What types of consultancy business are there?
Although you can be a consultant in just about any field these days, here are 20 consulting business ideas to get you thinking.
- Accounting. Accounting is something that every business needs, no matter how large or small. Accounting consultants can help a business with all of its financial needs.
- Advertising. This type of consultant is normally hired by a business to develop, and sometimes execute a good strategic advertising campaign.
- Auditing. From consultants who handle monthly accounts for small businesses to consultants who handle major work for telecommunications firms, auditing consultants are enjoying the fruits of their labour.
- Business. Know how to help a business turn a profit? If you have a good business sense, then you’ll do well as a business consultant. After computer consulting, people in this field are the next most sought after.
- Business Writing. Everyone knows that most businesspeople have trouble when it comes to writing a report – or even a simple press release.
- Career Counseling. With more and more people finding themselves victims of corporate downsizing, career counselors will always be in demand. Career counselors’ guide their clients into a profession or job that will help them be both happy and productive as an employee.
- Communications. Communications consultants specialise in helping employees in both large and small businesses communicate better with each other, which ultimately makes the business operate smoothly and be more efficient.
- Computer Consulting. From software to hardware, and everything in between, if you know computers, your biggest problem will be not having enough hours in the day to meet your clients’ demands!
- Editorial Services. From producing newsletters to corporate annual reports, consultants who are experts in the editorial field will always be appreciated.
- Executive Search/Headhunting. While this is not for everyone, there are people who enjoy finding talent for employers.
- Gardening. Not only are businesses hiring gardening consultants; so are people who are too busy to take care of their gardens at home.
- Human Resources. As long as businesses have people problems (and they always will), consultants in this field will enjoy a never-ending supply of corporate clients, both large and small. (People-problem prevention programmes could include teaching employees to get along with others, respect diversity and developing skills in the workplace.)
- Insurance. Everyone needs insurance, and everyone needs an insurance consultant to help them find the best plan and pricing.
- Marketing. Can you help a business write a marketing plan? Or do you have ideas that you feel will help promote a business? If so, why not try your hand as a marketing consultant?
- Payroll Management. Everyone needs to get paid. By using your knowledge and expertise in payroll management, you can provide this service to many businesses, both large and small.
- Public Relations. Getting good press coverage for any organisation is a real art. When an organisation finds a good PR consultant, they hang on to them!
- Publishing. If you’re interested in the publishing field, then learn everything you can and you, too, can be a publishing consultant. A publishing consultant usually helps new ventures when they are ready to launch a new newspaper, magazine, newsletter – and even websites and electronic newsletters.
- Risk Management. Natural disasters, theft, fire, computer viruses, corporate espionage and more. Assist business owners in building threat-proof companies by mitigating risk and insuring against losses.
- Security: Today, every business owner is aware of the need to increase security, however many businesses are still vulnerable to internal and external crime. Apply your expertise to ensuring they cover all bases.
- Taxes: With the right marketing and business plan (and a sincere interest in taxes), your career as a tax consultant can be very lucrative. A tax consultant advises businesses on the legal methods to pay the least amount of tax possible.
A few things to consider before you become a consultant:
- What certifications and special licensing will I need? Depending upon your profession, you may need special certification or a special license before you can begin operating as a consultant.
- Am I qualified to become a consultant?
- Before you hang out your shingle and hope that clients begin beating your door down to hire you, make sure you have the qualifications necessary to get the job done. If you want to be a computer consultant, for example, make sure you are up to date in the knowledge department with all the trends and changes in the computer industry.
- Am I organised enough to become a consultant?
- Do I like to plan my day? Am I an expert when it comes to time management? You should have answered “yes” to all three of those questions.
- Do I like to network?
- Networking is critical to the success of any type of consultant today. Begin building your network of contacts immediately.
- Have I set long-term and short-term goals?
And do they allow for me to become a consultant? If your goals do not match up with the time and energy it takes to open and successfully build a consulting business, then reconsider before making any move in this direction.