Small Business Consulting | How to become a successful small business consultant in 2021?

Are you an aspiring small business consultant? Here is comprehensive coverage of everything you must know about small business consulting. Read on!

Small Business Consulting

A consultant is a subject matter expert who works for a company or an individual. The US Consulting business is worth billions. Small business consulting is geared towards smaller firms. In this blog, we explain what is a small business consultant? The steps you can take if you are interested in becoming a business consultant.

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What is small business consulting?

The process of providing businesses with the expertise and skills to help the owners solve business problems is called small business consulting. A business consultant near me is a small business that aids small businesses. The consultant is a professional with a proven track record of success and has in-depth knowledge in their specialization.

Job description of small business consultant

As a small business consultant, you will help business owners improve their business practices and provide guidance. Top small business consulting firms have broad-based knowledge on different aspects of business and how the market operates. You should have problem-solving skills, and your recommendations should increase efficiency and profits. Part of job description includes –

1. Organize and execute projects on behalf of your clients.
2. Perform an initial independent assessment of the problem.
3. Analyze and interpret the data to find the problem and cause.
4. Prepare a report with recommendations and solutions within the limitations of the firm.
5. Develop a plan and help your client to implement changes.
6. Guide your client on recurrent problems.

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Types of small business consulting services

Businesses use small business consulting services when they cannot afford to employ someone full-time or do not have specific expertise. They consult a third-party expert to solve company problems, give advice and strategize. As a consultant, you may prepare blueprints for a business plan, marketing, or public relations campaign. Most consultants are specialists in specific areas. Some of the consulting services available are,

1. Small business IT consulting

Selecting the right technology and setting up the system can be daunting. Companies appoint small business IT consulting services to ensure optimal technology is selected and the system runs efficiently. The consultant helps to identify loopholes in the present systems and offers solutions to improve IT systems.

2. Strategy consulting firms

A core part of small business consulting is strategic planning. They help businesses for a particular event like product launches and provide creative solutions to specific problems in business. They aim to improve the efficiency and profits of firms. Strategic consultants may specialize in a particular field.

3. Startup consulting firms

Starting a business is complicated. Startup consulting firms guide startups. Expert guidance improves chances of success, saves time, and reduces expenses. Entrepreneurs need to manage several areas while starting a new business. An experienced small business consulting firm can provide support in different areas.

4. Entrepreneur consultant

An entrepreneur consultant helps entrepreneur accelerate their growth. They help small and medium businesses during ownership transitions and work with business owners to identify avenues to increase their revenue.

They review client’s product/service mix and help optimize their performance. The consultant strategizes to position businesses for favorable long-term acquisition and helps entrepreneurs handle complex business problems.

5. Online business consulting

Online business consulting services are consulting services in a particular niche over the internet. The consultant interacts with their clients through video calls, live chats, group calls. They may use cloud systems for data and files transfer. Online consulting services are available in the freelance marketplace online.

6. Small business consultants

Small business consultants provide resources, advice, and planning to improve business efficiency and profits. Companies hire them to spot problems and bottlenecks, implement solutions and reach goals. They provide holistic solutions. The consultant’s unique experience and expertise help business owners.

7. Small business marketing consultant

A small business marketing consultant helps small business owners identify gaps and opportunities that prevent businesses from achieving goals and to overcome challenges. They help to attract customers and retain them and increase profit margin. They help bring clarity and focus to a marketing campaign.

8. SME consultants

SME consultants or Subject Matter Experts are domain experts that help businesses in their area of expertise. They help to develop materials, provide knowledge on topics required by organizations or for small business consulting. They develop organization training material or check documents for technical accuracy. They sometimes work as an extended team member.

9. New business consultants

New business consultants help new businesses find new clients and business opportunities. They help the business grow and may help in staffing decisions. They help business owners navigate the various challenges in starting a new business. The consultant can help the owner focusing on the key aspects of starting and running a business.

