Starting a consulting business can be daunting, but becoming a business consultant in Australia is a growing and promising career path. However, possessing expertise in the field of business does not guarantee work as a consultant. It is crucial to understand that you may need to source your own clients or partner with larger companies that provide consulting services to secure work opportunities.

Working as a business consultant can be both lucrative and rewarding, but it may also mean working with multiple clients with varying needs. Therefore, before taking the plunge, you should consider several factors to ensure a successful career in this field.

Firstly, you must have a thorough understanding of the industry and the skills required to be a successful business consultant. Secondly, you should be aware of the competition and the demand for business consultants in your area. Thirdly, you should have a clear understanding of the services you will offer and the fees you will charge for your services.

Lastly, you need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, as you’ll be working with different clients and stakeholders, and you need to be able to effectively communicate your advice and recommendations to them.

Starting a consulting business requires carefully considering these factors to increase your confidence and your chances of success.

Legals

Depending on your area of specialisation and the types of consulting services you’ll be offering, there may be certain legal requirements you need to adhere to. These include choosing the right business structure — as a sole trader, partnership or company. Each has pros and cons that will affect the future operation of your business, including tax consequences.

You’ll need to apply for an ABN for tax purposes, and professional indemnity insurance is also recommended. This protects small businesses and covers legal claims that other third parties may make, such as a breach of duty or negligence.

Qualifications

Certain regulated industries may require formal qualifications; however, a Certificate of Business Consulting will establish your credibility and expertise with clients. It’s also worth applying for professional memberships and industry accreditations to keep up to date with developments in certain industries.

Company Structure

Once you’ve determined your business structure, you should also consider how you see your business expanding down the track. You may want to start small—with just you in a home-based office—and hire additional staff at a later date. If this is in your business plan, consider their tasks and where they will work.

For example, you may wish to hire another specialist or someone who can help out with admin so that you can concentrate on servicing your clients. You’ll also need to consider several key responsibilities as an employer when starting a consulting business.

Lifestyle

If you have formerly worked for a large organisation and are about to embark on starting a consultancy business solo, things will change! Running your own business means you will be responsible for everything from fixing internet issues to covering expenses, paying super and managing how and when you invoice for your services.

You also won’t receive income for time off work — so paid annual and sick leave won’t be an option. You’ll need to weigh up whether your lifestyle and personality can cope with these factors and learn to be disciplined and organised to effectively manage your workload.

Target Market

The best consulting services in the world are no good to anyone if there is no market for them, so understanding who will pay for your expertise is crucial. Are you looking to service individuals, large organisations, or global corporates? And how will this work logistically? If you want to service clients face-to-face, you’ll need to factor in travel expenses and confirm whether clients are willing to cover these costs.

Your Brand

The idea of branding your business can be intimidating. However, establishing it will solidify how your clients see you and form their opinion of your business. Your brand should also stand out from other consultancy services in terms of your unique selling proposition (USP).

Then, it’s all about finding the most effective ways to communicate your USP to prospective clients, i.e. marketing yourself! This can be done by an engaging website, a unique marketing campaign or a memorable social media feed — whatever will make your potential customers think of your services before your competitors.

Once established, you should also consider registering your business name to protect your brand (such as your logo and intellectual property).

Networking

Building and maintaining relationships with current and potential clients is essential to guaranteeing a consistent flow of work when starting a consulting business. However, networking is also vital to your success as a small business owner, regardless of the types of consulting services you provide. Professional networks will introduce you to various practices, give you new opportunities to learn and promote positive connections and collaboration.

Once your business grows and your reputation is solidified, contributing to thought leadership in your area of expertise (via article writing or blog posts, for example) can enhance your kudos even further.

Billing

Different types of consulting will require different rates, and determining these can be challenging. Charging too little will make it harder to make your business financially viable in the longer term, and charging too much may deter clients from working with you. Do your research on your competitors, compare ‘apples with apples,’ and base your rates around being competitive.

You will also need to factor in your expenses, including tax and super contributions. Invoicing terms should be agreed upon, including the timing of payments. If projects are lengthy, consider charging an upfront fee that is paid before work commences to cover your ongoing costs.

Small business consultants can help companies identify problems, recommend solutions, and ultimately cut costs and increase revenue in slowing economies. Business and management consultants are also employed in virtually every industry—either full-time or as freelance consultants—including the banking, mining, retail, logistics, healthcare, government, and media sectors.

Certificate of Business Consulting

If you’re starting a consulting business, our Certificate of Business Consulting will help you hone and market your expertise to prospective clients to leverage positive outcomes. You will study presenting, report writing, communication, and negotiating skills, as well as emotional intelligence and leadership. With Seek projecting job growth of over 24 per cent in the next five years (and a salary package of up to $120K!), now is the ideal time to consider a consultant career.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking consulting courses include:

• Learning about professional practice for consultants
• Exploring the pros and cons of being a consultant
• Studying what’s needed to be a consultant and how to get started
• Gaining an understanding of codes of conduct
• Understanding the methods of entering business and deciding where to work
• Studying how to plan a consultancy
• Learning about equipment, start-up finance, and set-up costs
• Exploring business structures
• Gaining an understanding of insurance
• Studying how to prepare a business plan and pro forma
• Gaining insights into knowing what to charge
• Understanding available work time and how to convince clients of your fee value
• Learning how to set up your consultancy practice
• Exploring how to find clients and market a consultancy practice
• Studying how to establish a press kit, network and communicate
• Gaining insights into keeping accounts and records
• Understanding how to source documents
• Learning how to handle timesheets and invoices
• Exploring how to generate business and keep it
• Studying how to use agents and brokers
• Gaining insights into subcontracting other consultants and support services
• Understanding how to gain references from clients and propagate referrals
• Learning how to obtain references from clients
• Exploring how to write tenders and articles
• Studying how to close a deal
• Gaining insights into leveraging successful client relationships and keeping clients
• Understanding how to deal with clients who say no
• Learning how to maintain your consultancy practice
• Studying how to hire staff and expand your business
• Gaining insights into creating passive income
• Understanding how to work in a changing world

… and more!

The Most In-Demand Consultancy Skills

If you’re still considering what consultancy work is right for you, it’s worth remembering that the types of consulting careers for those with the right qualifications depend on the sector involved. However, these days, those with project management, financial modelling, data science and analysis, process improvement, and business transformation skills are becoming increasingly sought after. According to Business Insider magazine, here are the most commonly requested consultancy services in Australia by industry.

• Large corporations – process improvement, project management, business transformation, financial modelling, and data science and analysis.
• Aviation – Data science and analysis, due diligence and customer segmentation.
• Banking – Project management, business transformation and process improvement.
• Mining and metals – Project management, tendering, and procurement strategy.
• Logistics and supply chain – Business analytics, process improvement and supply chain management.
• Media – Marketing strategy, lead generation and data science and analysis.
• Retail – Digital transformation, data science and analysis and IT project management.
• Telco – Change management, Big Data and business analytics.
• Healthcare – Process improvement, data science and analysis and project management.
• Financial services – Change management, business analytics and due diligence.
• Insurance – Change management, project management and business strategy.
• Government – Big Data, digital transformation and process improvement.
• Consumer goods – Process improvement, cost reduction and marketing strategy.

 

Starting a consulting business is exciting. Make sure you confidently leverage your strategic know-how and help improve the financial and operational health of a wide range of businesses with our Certificate of Business Consulting!