It seems like everyone is a consultant these days. You might roll your eyes at this, but know that it’s actually a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs. With the high demand for specialized services, and the relative simplicity of starting an online business, there has never been a better time to start a consultancy.
But what is a consultant exactly? The skills and services vary widely, but essentially, a consultant is someone who is hired to offer expertise that will move a person or business forward in a specific area.
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How to Start a Consulting Business: 5 Key Questions
Do I Have Sufficient Skills to Start a Consulting Business?
Why Should I Start a Consulting Business?
Is Consulting Right for Me?
How Do I Choose My Niche?
What Consulting Services Should I Sell?
Still Stuck? Sell a Service That Helps Make Money or Save Money
Consultants handle social media, IT, human resources, PR, business strategy, pretty much you name it. I, for example, am a freelance writer by trade, but much of the work I’ve done in the past was as a digital marketing consultant.
Consultants are doing amazing things. For example, the founders of ticketing platform TryBooking had “fairly average results” for 10 years at their first startup until they hired a business consultant who helped them craft a business plan that turned everything around.
And consulting isn’t limited to the business world. When Australian skier Alisa Camplin took home a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics, she called her sports psychology consultant her “secret weapon.”
Sounds awesome, right? But how do you know if you have what it takes to be a successful consultant? While it’s not as easy as ticking off the boxes on a simple “Starting a consulting business checklist,” it’s still pretty easy to determine if you’ve got what it takes. Let’s dive into the answers below.
How to Start an Online Consulting Business: 5 Key Questions to Ask Yourself
Do I Have Sufficient Skills to Start a Consulting Business?
That’s a great question! My simple answer: Have you ever had a job? Then congratulations, you have skills people will pay you for! I don’t mean to make it sound easy; of course, you will have to be able to produce results for your clients. But you might be surprised by just how much you have to offer when you really think about it. There are consultants in business organization, college admissions, personal style, and even confidence.
What clients want from a consultant is proof they’ve got good ideas to execute on and examples of work they’ve done in the past. That’s why portfolios, discovery calls, and proposals are so important; they’re your opportunities to show proof of your expertise and offer recommendations on how you can move your client’s business forward.
In my five years as a marketing consultant, not once has anyone asked about my college education. Not once have they asked to see my certifications. Not once have they asked me how many years I’ve been doing this. Those things are nice to have, but they don’t necessarily make a good consultant.
In short, how can you tell you have what it takes to be a consultant? If you’ve got multiple projects in a field that you’ve worked on and can show them as proof of your expertise, that’s about all it takes. There’s no set number of years of experience, no required degree.
My challenge for you: If you want a true litmus test for seeing if you have enough skills for starting your own consulting business—try to get your first client. If you can convince someone that you will bring them enough value that they are willing to pay you, you’ve validated your business idea. You aren’t stalling and talking in hypotheticals anymore, you’re doing it! Once you get that first client, it becomes much easier to get that second and third, and things will snowball from there.
Why Should I Start a Consulting Business?
Consulting has very low barriers to entry compared to product-based businesses or service-based businesses that need multiple employees. Here’s a list of some key benefits:
Simple to Structure
A service-based business of one person (you) is the simplest business you can start. In the U.S., it’s known as a sole proprietorship, and it requires no extra paperwork to create. You are the business, basically. And unlike product-based businesses, a consulting business requires no product design, prototyping, manufacturing, or shipping.
Low Costs
Again, unlike product-based businesses, a consulting business doesn’t have many expenses. There’s the business license, and maybe some accounting and project management software. But if you’ve got a computer, Internet, and expertise, you can be a consultant. Eventually, of course, if you decide to scale your business into a consulting firm, you’ll have the payroll expenses of hiring other consultants. But at the start, an independent consultant is a lean startup.
Allows You to Gain Experience for Future Business Ideas
Consulting is the perfect way to get hands-on experience solving problems for clients; this can result in your first product, whether digital or physical. A great real-life example of this is serial entrepreneur Jonathan Siegel. He got his start as the founder of a consultancy that built software for other businesses. But then one day he decided to have his team build software during some downtime. What started as an in-house project turned into his first product: RightCart, shopping cart software that was later acquired by Buy.com.
Helps You Make Industry Connections
As a consultant, you’ll carve out a specialty as an expert in a certain niche. As you continue to work with clients, you’ll network with key leaders in your industry. Keep in touch with those connections; you never know just where they may take you.
Is Consulting Right for Me?
Just because anyone can be a consultant doesn’t mean anyone should. Here are some of the key characteristics of a successful consultant:
You’re Self-Motivated
Without a boss or coworkers, you’ll need to be able to get the work done on your own. This can mean anything from administrative tasks such sending invoices to clients, to sales tasks such as following up on prospects.
You’re Deeply Knowledgeable in a Particular Area
This one seems like a no-brainer, but it’s such a big part of being a consultant, it needs to be stated: You’ve got to be knowledgeable about something others want to know. I hesitate to say “expert” because that word tends to scare people away. While you don’t have to be a world-renowned expert on using Instagram to grow an email list, if you want to be a social media consultant, you’d better have real experience in that field and past results to back it up.
You’ve Got People Skills
Consulting is a service, meaning you’ll be working one-on-one with clients. Because of this, you need to have good people skills. You’ll be marketing yourself, negotiating with clients, and presenting ideas—if that makes you want to run for the hills, consulting may not be for you.
How Do I Choose My Niche?
“Niche” is a hot word right now—and everyone is telling you need to find yours. But I’m going to give some advice that goes against the grain: Don’t worry about niching down in the beginning. I didn’t.
You see, in the beginning, you’re still testing the waters. You think you know what industry you want to work in and what kind of clients you want to work with, but the truth is, you have no way of knowing until you start.
As digital marketing consultant Josh Hoffman points out, if you niche down too early, you may end up getting boxed in very quickly. For example, if you decide you want to be a Facebook ads consultant for wedding planners because you’ve got tons of online ad experience and you love weddings, but you’ve never actually worked with wedding planners, what’s going to happen on that initial client call? They’re going to ask to see proof of your previous work in their niche, and you may very well lack some specific piece of knowledge or skill you weren’t aware you needed. Then you’ll be stuck without the relevant experience and skills.
