 in the first 30 days of account opening and earn a $50 bonus.

Wealthfront Investing offers individual and joint taxable brokerage, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, trust, and 529 savings plan .

Wealthfront is one of the best online financial advisors for college education savings and cryptocurrency trusts. You can borrow up to 30% of your investment balance at a low interest rate with a portfolio line of credit. Wealthfront also offers personalized recommendations with smart financial planning software. 

What to look out for:  On-staff financial advisors don't offer personalized advice

Wealthfront review

Ellevest: Best Online Advisor for Financial Planning and Personal Development

Ellevest offers two investing portfolios to fit your needs.

$1 - $240 (varies by portfolio)

$54 - $97 annually; $5 or $9/month

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Personalized, automated investment advice with a $0 minimum requirement
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Monthly plans include discounted access to certified financial planners
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Automated IRA accounts and 401(k)/403(b) rollovers available
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Private wealth management for individuals, families, and institutions who have at least $1 million to invest
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No active trading opportunities available; money is mainly invested in stock ETFs and bond ETFs
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. You can only open individual investment accounts and retirement accounts; joint accounts or custodial accounts not available

Ellevest is one of the best robo-advisors for goal-focused investing. It could be a good fit if you want automated investing and retirement accounts.

• Consider it if: You're looking for a one-stop shop for financial planning.

Ellevest offers individual taxable brokerage, traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA (all held at Folio Investments).

Ellevest is a comprehensive financial advisor and trading platform built around women's unique needs and challenges. Investors get access to an extensive library of content and advisor-led workshops. Additionally, Ellevest offers a socially responsible investment portfolio and monthly progress reports. 

What to look out for:  Financial coaching costs extra (but members get 30%- 50% off). Access to retirement account management requires an upgrade.

Ellevest review

Ameriprise Financial Investments: Best Online Advisor for Retirement Saving

Ameriprise Financial Services has been operating for 130 years Ameriprise Financial Services is licensed in all 50 states but only has 10 physical locations throughout the US; it's currently headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Varies by account

$500 annual advisory fee, 2% AUM

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Access to personal finance research and investment tools
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Fiduciary financial advisor access
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Various account and investment options
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. High account minimums
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Difficult to navigate website
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Complex fee structure

Ameriprise Financial Services is a brokerage and financial advisory firm best for experienced, passive investors interested in using the site's financial planning services, wealth management tools, and fiduciary advisor access.

Ameriprise Financial Investments offers three managed account options that can be opened as an individual brokerage account, traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, Simple IRAs, SEP IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, 529 plans, and Coverdell education savings accounts (CESA). 

Ameriprise Financial Investments is one of the largest registered investment advisors in the US and is best for experienced investors looking for advanced charting and investing features. You'll get access to fiduciary financial advisors for consultations or account management. 

What to look out for: Ameriprise 's managed account fees are high, and it has a complex fee structure. 

Ameriprise Financial Services review

How Much Do Online Financial Advisors Cost?

Financial advisors providing financial advice often charge by the hour, typically between $100 to $300. Advisors creating a comprehensive financial plan tend to charge a flat rate between $1,000 and $3,000. 

If you hire an advisor to manage your investment portfolio, you'll be charged a percentage of your account balance, typically between 1% and 3% annually. In comparison, that's much higher than the fees that the best robo-advisors charge; you get the added benefit of building a relationship with a trusted source who can adjust your strategy as needed, provide personal recommendations, and answer questions when they arise.

How to Choose the Best Online Financial Advisors

The best online financial advisor for you depends on your goals, risk tolerance, investments, and time horizon. If you're a new investor interested in passive investing, an online robo-advisor is likely a good place to start. On the other hand, if you're looking for professional insight and a customized financial plan, you're better off with access to a human advisor through phone or video calls. 

You can also meet with an expert in person for financial guidance. So if you prefer to meet face-to-face, here are some tools to find some in your area:

• This is a database of all CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals who are authorized to use their CFP® marks by the CFP® Board and are accepting new clients.
• Using the advanced search function, you can choose from over 40 focus areas you're looking to get help with and include your current amount of investable assets.
• Click here to visit the CFP Board website .
• This database helps connect young professionals — those in generations X and Y (millennials) — with individual advisors.
• Every advisor holds the CFP® certification, is a fiduciary , does not require a minimum net worth to take on new clients, and does not earn commissions.
• Click here to visit XY Planning Network .
• This platform maintains a database of fee-only financial advisors, not specifically CFP® certificates, who commit to a fiduciary oath once a year. 
• You can filter by location to see a list of advisory firms in your area.
• Click here to visit the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors website .