10. Small business retail consulting

Small business retail consulting firms help small retail businesses to make a comprehensive retail strategy. The goal of the plan is to increase sales. Retail consulting involves help businesses decide store location and design, product placement in the store, promotions, and merchandising. Retail consultants help retail firms with staffing decisions.

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How to become a business consultant?

Business consultancy can be a rewarding and lucrative career. Here are the steps on how to become a business consultant.

1. Choose specialization – When you start as a business consultant, you need to have a specialization. You require at least five years of experience to be considered an expert.
2. Identify the problems you can solve – Start identifying how you will add value to customer business. Use the problems you can solve, as a starting point to create a list of services you will offer.
3. How will you offer your services? Small business consulting firms work can offer their services through teaching or coaching or a service-based approach.
4. Get certified – To become successful, you need to be in an ongoing education mode and stay updated on the latest trends in your industry. Certifications in your field will be an added advantage. Some states may have additional certification requirements.
5. Network – To build your practice, you need to network. Start by attending local events and conferences for small businesses. Build an email contact list and use social networking sites. Some consultants do free business consulting for their first clients for experience and to build a client base.
6. Decide on pricing structure – There are various options to charge clients when you start a small business consulting. You can opt for hourly rates, project rates, retainer, or result-based.
7. Define your ideal customer – Once you have identified the specialization, identify your target audience or the customer who is likely to hire you.
8. Draft your business plan – There are several resources to help you write your business plan. Consider factors like funding, goals, and competition. Before you start a consultancy you need to create a legal entity for your business. There are several options like LLC, Sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Contact a lawyer to draft your legal contract with clients.

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Top 10 small business consulting firms

Top small business consulting firms require you to be a creative problem solver. You are good listeners and can work effectively as a part of a team. You need to have good communication skills and be able to showcase expert knowledge in your chosen domain. To be an effective consultant, you should be able to cultivate and gain your client’s trust.

1. Top consulting firms Chicago 

The top small business consulting firms in Chicago are,

1. Usman Group Inc is one of the best boutique consulting firms Chicago specializing in digital strategy and web design.
2. Effective Marketing is a firm consulting Chicago focusing on media planning and buying, and social media marketing and is one the best management consulting firms Chicago.
3. Anchor Advisors Ltd is one of the top Chicago consultants for business consulting.
4. Craver Peterson Consulting is consulting Chicago agency specializing in business consulting.
5. IT Audit Group LLC is one of the top Chicago consulting firms focusing on IT strategy consulting and cybersecurity.
6. Retail bound is a Chicago consulting firm specializing in other marketing and marketing strategy.

2. Top consulting firms NYC

The top small consulting firms NYC are,

1. Brand New Matter is one of the top management consulting firms NYC specializing in mobile app development and web development.
2. Sales Schema is one of the best NYC consulting firms focusing on direct marketing, and social media marketing.
3. Domain Technology Partners is one of the best IT consulting firms in NYC on IT Management services and cybersecurity.
4. Wilcox Willams is a small business consulting firm specializing in digital strategy and product design.

3. Top consulting firms in Atlanta

The best consulting firms in Atlanta are,

1. Buckhead business consultants are Atlanta business consultants specializing in sales and marketing management.
2. Red Banyan is one of the top consulting firms in Atlanta focusing on public relations, business consulting, and branding.
3. APG Emerging Tech is a business consultant Atlanta specializing in custom software development and product design.
4. Epic Culture is one of the best small business consulting firms focusing on unified communications consulting and SI and corporate training.
5. Rebel & Reason is a business consultant Atlanta with a focus on branding and digital strategy.

4. Best consulting firms in Boston

The top consulting firms in Boston are,

1. Aciron Consulting Inc is one of the best management consulting firms Boston. It specializes in custom software development, business consulting, and CRM consulting.
2. Supporting Strategies is one of the top consulting firms in Boston focusing on business consultant, training and finance, and accounting.
3. TripleDouble is a management consulting firm Boston that specializes in e-commerce development and digital strategy.
4. Blunder Partners is one of the best boutique consulting firms Boston. It is a strategic adviser to software firms.
5. Kevit Technologies is one of the top consulting companies in Boston focusing on artificial intelligence, digital strategy, and web development.