But let’s look at it another way. Let’s say you marketed yourself as a Facebook ads consultant who’s worked with a wide variety of businesses—restaurant chains, software startups, and construction companies. When you have a discovery call with a wedding planner, they’ll ask to see your past results, but of course, they’re not going to expect to see previous work only in the niche they’re in—and that’s fine. You didn’t market yourself that way. Now your past work will still be relevant because it shows you know how to produce results with online ads, even if it isn’t in their specific niche.
On top of that, it’s by not niching down that you’ll find your dream niche. In the beginning, it’s okay to cast a wide net in order to learn what you like and narrow down later. Trust me, most people don’t get it right on the first few tries. I started out selling videography services but quickly learned that wasn’t my calling. I then moved into copywriting, and eventually branched out to what I do today: digital marketing for startups.
What Consulting Services Should I Sell?
OK, now that we’ve got that “picking a niche” roadblock out of the way, it’s time for our next one: deciding what services to sell. Here are three ways to approach this:
Sell the Services You Did in Previous Jobs
Guess what I was doing before I became a marketing consultant for startups? I was working on the marketing team of a startup. The same services I performed as an employee—managing social media, writing copy, creating marketing campaigns—were needed by other startups on a consulting basis. This made the transition from employee to consultant way easier. There was no need to reinvent the wheel.
Learn New Skills Through Online Courses and Real-Life Practice
The biggest mistake I made when I started consulting was not seeking out continuing education. I was hesitant to spend money on educational resources. But let me tell you something: As a consultant, you never stop learning. There’s always some new trend to discover, or an old skill to improve.
Here are some ideas for online courses that can help you to learn how to start a consulting business:
- Interested in learning how to use Pinterest to drive organic traffic to a website? I’ve taken Pinterest Traffic Avalanche and can recommend it if you’re new to Pinterest marketing.
- Think being an affiliate marketing consultant or blog coach would be rewarding? I found that Pajama Affiliates blogging and affiliate marketing course gave me a solid foundation in learning what it takes to monetize a blog.
- If you want to be a social media consultant, Instagram Domination teaches you how to grow an account to 500,000 followers in 12 months.
- Want to specialize in influencer marketing? Influencer Magnet shows you how Foundr was able to connect with big names such as Richard Branson, Arianna Huffington, and Tony Robbins.
- Want to work with clients to boost their productivity (or just boost your own)? Productivity Machine teaches you serial entrepreneur Ari Meisel’s tried-and-tested methods for making the most of your time as a business owner.
If you want a large database of low-cost online courses, Udemy is a good place to start. It features 65,000 courses on topics from iOS development to cinematography to career coaching.
But the learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. You need to then apply what you learn to real-life circumstances. So, for example, if you want to expand your consulting services to offer copywriting, you can take a copywriting class and then offer to write sales page copy for an existing client at a reduced rate. Once you knock it out of the ballpark for that client, ask them for a testimonial, and put it in your portfolio.
Still Stuck? Sell a Service That Helps Make Money or Save Money
Seems simple, right? But so many service-based business owners get this wrong. When you get to the core of it, what every business wants is to make money or save money. If you can prove to them that the expertise you provide will help them achieve one (or both) of those things, you have a valuable and desirable service.
Some ideas:
- PR
- Facebook advertising
- Conversion copywriting
- Sales funnel strategy
- SEO
Each one of the above services can help a business increase its revenue or reduce its costs. Whether you offer SEO or productivity consulting, always tie it back to how your expertise will help your client get what they truly want.
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There’s Never Been a Better Time to Start a Consulting Business
As you can see, consultants come in all shapes and sizes, spanning a wide variety of skills, from business to public relations to personal style. And with the simple business structure, low costs, and potential to help you find product ideas and grow your network, it’s no wonder being a consultant is a dream job for many.
So if you find yourself constantly wondering, “Should I start a consulting business?” or even how to start a consulting business on the side, wonder no more! If you’re self-motivated, possess expertise, and have people skills, you’re well on your way to starting a consulting business. But like I said earlier, the best way to know if you’ve got what it takes is to take action. Put yourself out there, and try to get your first client.
For the exact details of how to start a consulting business, check out our in-depth consulting, freelancing and coaching guide.
What are some consulting services you think you could offer? Share them in the comments and we’ll let you know what we think!
I’ve been in the insurance (auto, home & commercial) industry well over 20 years and I have a colleague that contact me for insurance product questions and just recently I was asked to share my expertise by training someone who just started their insurance business and it made me began thinking could I become a consultant.
Yes, you are right, everyone is a consultant nowadays but how many are successful? I read through your post and honestly, you have made some very useful and rare points which can help an online business to thrive.
Thank you for this all
Great discussion. I could use this in my newly established business.
I have worked in the economic development sector for over 5 years. Three years ago, I left to work for a corporate giant. Not the right thing to do! I miss the challenge of marketing an area, meeting local business leaders and public officials and negotiating the project, whether it be a new primary industry employer, a newly developed parcel of land, or a gentrified neighborhood. I love it all and everybody consistently tells me that I should offer consulting services. I think now is the perfect time. Thanks for publishing this article. I’m glad to hear that so many have found confidence to pursue the goals they have using the skills they didn’t know were so marketable.
Clint R Coker
My niche is food services. I’ve worked in food services for over 30 years. I help restaurants, convenience stores, and food trucks prepare, price, and display their products to be more appealing, set pricing to make a profit. Teach proper preparation, from start to finish for the best outcome for the consumer and a desire to be a repeat customer.
Awesome article Amy!
I’m great at Apple devices, home electronics, a general creative who loves good interactive design, technical and environmental advancements. I have been working at an Apple premium service provider, helping people with their most prized possessions. So I’m already consulting on a daily basis but how do i turn this around to my own B2B consulting business? I would love to consult companies on increasing productivity and making more money through marketing or improving cost efficiency. I just don’t know how to get things on the road without capital… And it’s scary too! 😅
Dear Amy,
Thank you
Thanks for a great and motivating article!
I like to think of myself as a telephone closer and technician. I’ve sold high value ie; $100k + products and services over the phone taking payment on the first call. I see this as being a crucial part to building as successful consultancy, and thanks to your blog today I start making inroads to help others achieve the same in their consulting businesses. I’m very excited!
