17 Steps To Earn Your First $1,000 As A Business Consultant

If you’re reading this, you’re likely ready to take the next step in your career as a business consultant. Maybe it’s your first step.

Either way, I’d like to congratulate you on taking initiative and looking for resources that can help your consulting business grow. I’ve been a self-employed business consultant for many years, and I know firsthand how difficult and stressful it can be at times.

This guide is designed to help you avoid some of the mistakes I made when starting and get past the challenges of being a new consultant as quickly as possible.

Takeaways
1. Identify your niche and target market.
2. Develop a strong personal brand and online presence.
3. Build a network of professional connections and seek referrals.
4. Offer valuable services and focus on delivering exceptional results.
5. Set clear goals and create a business plan to track your progress.
6. Determine your pricing strategy and value proposition.
7. Continuously learn and update your skills to stay competitive.
8. Leverage social media and digital marketing to reach potential clients.
9. Provide outstanding customer service and maintain client relationships.
10. Utilize effective marketing and promotional strategies to attract clients.
11. Develop a systematic approach to managing projects and deadlines.
12. Seek feedback from clients to improve your services.
13. Stay organized and manage your time effectively.
14. Stay updated with industry trends and changes.
15. Embrace continuous improvement and professional development.
16. Network with other consultants and industry professionals.
17. Stay persistent and remain committed to your goals.

1. Identify Your Niche

The first step to earning your first $1,000 as a business consultant is identifying your niche.

What Is My Niche?

Niche marketing involves targeting a specific audience with products and services that they are likely to find valuable. 

You may already have an idea of who will benefit most from what you offer your best friend’s mom, say or it could be something more nebulous but still recognizable: working moms in the suburbs of Chicago; busy executives who are looking for ways to increase productivity at work and home.

The next step is figuring out where these people gather online and offline (yes, we still do both), where they go for information or entertainment, and how they make decisions when buying things like cars or jewelry, or food processors; all this will help you identify not only who they are but also how best to reach them.

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2. Create Your Value Proposition

A value proposition is one of the most important deliverables in your consulting business. It’s a short, memorable statement that explains how you add value to your clients. In other words, it’s how you convince potential clients that hiring you will be worth their money and time.

Here are some examples of value propositions:

• Our coaching is 10x more effective than just reading books or watching videos.

• The best way to learn marketing is by doing it. We’ll show you exactly what to do with your blog posts every week until they convert into sales and leads for your business. (This one comes from us).

3. Decide How Much You’ll Charge

You know what you’re good at, and you’ve figured out how much value your services bring to the market. Now you need to decide how much of that will get paid for by clients.

There are two major factors at play here:

• Your time and skillset
• The value of your time in the clients’ needs

If you’re like most consultants, your skillset is probably more specialized than it was when you were first getting started in your industry. That means some fewer people can do what you do (and likely no one else doing it quite as well). 

As such, if another professional already has a client base with similar needs as yours, they might have been charging those clients $100/hour or more or they’ll be able to once they build up their practice.

So even though we said earlier that $100-$200/hour might seem like a lot of money for someone just starting with zero experience or references on these types of projects…it isn’t.

These days many freelancers are charging less than $50/hour who win bids all across the country based on their reputation alone and then often have no trouble finding new work after completing each project.

Because every company wants them back again and again because they understand quality work from experienced experts doesn’t come cheap.

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4. Start Building Your Network

The most effective way to build your network is by meeting people in your community and industry. If you’re looking for clients, start by meeting people who might hire consultants like you. The best way to do this is at networking events and through LinkedIn. If there’s an industry group that serves your target market, join it and attend meetings regularly. 

These groups are great places to meet potential clients because they’re full of people just like the ones you want to work with they’re usually very friendly, open-minded, and happy to help out anyone who seems like they have something valuable to offer. 