Online financial advisors are generally trustworthy. The best advisors follow the fiduciary rule, meaning they operate in their clients' best interest and are fee-only. This means client fees are their only compensation, and they don't earn a commission when they invest in certain funds or buy financial products.

Not everyone needs a robo-advisor, but beginners or passive investors looking for a hands-off approach to stock trading may prefer how cost-effective and convenient robo-advisors are. Affordable financial advisors can be hard to come by, so robo-advisors are a great alternative for many people. However, a financial advisor may be better if you need specific advice on your finances or investment strategy or if you're too overwhelmed or confused by your money to plan for retirement or invest in the stock market. 

The cost of an online financial advisor varies from platform to platform and advisor to advisor. The cost largely depends on the services, licensing, account balance, and complexity. Robo-advisors typically charge lower fees than human advisors. 

Why You Should Trust Us: Our Methodology

We Reviewed the best online financial advisors using Business Insider's methodology for rating investment platforms . We compared a long list of Registered Investment advisors (RIAs), considering fees, investment selection, access, ethics, and customer service. The best online advisors have top marks in all five categories. Investment platforms are given a rating between 0 and 5.

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Rodan + Fields Announces New Path to Growth

News provided by

Jul 15, 2024, 16:15 ET

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Company will expand reach of its dermatology-created products with a modernized approach to its people centered business model

SAN FRANCISCO , July 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rodan + Fields ("R+F" or "the Company")—a brand known for delivering proven results in skincare and haircare through science-backed, dermatologist-created products—today announced a simplified business model to unlock growth and reach new customers.

Starting September 1 , the Company will move away from the multi-level direct selling model to streamline the customer and Consultant experience. This new model, which will be supported by a broader array of marketing and advertising across traditional channels and social media to complement Consultants' advocacy, will better position R+F to meet customers where they are discovering and buying beauty products.

When the new model takes effect on September 1 :

• Consultants will begin participating in the new Affiliate program, which will only be available for existing R+F Consultants.
• Under the new Affiliate program, existing R+F Consultants who continue to sell R+F products will receive increased commissions on customer sales and product discounts, resulting in over 90% of current R+F Consultants having a higher earning potential based on their current sales performance.
• Recruitment and commissions Consultants receive through product sales by those they have recruited will no longer be a component of R+F's model, resulting in a simplified Consultant experience.
• Customers will find it easier to browse, discover, and engage with the R+F brand across its digital channels, and continue to benefit from the incredible passion and knowledge of the R+F Consultant base.

"Since day one, our brand has been focused on giving people the proven results they desire in skincare and haircare through science-backed, dermatologist-created products," said Dimitri Haloulos , CEO of R+F. "We are confident these changes will enable us to meaningfully expand the lives we can impact and—importantly—allow us to continue to provide our passionate Consultants with a modern and meaningful earning opportunity."

As part of the evolution of its business model, R+F has also reorganized its corporate structure to support the future needs of the business, which resulted in the elimination of approximately 100 roles. The Company is grateful for the contributions of these individuals and is supporting them with the transition.  

About Rodan + Fields: Rodan + Fields was launched in 2008 and founded by Stanford-trained dermatologists Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields with the mission of delivering proven results in skincare and haircare through science-backed, dermatologist-created products. Rodan + Fields is the #1 Dermatologist Founded Premium Skincare Brand in North America in 2022 Ʌ  and the #1 Premium Skincare Regimen Brand in the U.S. for 5 consecutive years, (2018 – 2022) + . Rodan + Fields is proud of its track record of providing confidence to millions through regimen-based skincare and award-winning innovation, and global community of passionate brand advocates. Products are available through R+F Independent Consultants or on the Rodan + Fields website at rodanandfields.com.

+  Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2023 Edition, retail value RSP terms; all channels, Premium Skincare.

Ʌ  Source Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty and Personal Care 2023 Edition; all channels; Premium Skin Care Regimen includes Sets and Kits; retail value RSP terms.

SOURCE Rodan + Fields

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