This is really a well explained article, and we can get so much knowledgeable stuff from you content. Thank for sharing it.
My career has been in supervising construction of new churches and remodeling. I would like to start a consulting business relating to that field.
I would like to be a hotel and restaurant consultant.
Thanks for the valuable post and suggesting some useful tools. But, still the Business Startup Consultant is the challenging work for me.
Over the last 12 years, as a senior manager at a small site for a major corporation, I have discovered I have a talent for hiring good people, and for building a high-performing team. My group consists of all salaried professionals, mostly with college degrees, ranging from college new-hires to people with 20+ years experience. My method of selecting top-notch hires who deliver results and fit with the team can be imitated by anyone willing to apply it, and it meets highest standards for ethics and equal opportunity laws. I believe I can help business owners and managers improve their hiring, productivity and employee morale results while saving money. I will be retiring within the next 7 years, and would like to explore ways I could continue to focus on those areas through a consulting business.
Loved the article however I’m still no surer on what my consultancy skills actually are – I was always warned never to be a “Jack of all trades, master of none”, but I fear that’s what I’ve become:
I make silk flowers for hand made bouquets and millinery
I make the bouquets and millinery too
I make bridal jewellery and groom’s boutonnieres to match the bouquets
I’m a great project & event manager
Damn good with numbers and Excel spreadsheets
Not a bad proof-reader
So-so with social media
Hopeless at networking and marketing myself
Scared to make the leap….where should I be leaping too?
Meditate. Ask yourself who are you minus the man-made titles. Be patient and wait for your inner voice.
I just still don’t get what qualifies you to be a coach? Courses and experience are still subjective: is there a coaches guild or certification board? Super curious.
Loved this blog. It was very informative and at the same time motivating!
Great article on starting a consulting business.
this is a really cool blog post, thanks for sharing
Legitimate information for those looking to start a business!
I have been wanting to start a bussiness for a while now, but the valuable information here opened my eyes as to see that becoming a consultant can be an option as well. I´ve worked as a designer for some years, so I think I have the skills needed to help others regarding product design and branding. Also is good to know that I don’t really have to have all figured out before I start, I have to learn tons of things and is trully great to realize it can be done while providing the consultant service itself.
Nice article !
Everyone can start a business thats the truth ! you just need to want it badly
The value of this post is amazing! Thank you SO much for the depth! Bookmarking this for sure. Also going to send it to my email list!!
Amazing read! Got great info
Amazing Knowledge gained tonight. Thanks Amy. Wish you Continued Success in ALL aspects if Life
Brilliantly explained #foundr
Cool stuff.
Great!!! I love it
great post.
I’m new to Foundr and I am impressed by the information that Amy Rigby has provided. I am currently considering starting a business and it feels like the article is speaking to my needs. Hope to be able to read more valuable information like this.
Great, thank you for dropping this opportunity.
Interesting
Never considered the consulting gig-route before. Great post; I’ll love to learn more
Awesome read!
Excellent article about consulting, the section about continuing education is spot on.
I can’t wait for this.
Although I don’t have many consulting services to offer at the moment, my goal is to gain as much experience as possible within the coming years. Perhaps it’d be best to ask me this two years from now!
Great blog post!
Brilliant
Really enlightening post! Love the amount of detail you give for online businesses!
What an insightful read! Thank you
I really love this article, found a new way to make more money
This article is great now if i knew where to actually start and take that leap of faith
I think the hardest parts are knowing what services to offer and how to market. 🙂
I appreciate all the value in this post. I’ve been an online business owner for a few years and Jan.2018 I decided to offer my services as a consultant. I’m so happy that Founr is releasing a new course on this same field topic! Thank you so much!!
I would love to become a creative consultant
Thanks Amy and the Foundr Team! Great info!
Great read!
Extremely useful blog
Very valuable info
Great 👍
this article comes at the PERFECT time for me as I consider launching my own business. thank you for this!
Hi Amy, very useful article. thank you
This is awesome! Super interesting.
Great post. I’m starting a consulting/services business focused on E-commerce. This post wast interesting and helpful.
Great advice. A reminder that you have to “pick two” from three – quality, speed, price. What is your business? High Quality, Fast Service – may have a higher price. Low price, High Quality – may take longer.
This is an excellent read. Very informative and in depth info
Great article!
Absolutely amazing information. Thank You!
Helpful article on selecting a niche.
Thank you for the information provided in this guide.
This guide could be a game changer for everybody.
PaulMD
Great article
As a consultant, you’ll carve out a specialty as an expert in a certain niche. I’m a newbie so learning was great!
Amy, I am looking forward to learn more about Pinterest! thank you for the great article!
Very inspiring!
Keen as!
Great article!!
Great article Amy! I am curious to know more about the influencer magnet and the “how to”. Foundr makes it look really easy.. I keep tuned in.. for more info
Awesome I love it
Love all of foundr’s deep and actionable content! There’s nothing else like it out there!
Hi Amy thanks for your article. I haven’t done much on Pinterest so I’d love to find out more about it.
I know consulting is right for me and I’m passionate about my service but sometimes I don;t know how to present it? I need to learn how to market my offering and create that niche. Like Apple did with the iPhone.
Great information! It’s refreshing to see an approach that includes ideas and suggestions that can help everyone across different industry segments.
A really interesting read!
Love this! I am an urban planning consultant which can be very lucrative if you have the biz skills:)
I’m really glad I read your article all the way through as I realized that choosing what consultancy service you provide should not only be something that you’re skilled at but also something you’re interested in. I’ve been battling with becoming a Social Media consultant for a long time for Facebook and Instagram. However I really think I could provide more value and I’m more interested in being a Confidence Coach. I know a lot of business owners and employees struggle with confidence, whether it’s getting their next promotion or representing their business better. Thanks Amy!
I really appreciated this read! It’s always good to see another point of you when it comes to consulting as I find the marketplace is crowded with people who are not as knowledgeable as they pretend to be and they talk too much about fluff. So much waffle. However I do deeply trust Foundr as a source and everything they presented in the past 2.5years has been on point therefore maybe its time for me to start a consulting business. I already have a few ideas and trying will not hurt me!
Really loved how the comparisons have been drawn for a consultancy business. I had been working as a marketing consultant in the hospitality industry in India, but since I moved to Melbourne, I’ve really wanted to get back to the game. Can’t wait to take the course!