If no such group exists in your area, consider starting one yourself. You can find plenty of resources online about how fun and easy it can be (and how much money it makes). As far as social media goes: use Facebook only if necessary because it’s known for having terrible privacy settings; Instagram is better but still not great;

Twitter has decent privacy settings but doesn’t allow users enough space for anything other than short updates or links; 

Pinterest may work well depending on what kind of content will attract followers from within their community you could post pictures of inspirational quotes with captions underneath saying things like “I believe” or “Never Give Up!” which should appeal strongly to those who already share similar values as yours.

YouTube allows plenty of space per video so long as each one isn’t too long (5 minutes max) but requires uploading which takes time away from actually making money (although sometimes viewers will leave comments asking questions which could lead directly towards sales).

5. Define Your Marketing Strategy

Once you’ve defined your target audience and message, it’s time to put together a marketing plan. It’s important to keep this step in mind before moving on because your marketing strategy will inform how you approach each of the other steps below.

Define Your Target Audience: Who are you targeting? Are they mostly male or female? What age range do they fall into? Where do they live (city, state, or country)? What is their annual income level (or net worth)? How much disposable income do they have left after paying bills each month? What type of problems do these people face every day?

Define Your Marketing Message: What story are you telling these potential customers so that they understand how your product or service can help them solve their problem(s)? Be sure not to make this information too technical.

Instead, focus on who might benefit from using your product/service and why that person should work with someone like yourself specifically rather than another business consultant.

Define Your Marketing Channels: List all possible channels where potential clients could find out about what products/services are available in the market today – ebooks, podcasts, videos, etc.

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6. Create A Proposal Template

Your proposal template is the document that describes your consulting services and how you will carry them out. It should include:

• A summary of your experience, including past clients and any relevant qualifications.

• An overview of what you plan to do for the client.

• The amount of time it will take to complete the project is broken down into chunks (for example, one week for research and two weeks for writing).

Once you have a basic template for proposals set up, it’s easy to customize each one with information about the specific project at hand. You’ll also be able to see an example of this type of proposal in action if you choose to join our free course on Four-Figure Consulting!

7. Write A Blog Post

Your next step is to write an article about it. As you know from reading my previous posts, I am a huge advocate of writing blog posts and giving back to the community in this way. A good blog post provides value for both you and the reader.

You should start by thinking about what you want to write about in your niche. The topic should be relevant and easily accessible to others who are interested in learning more about it; if they have questions or need more information on one subject within the scope of your niche, another person has already answered those questions.

If there isn’t already an expert out there covering all aspects of this area a true authority on everything then perhaps becoming one yourself could be profitable (and enjoyable!).

8. Identify A Few Potential Clients

The next step is to identify a few potential clients who you think would be interested in your services. To do this, you need to consider the type of clients that would be most interested in your services, as well as those that will be most likely to pay for them.

For example, if you’re a business consultant specializing in marketing and advertising, it’s unlikely that someone who works at McDonald’s or Walmart would be interested in hiring you as their consultant and paying $1,000 per hour.

They don’t have enough money and they definitely wouldn’t have time for such an appointment. But if you were able to get an appointment with Coca-Cola or PepsiCo (the companies behind products like Coke, Sprite and Fanta), then those meetings could translate into some serious cash and even better brand recognition for yourself.

9. Reach Out To Potential Clients

Once you have identified a few potential clients, it’s time to reach out to them. To be successful in this step, you should use a template and add it as a new tab on your Gmail account.

A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is also helpful here because it allows you to track all of your contacts and their response rates so that you can send follow up emails based on their responses or lack thereof (e.g., if they respond after 72 hours, send another email).

A spreadsheet is another option for keeping track of your leads and prospects:

10. Prepare For Meetings With Potential Clients

Prepare for the meeting. You’ve found a potential client, and now it’s time to make sure you’re ready for the meeting. Be sure that you have your proposal ready, as well as a list of questions to ask them.

