Table of Contents
Are you interested in becoming a business consultant, but aren’t quite sure how to get started?
Working as a business consultant can be a very lucrative career. In fact, according to Payscale, the average business consultant makes $74,067.
But, it’s important to understand that becoming a business consultant takes a lot of work. What do you need to do?
Check out this guide to discover the top tips for becoming a business consultant.
Decide the Services You’ll Offer
Before you start marketing yourself as a business consultant, you first need to figure out what kinds of services you want to offer.
As a consultant, there are several ways you can serve other businesses. One of the best ways to help small businesses is in a teaching compacity. In other words, you can teach businesses how to do something on their own that they’re currently paying someone else for.
Or, maybe your consulting business will be service-based, in that you’ll do actual work for the business owner. Or, maybe you want to offer general guidance and coaching on running a business.
Get Certified
If you want companies to take you seriously as a professional business consultant, then it’s a good idea to earn some certifications.
Of course, the certifications you earn will depend on the type of services that you offer. To figure out the type of certifications you may need, we suggest checking out either the Insitute of Certified Business Consultants or the Association of Accredited Small Business Consultants.
Figure Out How You’ll Charge
Before you open your consulting business, you also need to figure out how you’re going to charge. Here are the different methods you have to choose from:
- Per Project: You charge for set projects with a clear beginning and end
- Hourly: You charge based on the hours of work you perform
- Retainer: You charge based on a set amount of guaranteed hours worked
- Results-Based: You charge for providing specific results
In order to figure out how much to charge, look up local competitors in the area, and see how much they’re charging.
Figure Out Your Target Customer
Another very important thing to do before you get your business rolling is to figure out your target customer.
Your target audience describes the people who are most likely to hire you for your services. In order to narrow down on your target audience, make a list of the characteristics, qualities, demographics, and habits of those you’d like to do business with.
Create a Website
In order to get the word out about your consulting business, you need to create a website.
Your website should include a page detailing your services, a personal bio, contact information, and a blog. Once you create a website, make sure to keep it up to date and to link it to your social profiles.
Becoming a Business Consultant: Are You Ready?
Now that you have these tips for becoming a business consultant, it’s time to get started. Before you know it, you’ll be running a successful consulting business.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more articles like this one!