I do consulting on Facebook advertising.
This guide could be a game changer in my career. Can’t wait to implement the strategies mentioned in this guide.
Great read! Especially the point on who should and shouldn’t be a consultant!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for sharing. This gives me the initial direction on how I should go about with my consulting business. However, I am still worried about my first client. What if I couldn’t deliver the expectation? Would that be a hindrance for my business down the road?
Thank you.
awesome blog
Invaluable information. Thank you!
For those just at the start of their hustle and those right in the depth of it, this is the article for you. Read it, digest it and then act on it!
Such an informative article. It’s really helpful for me. Thanks to you, for this help to us.
Nice insights
This is helpful
Great article and I know the course going to be fast selling no doubt
Great insights something I’m going to share with my brother in law who is trying to figure out what to do with his career.
Awesome informative blog post. I’m particularly interested in the Instagram trainings on offer to boost my business…
Super great, thanks a million!
Good information to get people started!
Need to work on the expertise I want to market first, but will definitely look into consulting afterwards.
This is a fantastic article and so timely in our “brand yourself” economy. Every single person has a skill or knowledge that another person would pay to learn. Love that you are empowering all of us to tap into this. Great info & tips!
If anybody has doubt on their entrepreneur skills, they should read this articler
Thanks so much, I am looking forward to the course as it will help me fine tune my consulting skills, to allow me to help veterans and their business online.
Great read! Keep more coming!
Niching is super important. I resisted for so long because I thought I would exclude people from what I do. However, it’s the best thing I’ve done for my business!
This is awesome! Great
i’m ready for what is next in life! so pumped
I think something that this article doesn’t mention is that in many markets head hunters and recruitment agencies are the only way to get a consultancy job. So how you make yourself visible to them? How you can pick the right agent?
Great blog
Thank you!!
Wow!!
This is very useful! looking forward for more articles like this.
A very interesting and informative article. Am planning to start my own sometime in the near future and the tips offered here will be really helpful.
Great info
This is so great! This is an opportunity!
Thank you for a well written and comprehensive piece of art and knowledge.
This is such a great resource for entrepreneurs! Nice work as always Nathan and your team!
Great post! I am starting a consulting business and it was a great timing that I saw this post. Thank you.
There are several consulting services that one can offer:
1. job search or career consultant (helping people with preparing their resumes and offering career advice)
2. Digital marketing consultant
3. Financial consultant (tax filing and financial planning)
4. Research consultant (assisting with academic research)
5. Business consultant (offering general business advice)
6. Startup consultant (helping people with starting up their own businesses)
This article was the last push I needed!
Brilliant article! Really helpful advice.
Great information delivered at the right time! Thanks for an excellent post Amy!
Best free information I have found online this year!
Thanks for the uplift, foundr! Great article.
Thank you very much for all the info, such a useful post!
Great blog!
Great content! The information was exactly what I needed.
Love what Foundr is doing for people just starting up. This series on consulting is just the to-the-point advice I’m looking for. Never fails to impress!
Very insightful. Never been a better time than now to become a successful online entrepreneur.
awesome. Thank you for this information.
Consulting is a passion of mine and this article really helps me go through the full consideration process to see if I should start my own consulting business outside of the firm I already work for!
Very good insights!
I’m on the waiting list and ready to start the course!
So impatient now can’t wait. Using all that I can earn from your teaching I am sure I can provide a wonderful life for my family. Typically foundr
I have been thinking of establishing a consultancy firm for so long but don’t even know how to go about it. Thank you for this insightful post. Giving me ideas on the piloting phase already!
Great post! I can’t wait to go through the Foundr consulting course!
Nice article on consulting business.
I have the skills now it’s just to get my very first client…
I think Im confident to step forward and explore some more. #BeBold
Nice to know that I can start Consulting Business, Thanks for sharing the recommendations for different fields
Great read! Expecting some more interesting stuff up ahead. Keep it up!
Great article
Great value in this post!
Awesome great article!
This is great content you have put together Amy! People should go through it as many times as possible. As for your challenge, to get my first client i am sure i have the skills required except that Im not so sure about the ‘Niche’ part. Thank you for this amazing content . Even though I am not sure about things but I think i am ready to start. Thank You!
Love it
Now this gave a way clearer version of my plan and what I need to do next. Thank you so much 🙂
This is truly inspiring. 😄
I am still new to starting my own online business. This advice is useful and valuable to people like me.
Love the content!!!!
Interesting course. Not sure if this is entirely for me .
Great article! Demonstrates how low the barriers to entry are.
Beyond excited for this new course. You guys are making such an impact through all you do. And yet another fantastic article by my favorite freelance writer 🙂
loving this!
So much great information and actionable steps! Thank you!
Great content!
Motivated
I love how Foundr go straight to the point without extra useless words. Exactly what strive me to always follow their works.
Love this!
Love this!! Love your content!
Perfect timing! Thanks for the “sign”
Some great advice here!
This article burn up my desire to do business!
can’t wait to start
Really useful advices! specialy when you are starting and dont have a clear idea what it takes to do consulting! Thanks for the article.
Very informative. Thanks!
Consulting is something I’ve done and want to do more in the future. It’s nice to give people value and help. Thanks for all the tips in this article Amy!
Great idea to start!
Great articel! Covered many points on how to become a consultant!
Great point of view and insights of what’s waiting for you on the other side how to get started with the right amount of motivation
This was helpful! Thank you guys for the time to share your knowledge.
great insight. all of it resonated, as i’ve learned to transition into consulting as a side gig while building my startup as primary focus.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Great article thanks for the inspiration!
Good one! … though lot of the advice and tools focused on the digital space
Cool stuff!
Great tips to ask yourself if you could become a consultant: deep knowledge in something + self motivated + people skill= consultant opportunity!!
Plenty of good points – I’m currently offering web development and digital marketing services to clients. Hoping to learn more 🙂
This it’s amazing
Fantastic timing, just started my business a month ago, I look forward to all I can learn about marketing and customer acquisitions.
Awesome! Perfect timing.
Interesting read!
Great article – still my biggest concern would be how to scale consulting? Can’t wait for the new course!