Have your strengths and weaknesses in mind. Know what sets you apart from other consultants (your strengths), but be aware of where they might outperform you (your weaknesses).

Have a list of previous clients at hand. The more satisfied clients that you can name, the better they’ll help with figuring out what kind of services will be most useful for this particular client and how much work they typically give out before signing on for long-term contracts or projects with any consultant or agency.

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11. Deliver The Project And Ask For Feedback

This is the last step in the process. In this step, you deliver the project and ask for feedback. Before you do this, make sure that you have a good understanding of what your client needs so that their feedback will be meaningful and help you improve as a consultant.

It’s also important to make sure that they understand how important it is for them to give honest feedback about their experience working with you so that they can continue improving as well.

Remember: don’t take criticism personally! It’s not about you, it’s about helping you become better at what you do.

12. Invest In Yourself

Invest in Yourself: If you’re going to earn a living as a business consultant, then you must be an expert on something. You need to be able to educate others and help them solve their problems. Invest in yourself by learning as much as you can about your area of expertise, whether that’s marketing or sales, or small business management.

The more knowledge you have about your field, the better off you’ll be when it comes time for clients to hire you for their projects, and the more likely they’ll be willing to pay for your advice!

Invest In Your Growth: As a business consultant, there will come times when things don’t go according to plan and those times may knock you down emotionally if they happen often enough (which they probably will).

But remember: It’s not just about surviving these challenges; it’s about thriving through them! So make sure that each challenge only makes us stronger as individuals and professionals instead of weaker…

13. Start Preparing For The Next Consulting Project While Working On The Current One

When you’re working on a project and have another one in the pipeline, it can be easy to get distracted from the current one by thinking about what’s next. Don’t let this happen.

While you should certainly think about the next project, don’t just spend all your time doing that it’s important to stay focused on what you’re working on right now.

Instead, use some of your free time away from clients or after hours to plan out how you’re going to approach your next consulting gig.

You might want to write down any questions that come up during conversations with potential customers so that when they do arise later on and anyone asks them again (or if it’s something they ask themselves), they already know where they can find an answer.

14. Share Updates On Social Media And Ask Clients To Review Your Work

Social media is an excellent way to share your progress with the world, and it can be a great way to generate leads. Posting regularly will show prospective clients that you’re committed to the job and building your business.

You should also ask your current clients to leave reviews on sites like LinkedIn, Google, or Yelp. If you haven’t already done so, set up profiles on all of these platforms and make sure they’re up-to-date.

If you don’t have time for upkeep or aren’t comfortable updating them yourself (or if there’s something about your profile that just doesn’t feel right), consider hiring someone else who will do it for you at least once per month just as an update reminder.

15. Ask For Referrals From Satisfied Clients

When you are ready to begin asking for referrals, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, make sure that you have your pitch down pat. The more confident you are in your pitch and the more details you can provide about what the client will get from working with you, the better chance they will have of referring others.

Secondly, remember that there will be some people who won’t want or need your services. Do not take it personally! Instead, try and understand why they might not be interested in what you’re offering and use that as an opportunity to improve your product or service so that it is more appealing next time.

Finally, don’t forget about those who already know what value they can get by working with someone like yourself because they’ve already worked with someone like yourself.

It’s important not only to ask these people directly but also to make sure their network knows what great work has been done so far on behalf of other clients since it could lead another potential clientele into becoming interested themselves!

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16. Keep Building Your Network And Going To Events As Often As Possible

The way you build and maintain your network is by keeping in touch with everyone. You should be sending out emails, making phone calls, and checking in every once in a while to make sure they remember who you are and what you do. This is especially important if they have not yet introduced you to anyone else.

You should also attend events as often as possible. I know that this can get expensive if there aren’t any available through the local chamber of commerce or conference centers, but there are always ways of finding funding for these things (such as asking for sponsorships).

Even if it’s just one event a month or less, try to go at least once before year’s end so that people start seeing your name pop up on registries when searching for speakers or attendees!

