Consultants · the cheaper first step
Small business consultant: when to hire one, and what to do first
A small business consultant diagnoses a problem and advises on the fix, and sometimes does the work. Hiring one pays off when you know which area needs help. If you do not know yet, find that out first. It costs far less than paying a consultant to find it.
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What a small business consultant does
A small business consultant is an outside adviser you hire for a defined problem. The usual job is to look at how the business runs, identify what holds it back and recommend changes. Some consultants also do the work, such as rebuilding a sales process or running a marketing plan. Others only advise.
Common types:
- Strategy and growth
- Marketing
- Sales
- Operations
- Finance and bookkeeping
- HR and hiring
The type matters more than the title. A specialist tends to find the problem in their own specialty, because that is what they see best. A marketing consultant will probably find a marketing problem, even when the weak spot is follow-up on leads that marketing already produced.
Decision
When hiring a consultant makes sense
Hire one when
- You know which area is weak and lack the skill to fix it.
- The problem costs you more than the fee.
- You need someone to do the work, not only advise.
- You have time to act on what they say.
Wait when
- You cannot say which area is capping growth.
- The brief is “fix the business” with no defined scope.
- You have no goal with a number and a date.
- You hope the consultant will make decisions that are yours to make.
How to hire one
- Write the problem in one sentence with a number in it, for example “leads are up 30% and sales are flat.”
- Ask for the scope in writing: deliverables, timeline and who does the work.
- Ask how they will measure success and what happens if it is not met.
- Ask for two recent clients in a similar business, and call them.
- Prefer a fixed fee or a capped number of hours over open-ended billing.
- Check what they need from you: time, access and data.
What a small business consultant costs
Fees vary widely with the consultant, the scope and whether they do the work. An average would tell you little, so ask each consultant for a written scope and a total price.
Compare scope, not hourly rate. A lower rate with an open scope can cost more than a higher rate with a fixed one.
A scored audit costs $67, so it is a cheap way to narrow the brief before you ask anyone for a quote.
Consultant, coach or audit?
| Option | Best for | You get |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant | A known problem that needs expertise | Diagnosis, a plan, and sometimes the work |
| Business coach | Your own decisions and accountability | Regular conversations; usually no done-for-you work |
| Scored audit | Not knowing where the problem is | A score for each area and the first fix |
Start with a diagnosis
Find the weak area before you pay for help
Each audit is 20 scored questions, about ten minutes, and ends with the one fix worth making first. Rings show example scores.
USP & Positioning
Is your message the thing capping growth?
- Clarity of your USP
- Proof & differentiation
- Competitive awareness
- Consistency in the market
$67
Marketing
Where your marketing leaks leads.
- Strategy & planning
- Lead generation & ads
- Conversion & follow-up
- Retention, referral & testing
$67
Sales Force
Where deals stall before the signature.
- Sales infrastructure & team
- Process & sales cycle
- Objections & closing
- Training, follow-up & upsell
$67
Client Base
What your existing customers leave on the table.
- Customer data & segments
- Acquisition economics
- Retention & lifetime value
- Referral & reactivation
$67
Or all four audits for $197, with a 14-day money-back guarantee and $93 of bonuses.
If you want a person
Blind Spot Audit is operated by ActUpon.com, which works on performance-based terms, with fees tied to results. If your audit shows a gap you want help closing, see ActUpon’s page on a business growth consultant.
Questions
Common questions
What does a small business consultant do?
An outside adviser hired for a defined problem. The usual job is to look at how the business runs, find what holds it back and recommend changes. Some also do the work; others only advise.
When should a small business hire a consultant?
When you know which area is weak, you lack the skill to fix it, and the problem costs you more than the fee. Wait if you cannot yet say which area is capping growth.
How much does a small business consultant cost?
Fees vary widely with the consultant, the scope and whether they do the work. Ask each one for a written scope and a total price, and compare scope rather than hourly rate.
Should I hire a consultant or a coach?
A consultant works on a known business problem and may deliver work. A coach works with you on your own decisions and accountability, and does not usually do the work for you.
How do I find out what to ask a consultant to fix?
Score the business by area first. A scored audit or the free checklist shows which of positioning, marketing, sales or your customer base is weakest, so your brief names a problem instead of a hope.
Do I still need a consultant after taking the audit?
Not necessarily. You may be able to fix the first priority yourself. If not, you can give the result to a consultant as a starting point.
Know the problem before you pay for the fix
Start with one audit for $67, or the free checklist.