Hey Alisha,
Great question. Sabri is a master at scaling up as a consultant, how to build the right team and at the right pace. Sabri has done it multiple times, which is why we asked him to teach this one.
Awesome!
Really gets you thinking about starting consulting. Especially when you have the experience
Very interesting. A bit of an eye opener for me……plenty of food for thought….. 😉
Amazing!! this articles really help to have a wider vision of the business.
This article is pure fire!
Its so basic but still complete.
Now i KNOW all the blanks i need to fill in, and this also filled alot of them!
Very interesting article, especially for young people looking for something to start a career in.
I’ve done social media management in the past and did well for myself but I’d like to try education consulting both for institutions and homeschoolers. Each demographic has different needs and I’m not sure if catering to one may hurt the other or if focusing on institutions first would be the way to go.
Love what you guys are doing with your business to help others in need!
Really great read, this actually got me thinking about starting my own consulting business!
Very Nice!!
👍👍
What a well written and insightful post. The idea of starting as a generalist is a brilliant way to get started and prevent inaction. That’ll be a game changer for many!
Fantastic post, a lot of great tips, even for folks who have started. I like that you mention the service I’m offering, which is Sales Funnel strategy and design.
Awesome
This blog post is really informative! Definitely gives me a boost in confidence as I am reassured that this is what I should be doing.
Excellent content and I’m ready to win, this giveaway and put in practice everything
A really interesting article from a true professional
Great post about how to start a consulting business. Amy always come up with a great [piece of content. Desperately awaiting for the course!
I need to get my business rocking! Next step … consulting!
I agree that there hasn’t been a better time to start a consulting business. Thank you for all the information!
Awesome!
Tons of Value. Can’t wait to see more
Nice one again. Thank you for the knowledge Amy Rigby 🙂
Nice one
Great post 👍🏿
This is really great!
Awesome. This blog is full of good information. I can’t wait to get in.
Very good info and really helps with the actual business I am working on building now. Now just need to set out a plan of action and some deadlines.
This is great article! It gave me a fresh perspective about how to get started in consulting cause it just felt so daunting to do it alone! But with the right mindset, skills and tools, anyone can truly be a consultant!
nice post
Most inspiring blog, so exciting!
Good advice – this almost a mini-course in itself!
Consulting is a new Black.
Nice article helped a lot to understand about consulting
Nice article!!
Awesome, inspiring post! 😁
Wow! Really interesting and insightful information on consulting. Thanks a lot, Amy. Hoping to learn more from you.
Amazing insight on consulting. One of my personal fav consultants that teach consulting is Sam Ovens. Seriously his stuff is good. Hyped for Foundr’s take on consulting, can’t wait to get in.
Very helpful article, thanks!
This is awesome!
Consultation is the best format of informational transaction. Courses, PDF’s, Ebooks, and so-forth are often prone to disconnections in the content, because the people mentally downloading that knowledge and insight cannot gain clarifications on disconnections with questions. With consultation, you’re being hand-held to success within that vertical topic.
I’ve been thinking about consulting for some time. With 30+ year’s experience and a good grasp on Social Media maybe it’s time.
The blog post speaks to me and i can’t wait for the course
i think it should be right to start a consulting business only if one has the capacity to do it well.
Solid info. Lot’s of added value and a great opportunity. Truthfully.
Hi I’m from Malaysia and I’m very excited for this opportunity also being able to challenge my self.
Love this. I am so excited for the new course with Sabri from King Kong. Foundr is a great resource!!!
Awesome post!
One of the best business model for experts
What an interesting article! Thank you so much for sharing 😍
I love this!!
very useful article,,, beter to just do it and dont let failure stop you!
I’ve been trying to start an online business and am hoping this helps.
Awesome!
Thanks for the advice: ‘Don’t worry about niching down in the beginning’
It is hard to know which way to go in the beginning.
Very good article.
Interesting ideas, hope to learn more!
Great article!
This is killer stuff. I have already have a consultancy side job would be great to take it that next level.
I am very interested in the information that is shared here
Hmmm, never saw any interest in being a consultant, but thanks for keeping my mind open.
Love the tip about not inching down too early!
Thanks for this I do!
I have worked as a business consultant for 5 years. It gave me a lot of exposure rather than focusing only on one business area, or sector.
This is really insightful! Would love to see more of these articles!
Wow this is a great blog article. Thank you!
This is interesting, I never knew the skills I’v acquired over the years could be quite useful in starting a consulting business.
Thank you for this insight on what particle steps to take.
Good content. Agree that certain education or certification is not a requirement to start consulting! It is the result you help people to get that counts.
Going to print this out and keep it as my little cheat sheet 🙂
always helpful content
Thanks for the article!
Awesome stuff…great post
Cool article! I’m in need of an amazing and creative consultant to help me get to the next level!
This is great. I would love to be a vegan health & lifestyle consultant (health coach), a vegan business consultant or both! A follow up to this blog on how to get started now that we have ascertained our field would be helpful. Thanks for all the tips!
I hadn’t really thought about doing consulting. But, after reading the article I can see how Injury Prevention could be good for an online consulting biz.
Some smart advice to consider. The gig economy is the new future.
Great Article! I would love to see more of the steps to “Take Action.” Also, Machu Picchu twice? Where can I see those photos and read about your travels?
Incredibly helpful! ^^
Thank you for another great post!!
These articles are always so well-written and helpful! foundr magazine goes above and beyond not just to bring great info and interviews with currently successful entrepreneurs and millionaires, but they also provide invaluable resources for the entrepreneur just getting started. Thank you!
An excellent read with lots of insightful comments
It all boils down to one word. FOCUS
You can’t help people build and implement a strategy if you are not able to capitalize on your no. 1 asset.
That’s it. The rest comes way down the road when you are ready to diversify.
Thanks for the info so informative!
Wow !
This is excellent. I am presently doing my MBA and this will definitely help me with my career change. This will help me to advice many entrepreneurs who need the assistance.
I am a big fan of Foundr Magazine. This is by far one of the amazing content producing digital magazine. I’ve been following Foundr and King Kong for a while now and really looking forward to learning more from you guys about consulting! I really wish to win the contest. This will help me in growing my startup which is a Digital Marketing Agency.
challenging to get case studies when you are just starting out
“Should I start a consulting business?” is definitely something I consider a lot. After reading this, it’s definitely on my goals list. Just building up a bit more hands-on expertise.
