10. Business Plan Consultant
Use your entrepreneurial experience to help aspiring business owners through the planning process.
- Advantages: To get the most from a start-up – from knowing where you’re headed and obtaining financing, to planning that perfect marketing campaign – the small business newbie needs a business plan, but most people don’t know how to write one. If you’ve got business experience, you know how to pen a business plan and you like working with other people to make their dreams reality, then becoming a business plan consultant could be an ideal part-time start-up. Entrepreneurs typically work well beyond the normal 8 to 5 business day, so meeting them after-hours is no problem. As a start-up yourself, you will be able to offer lower rates to build your clientele as well. Because you are selling a skill, start-up costs are low. Later, you can branch out to work with established companies that are looking for new or additional financing, want to franchise, or form a merger or acquisition with another firm.
- Skills: You’ll need a solid grounding in business basics from finances to marketing and in the mechanics of a good business plan. You’ll also need good business writing skills, the ability to manipulate figures and super communication skills. You’ll need to work closely with your clients to interpret their ideas and produce plans custom-made for their businesses instead of boilerplates that go nowhere.
- The Market: Initially start-ups and later more established firms. The basic principles of a business plan allow you to work across sectors and industries.
- What you’ll need: A computer system with the usual office software, a laser printer and a fax machine are all must-haves, particularly spreadsheet software for working out financials.