How to find a business consultant
Before reading any further you want to be clear about why you are talking to business consultants and understand what you are looking to achieve. This article will help that thought process: https://catandra.co.uk/consultancy/why-should-i-hire-a-business-consultant/
So, now you’ve decided to speak to a business consultant, what next? How do you find a good business consultant?
Ask People you Trust
Before searching for a local business consultant, you should ask your network which consultants they have worked with and who they would recommend. The majority of our clients come through introductions and referrals; this ensures a level of trust and confidence.
However, if you don’t know any businesses that have engaged with a consultant then you are relying on your own research.
The National Consultants Register
The Institute of Consulting has a register of members, they are all qualified to provide consultancy and adhere to the working principles the institute sets out. This means that you can find a business consultant local to you who has the expertise you are looking for.
The register is here (https://www.managers.org.uk/institute-of-consulting/), you can find a consultant by specialism and location. Having shortlisted a couple, it is advisable to research and check reviews before making contact.
A quick search of www.linkedin.com will yield a number of business consultants. If you use a Boolean search term like “business consultants” AND “East Sussex” that will give you a list of business consultants in East Sussex. You can then see for each profile whether you have any shared connections, if so, this is a good opportunity to ask for a recommendation or insight.
Bark.com
www.bark.com is a paid for lead generation service, you enter your requirements and consultants pay for the lead. Once your details are passed across the consultants will make contact. Whilst this is a simple system there is no guarantee of quality or suitability because any business can register and pay for your lead.
However, it is free for you to use and there are some reviews which can provide helpful insight.
Networking
Get out there and network. If you target networking events that have business consultants in attendance you can meet them face to face. This will let you get a feel for who is out there without committing in advance. There are a number of networking organisations and events around the UK so look for those that are relevant to what you do and go along.
The majority of people now days simply ‘Google It’ and see what results they get. Googling East Sussex Business Consultants returns 34m results so there are many options available. Again, the best move here is to explore different consultants and get a feel for what they do and how they operate.
With Google it is advisable to look for businesses that have reviews, this provides a good indication of the work they undertake and how well they deliver.
What Next?
If you are looking for re-assurance then ask for recommendations, this is the best way to ensure that you are talking to business consultants who will work with you and deliver what you need.
A reputable business consultant will meet you for an hour or so to understand more about your business, this provides you the chance to ask them any key questions you may have, including:
- What does a typical engagement look like?
- What frameworks/methodologies do you use?
- What is your specialism?
- How much do you charge?
- Can you provide evidence of recent work?
- How do you deliver?
- What does a successful assignment look like?
By asking these questions you will get a rounded view of any business consultant you meet.
Fundamentally you need to be clear in your mind what you are expecting a consultant to deliver, if you don’t have clear expectations you will not achieve what you want to.
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