Very comprehensive post and great advice. Consulting is a great way to spend your days. Nothing better than being able to help someone to get ahead or solve a problem.
It sounds so simple.
Such a good read, thanks!
Great resource! Thanks
Great article, perfect for someone like me who has just started a consulting business 🙂
So much great info in this article! Thank you for creating useful content!
I completly agree with the main topic of this article. I actually thinking myself about how I can also start a consulting business in my niche. Great informations and tips here, thanks !
Really comprehensive insights shared here… Still, I think consulting should be for people who have at least attained some level of success in their chosen field – you cannot give what you do not have. Else, we’ll just have more of the loud noisemakers who merely read 1 or 2 books and proclaim themselves “experts”
Foundr has been my go-to site for business start-up tips. I was just reading an article last night about marketing strategies. Amazing site full of resources
Tons of great information here. Thanks for sharing.
Training, training, training. It saves so much time to use these resources; the learning curve is shorter and less painful with the help of online courses like the one you’re about to launch. Can’t wait to see what’s in store! Just the magazine gets my head spinning so I’m sure it’s going to be super interesting!
rad
Wow, thank you for all the tips. All information I needed!
Good info. on consulting and starting a business. Sounds a little intimidating for me.:)
Thanks for shedding light on the possibilities and leading the way to new opportunity!
It was good to read to not worry about niching down to soon, this is one of my worst fears but hear it from so many different sources that you should.
Great Read – tons of useful information!
This is such valuable content, thank you so much
I’ve been reading foundr articles for awhile now and have been working through start and scale with Gretta and have enjoyed just about every single piece of content I’ve come across since discovering the podcast and site in early 2017.
There is so much great info here! I have been wanting to start a consulting business in my field for quite some time and this really helped me see that I can and SHOULD get started!
I would love to start a consulting business; my fear is that I’ll have to work with people who are 100% unpleasant and difficult to coach. I’ve tried helping people with things in the past and I came across people who wanted an easy answer and that wasn’t something I could offer. Of course, I was also doing the work for free and wonder if adding a fee would elevate my clientele to people who genuinely want to learn something.
What a great article! Thanks for sharing 😀
This is great! You can start a business based from your skills, with relatively minimal capital needed vs. starting a product-based business.
Really great stuff! Thanks for the information!
Great read!
I am extremely excited for the new course! I can’t wait!
This inspired me !
Inspirated 😉
I have taken an entire year worth of college level courses on coaching, and still know that I have a ton to learn! I am in the beginning stages of figuring out what it is I want to do with all the information, but I have already made strides. I am well on my way to 10k followers on insta (four months), I started a magazine, and website, and have been able to make a little (tiny) bit of money already. I am looking forward to going through all the listed recourses here to help me with my business. Thank you so much for your post! And Udemy is a great place to start! I have been taking courses on there for years on various topics!
Comprehensive read. So many well researched resources as well
This blog post is packed with so much great content and resources! It is a must read for all aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners! The trick is that you have to keep learning and evolving as the world changes and keep investing in yourself! The rewards will come! Well done!!
Great advice! Looking forward to the launching of the course!
I truly appreciate this article and the insight/knowledge provided. I believe myself to have great expertise in many areas but struggle to properly recognize and categorize them, if that makes sense. Although I have built legitimacy with my companies (1 service/product based, 1 product based, 1 non-profit, I still struggle with clients, especially being a one woman shop. I’m now realizing that I need direct business mentorship to propel me to the next level
Thanks! I needed some reassurance that I going the right direction. Looking forward to the courses.
This is life game changer…Foundr always bring opportunities that can make your life over. THANKS a mill.
I am really interested about starting a business so I think this would be very helpful.
this is great- as one who has a lot of experience but no degree, this is right up my alley 😉
great post
In the process of launching a new department, Kreative Social, where we’ll be offering Social Media Management & Consulting. Thanks for providing all this great info Foundr. We’ll be sure to look into your Instagram Domination program in the near future!
Great article!
This is awesome!
Yes, there is a big opportunity in doing this
Some great info!
Great suggestions!
Great post – I’ve wondered if I have the skills transferable to a consulting career. This post helps me say YES!
Great article! I run a digital marketing consulting firm in Hawaii and really look forward to learning more from the upcoming course that you’ve created with king kong
I’ve been wanting to start a consulting business for a long time so I can manage my time as I wish.
I love these ideas, and they are tangible enough to put to work right now.
Graduating from college this summer, the question is what next. I’m thinking of starting my own consulting business in Branding because that’s what I loved to do in school. Now I’ll have to test if I can find a client!
🙌 gracias
Great content! Love this!
Very interesting Content! Lucky who will win!
Had never thought about using Udemy to get ideas. Great piece!
The whole niche/service thing is where I’m bogged down. I’ve identified a need that yields results, but there is little/no market. I obviously need to re-evaluate but I start to get lost when de-niche-ing.
Great post! I think the bit about continuing to keep learning is so key! Expanding your knowledge as a consultant expands your income potential. Thanks for this and the list of courses to take!
I think this is a great service based people who love to help others. I really think an underserved aspect of consulting is customer service. Several businesses can use help to develop these processes. World class customer service is something that makes people spread the word about your brand.
I’m planning to start a consulting business for a while. This article gave me the last push!
Really awesome article! I have tried starting so many consulting businesses (career coaching, new business, resume consulting, etc), and I think they were all unsuccessful because I was trying to do way too many things. I would love to learn more.
Wow so much insight. Def want to get on the waitlist
This is such a neat article! Very informative and definitely worth reading.
I work in the music industry and I’ve started an artist management consulting company in the US. And just like Sabri, I was in isolation trying to get things going. And I decided to offer project management as a service that eliminates artists having to sign long term contracts and paying commission to people who may not do a good job before money comes. The one thing I’ve found to be very critical this article mentioned is learning! Being a consultant requires constant learning! A successful consultant constantly learns regardless of things not working out exactly the way they expect. But if you continue to learn you can NEVER fail! You can NEVER lose! And that goes for any job, career path, business venture or goal! The moment you stop learning, you’ve failed! And you can’t be a consultant at all if you don’t know anything. Knowing is the result of learning! I love being a consultant for that reason – the process of learning! It’s not about making money although I need to making a living. Even if I don’t get the number of clients I want or make the amount of money I want, I’m still successful because I learned something that can help someone including myself at a later date!!! 🤓
AWESOME!