5. Top consulting firms New York

The top consulting firms in New York are,

1. L+R of the best consultant companies in New York focusing on branding, UX/UI Design, and business consulting.
2. Agency Growth Consultant LLC focuses on New York business consulting, corporate training, and Search Engine Optimization.
3. Sowen is a consulting firm New York specializing in BI & Data consulting and business consulting.
4. Sales Schema is one of the top consulting firms in New York are specializes in data and strategy consulting.

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6. Consulting firms in Los Angeles

The best consulting firms in Los Angeles are,

• Hawke Media is one of the digital marketing agencies in Los Angeles.
• Blue Pisces Consulting Inc is a business consultant Los Angeles focusing on cloud, IT, DevOps.
• Conversmart is a small business consulting firm specializing in e-commerce and marketing.
• Bliss Point Media is consulting firm with a focus on media, machine learning, and marketing.
• Scorpio is consulting firm specializing in marketing and digital marketing.

7. Top consulting firms San Diego

The top consulting firms in San Diego are,

1. CFO Hub is a business consulting San Diego.
2. Garofalo UX is one of the top consulting firms in San Diego involved in UX/UI design.
3. Dawz is one of the best San Diego consulting firms focusing on business consulting, search engine optimization, and digital strategy.
4. Artisan Venture Lab is a small business consulting firm on e-commerce development, business consulting, and digital strategy.
5. RemoteReps is a business consulting San Diego is digital marketing and voice service consultant.

8. Top consulting firms in DC

The top consulting firms in DC are,

1. Illustra is one of the best service-based consulting firms in DC. It specializes in branding and web design.
2. Mekanic is one top Washington DC consulting firms specializing in marketing and branding.
3. JS Morlu is one of the best consulting firms in DC offering accounting and business consulting.
4. Growth Lab is a small business consulting firm specializing in content marketing and accounting solutions.
5. Salaria group is a consultancy offering marketing services.

9. Consulting firms Indianapolis

The top consulting firms Indianapolis are,

1. Argona Partners are a business consultancy firm in Indianapolis.
2. Agility consulting international is one of the top consultancy firms in Indianapolis offering business consultancy and IT strategy services.
3. Resultant is one of the top Indianapolis consulting firms with a focus on BI & Big data consulting and IT Management services.
4. Accelorone is a small business consulting firm specializing in e-commerce and web development.
5. Core Matters LLC is one of the top consulting firms in Phoenix with a focus on business consultancy and marketing strategy.

10. Consulting firms Bay Area

The top consultancy firms Bay Area are,

1. UX Reactor is one of the best Bay area consulting firms specializing in UX/UI design.
2. Amazing Solutions Inc is one of the top San Francisco consulting firms with a focus on Application management and custom software development.
3. DemandLever is boutique consulting firms San Francisco working on digital marketing and direct marketing.
4. Interplum consulting is a strategic and market research firm.
5. ADG is a small business consulting firm specializing in UX/UI design and custom software development.

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Top business consultant certification

Certifications can be a powerful tool for small business consultants to show prospective clients their knowledge and skills. The certification can depend on your specialization and the validity of certifications can vary from one to three years. The top business consultant certifications are,

1. Project Manager Professional – Project Manager Professional certification shows you can practice project management.
2. Certified Professional – Human Resource (IMPA-CP) – this certification is offered by IPMA geared for public sector HR professionals.
3. Certified Sale Professional – The Certified Sale Professional course will give you an in-depth understanding of sales consulting.
4. Certified Management Consultant – The certification is granted by the US Institute of Management Consultants to demonstrate experience in management consulting.
5. Certified Management Accountant – The certification is for accountants and financial consultants.