Thank you for this content. Would love to see a follow up to this article!
All articles I have read and webinars I have attended by foundr have been great resources. Thank you for the helpful content!
This is awesome!!!
Love this article! I‘ve been thinking about starting a consulting business for a while now, great insights!
Wow this is great blog post on on becoming a consultant
So insightful!! Thank you for this!
This post is SO informative and exactly what I needed for inspiration!!! Thanks so much!
Started my own independent consulting company recently and this is really useful!
Genius
Great content! I gained alot of insight , thank you for sharing this!
I have never considered consulting. Reading this helped me to clear up some of the preconceived notions I had.
Love this Article!
Love it
I’d love to be able to consult on things I’m passionate about – Superyachts, cricket, social media marketing. I have qualifications in all three!
Not just having a job but life experience can be a skillset for consultants.
Wow! I’m excited !!!
This is amazing, with all of the tools that foundr is providing, they have truly created a powerful supportive community of champions; allowing anyone with a vision, goal, drive and passion to succeed!
This is so timely as I was just thinking this morning on the drive to work, “What expertise do I have that I can use to start a location independent business?” It’s easy to overlook consulting as a business because it’s easy to focus in on selling a tangible product instead of advice and insight based on knowledge, problem solving, and critical analysis – – which, when you boil it down, is the root of what any good consultant provides. Can’t wait to read more!
Always great advice from Foundr!
Great insight! I have been preparing to start my own consultancy company and I really need extra information before I go full force on this. This post really help me a lot in preparing everything from scratch. So here goes, with zero capital, again, I will start the consultancy business with the skill that I have for 5 years working experience in digital marketing and e commerce.
Very resourceful
As a B2B consultant, I believe I could offer services related to finding automation opportunities through Excel and Python, writing effective SOPs that get actually get read by associates, and other supply chain/transportation knowledge.
For B2C consulting, I could potentially offer how to lose/maintain weight through diet, how to overcome anxiety/OCD and overwhelm, and how to manage personal finances and live debt.
I’m thinking to combine business + beauty into consulting!
Thanks for sharing. I wasn’t sure how this would fit me but your piece made me put some pieces together and guidance to take the next steps.
Love your content!
Looking forward to more great content!
This is helpful. I am building a freelance career right now and it answered few questions I had. Cannot wait for the course.
Nice article. Interesting business idea.
I’ve always thought about owning my own consulting business – was just not sure on what I would be consulting on. I figured it’d be something in the legal or financial field – it’s about finding the right niche
I have always dreamed of becoming a consultant but never gathered the courage to jump in with both feet. I found this article super helpful Amy, just because we often block our path by thinking we are not ready or good enough. Thank you for this little nudge today. It was a great read.
Invaluable insights, conversion copywriting is my priority right now!
Great info!
Great article written! Some good ideas for a possible consulting business for me!
Foundr delivers again with phenominal value added information. I’m never disappointed.
Nice tips ever thanks!
Amazing article!
So true! I can attest 100% to this!
These tips are great . Thanks for providing this knowledge.
I got some ideas after reading this blog. Thanks for the tips!
This article was a good reminder that a natural skill and passion for solving a type of problem, whether it be PR, accounting, or technical services, with the right resources, packaging, and business model can grow into a thriving business.
Super practical and perfect for me looking into social media marketing consultancy. Really liked the “sell a service that helps people save or make more money”
Awesome blog, thanks!
Great content! This post so valuable and worth it to read! I think doing digital marketing consulting services is such a great platform as nowadays going digital is crucial for any business to stay in the market and boosting up more revenue.
Great content!
Great read & lots of hot tips to inspire.
Very useful and inspiring information. Very grateful.
Yes I should start a consulting business!
Thanks for the tips 🙂
Great write up, solid content. Thanks a million.
Consulting is something I want to do next. Great tips. Thanks!
Very potent content!! Thanks a ton! That’ll be of great help!
🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Need tips for introverts.
considering to start consulting business
Brilliant post! Reaching out to potential customers right now!
Great Stuff!
I wish I could and I often get asked for consultancy work or training but I feel like an imposter because I don’t feel successful enough to do so. Great tips in this post though!
Awesome advice, anything that helps grow the confidence to start is so helpful! Thank you!
Thanks for the info!
Insightful tips. It gives me several ideas on what direction I can take to determine if a consulting business is good for me.
So informative, just makes me know that what I have done by leaving my 8-5pm job was the right decision!!! Thank you so much Amy for this!
Awesome post!
This is so awesome!!
“Everybody is a consultant” turns to “Everybody should be a consultant”. Thanks for the content.
Good Stuff
Thank you for the information and links to the online courses!
What an amazing foundation for your business to begin with… and the expertise available is awesome
Great article, thanks for sharing
Great article!
True consulting is one of the best ways to help grow people around you. It in return helps you grow too. The only thing people miss is how to begin. Thank you for sharing this informational piece.
All of this information was really viable! I’ve already shared this article with my two friends who have just graduated college and want to step into the world of consulting. Thank you!
Great tips
Great piece for anyone who is on the fence, uncertain and unsure about whether or not they have what it takes to start a consulting business during these challenging economic times.
This is a great article for anyone even THINKING about “dipping their toes” into becoming a consultant. It’s comorehensive and touches on most (if not all) of the questions people have about whether or not Consulting is a viable business model and if it’s for them. Well done!
Very helpful !
founder.com ; actually it’s for the young mind like us who are getting ready to go to a startup business with ethics, knowledge & dedication.. this platform is simply amazing and most acceptable to me.
This is one of the best business related posts I’ve read. I love the tip about doing something that either saves people money or makes them money.
Very good info!
I’m so excited about all the content you guys have for people looking to start a new life
I’ve freelancing for about 13 years and looking to refine my offerinh, so these tips are really useful. In particular the nicheing part. 🙂
Lets do this 💪🏻
Wow. good stuff
A great article! Keep it real!
I think this is a great chance to get new work online 🙂
Such a great article ☝🏾To the point and so simple to follow through with
I’ve been following Foundr and King Kong for a while now and really looking forward to learning more from you guys about consulting!
I am an accountant and i hope to be a business consultant.
Hi Amy (&Nathan),
I would coach business to give their branding and designs a rocket boost .
However they are usually not aware that their branding is off par. It is not consistent and rarely stands out above the crowd. By improving their brand they can really stand out, but how do I make them more aware of this problem?
Cheers
Mr Sugar
great tips !
I’ve always thought about consulting. These tips are great!
been in mktg 12 yrs now and wish i could work for myself. that’s a great food for thoughts piece!
This was a GOOD read, but so is almost everything from Foundr. The bits about selecting a niche and continuing your educating through online courses and real life practice was good. So simple but so important!
Awesome!!! I learned a lot!! Thanks for this
Never never never give up! Business is hope
Very useful! Thank you!
Great insight! Will definitely try to apply these techniques
Good tips here! thx
I believe that this is the most practical business you can start. Low barriers to entry, low overhead, etc.
Informative read – takes me one step closer to my digital nomad dreams!
This is so inspiring! Makes me want to try and earn good money out of it
Great post really enjoyed it. My new business app will benefit from this for sure. Thanks.
Great stuff! Have been freelancing for over 6+ years now so consulting is definitely a transition I’ve considered doing. Thanks for the detailed article!
Awesome content.. Insightful.. would like to get out of my 9-5 job and take up consulting..
You hit on quite a few valid points. As someone who just started their own consulting business for online boutique owners, I appreciate all the information you shared! Thank you for such a good article.
This is a comment
Very nice. Thanks.
Strongly hope I’ll win this! It would really help me in building career!
For a new comers like me ; founder.com is the very good platform to get the right direction to start up the online business operations
Awesome!
I like the idea of driving traffic from Pinterest. Also, for people in the beginning…NOT drilling down into a niche.
I kept hearing that word as well but I didn’t stay stuck in one certain area. I am glad I didn’t. I have various clients from many industries. I help who I can whenever I can, where ever I can.
Consulting is a continuous learning gig. The challenge is always “how to start?”. Very helpful article for people looking to start their consulting business.
Wow!!, reading this has actually broadened my scope because I always thought carving a niche for oneself makes me look smarter but I thought wrong. I would definitely read the articles embedded in the text for better understanding. Thank you so much! Helped a lot.
This post is really good! I will share it to my friends!
I want to be a consultant!
Love the tips!! Thank you
Consulting is a very rewarding career, it’s providing a specific solution to a specific problem, you don’t need a Harvard MBA.
Greetings..l found this post refreshing and informative.. in fact too much info for one sitting..Have bookmarked to come back and draw from the wealth of hyperlinks for more information. Clarity is what l gleaned from this.. Given that there is SO much info out there.. and some of it is counter-productive. Much thanks D
cool
Great blog!
Great info
I agree with the niche-ing down aspect of this article! EVERY business class, coach, whomever pushes this issue when I feel like I have a broad audience which I can use as a start and then work my way down. Great article/read.
Very interesting article!
Definetely something I needed, thanks foundr for making this!
Might need to work on the people skills part but do check the boxes for other skills 🙂 Would be interesting to try and see if it works for me.
Thanks for providing a new perspective on the area of consulting. The word has been bandied about a lot and it is easy to get intimidated by it and think that you have to have had 50 years experience in something before you can share your wisdom, knowledge and experience.
Incredibly helpful!
Great post, I definitely feel inspired & that this is something I can truly endeavor.
This is such a valuable piece of information. Trust Foundr for the quality resources.
Thanks so much for the interesting read
Well, generous article!
This is absolute gold. Will be using some of this info for sure.
This post is brilliant and informative. I’ve always considered consulting and I am actually doing a lot of research to better help me
Perfect timing! Thank you for all the useful tips!
Great insights! Thank you!!!
Thanks for the tips! Awesome read!
very insightful
I’ve been following up foundr through mails and Instagram i must say I’ve learnt so much and this is going to my box!
Some great tips, I’m looking to build the consultancy arm of my business
Thanks for the tips! Very helpful!
This past weekend I was sharing my business idea with some friends, and they suggested very strongly that part of my business structure should be Consulting.
Great content
I want to build a Personal Brand and then leverage influence to get clients that I can provide consulting to. The challenges would remain the quality of clients (leads) and harvesting relationships at scale. Would love to know more from you guys.
That was an amazing read. I have my own startup and consult for other startups on the side, but recently I was planning on turning it into a consultancy business. Thanks for the inspiration ❤️
Some great info!!
This post is really good! I will share it on my feed!
Amy,
Thank you for writing this. I am just about to finish my MBA from a top 25 business school and have been considering starting my own consulting firm. My concern was I don’t have a specialty to focus on, i.e. finance, accounting, operations, etc. I do have a lot of experience running organizations within large multi-nationals. I wasn’t sure if that was good enough but after reading this, I feel a lot better about it. I am just not sure how to sell that and what to focus on. Business strategy? Operational excellence? (I have turned around multiple departments)
I would love to become a consultant, I have skills that could benefit a variety of business types. I have 14 years experience in event coordination, over the last 7 years I have focused primarily on awards functions and water vessel charters. This includes the event contracts and sales. I manage the websites for both of my jobs. I gather, construct and disseminate the newsletters for both jobs. I set up schedules and generate content for marketing. I collect and evaluate marketing analytics and track sales and costs for events.
I have a degree in PR, but really don’t use it.
My biggest hurdle is determining what term/s would be suitable to describe what I do/can do. On paper I appear to be an event coordinator but in actuality I coordinate about 14 events a year. The rest of my time is spent on a computer writing, scheduling, tracking and streamlining. I have no idea how to portray my skills in one title. What on Earth would I label myself a consultant of? HELP
Hey Cheylin! Well, to me, it seems you have a very good problem: you’ve got tons of skills! Instead of trying to fit ALL the skills into one title; I’d recommend deciding which skills you want to consult with. And it’s okay to change your mind later. Start with one, and then if that doesn’t suit you, try another. You could be an event coordinator, if that’s what you like. You could also be a marketing consultant based on the fact that you create marketing content. You could even be a business systems strategist since you set up schedules and streamline.