Finally, this is crucial to make sure that you are a good networker. That means being friendly and personable without being pushy; showing interest without pestering people; listening carefully but not interrupting others’ conversations.

Remembering details about each person’s life beyond business matters; giving advice only when asked (and then giving good advice at that); etcetera etcetera etcetera ad infinitum ad nauseam.

17. Consider Offering Recurring Services And Becoming A Retained Consultant

If you are wondering how you can earn more money as a consultant, consider adding recurring services to your repertoire.

The key here is to offer something valuable enough for customers to pay a recurring fee for it. For example, if you help people with their social media marketing strategy by offering them a monthly service package, they will likely continue paying the same amount each month until the project is complete or canceled.

If this type of work appeals to you because it allows for greater flexibility than traditional consulting jobs, then great! But keep in mind that it also requires much more investment upfront (including time and effort) before any profits come in since you need all of your clients on board at once to make money from them going forward.

If this type of business model doesn’t suit your needs but wants some help getting started with recurring services anyway: check out our guide on Recurring Service Plans For Consultants!

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide has given you a solid overview of how to get started as a business consultant. If you are excited to move forward, it’s time to jump right in and start taking action. There is no better day than today to lay the groundwork for your future success.

I wish you the best of luck on this journey and I know that if you put in the work, you will be able to achieve amazing results with this career path.

Further Reading

How to Become a $1000/Day Consultant: Discover the strategies and steps to become a highly sought-after consultant earning $1000 per day.

How to Start a Consulting Business: Determine Your Business: Learn essential tips and insights on how to start a consulting business and define your unique value proposition in the market.

How to Become a Consultant: Explore the key steps and considerations for becoming a consultant and building a successful consulting career.

People Also Ask

Why Should I Become A Business Consultant?

Business consultants are in high demand and they make a lot of money. They are always needed to help businesses grow. If you can help others with their businesses, why not get paid for it?

How Much Do Business Consultants Earn?

The average salary for a business consultant is $80,000 per year. That’s more than what most people earn with a college degree! The more experience you have as a business consultant, the more you’ll be able to charge for your services.

What Will I Need To Know About Running My Own Business?

Running your own business requires work and commitment but it also gives you the freedom to do what you love and make money doing it! If this sounds like something that interests you, then becoming a business consultant may be right for you.

Can I Get Paid Upfront?

Yes! You can charge your clients upfront for services rendered before any work has been done. This is a great way to build trust with the client right away, and make sure that everyone is clear about what services will be provided for what price.

It also means that if the client wants to cancel their contract with you after paying upfront, they won’t have access to any of your intellectual property (IP).

Do I Have To Pay Taxes On My Income From Working As A Business Consultant?

Yes! You must report all of the income from your business consulting work on your taxes each year. You must keep track of all of this to ensure that you don’t owe more than what’s due when tax season rolls around next April 15th!

How Do I Get My First Clients?

You can start by reaching out to your friends and family. If they’re happy with your work, then they’ll be more than willing to help you out by passing along your name to their networks. If you have a professional network already established, feel free to reach out to them as well!

How Much Does It Cost To Become A Consultant?

The fee for consulting varies from industry to industry, but on average it costs around $500-750 per hour. However, many consultants offer discounts or even free consultations if they’re just getting started in the business world and need some experience under their belt before charging full price.

What Should I Charge For My Services?

If you want your clients to pay top dollar and come back again and again, then it’s important that you charge accordingly but not too much.

Consider what others in your field are charging for similar services (and make sure you’re offering something unique), and come up with an appropriate number that will still allow you some wiggle room when negotiating terms with potential clients.

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Business Consulting Practice?

It depends on what you’re offering. If you just want to give people advice on how to run their businesses better, then it’s free. But if you want to charge for your services, there are two options: an hourly fee or a flat rate.

Hourly fees can be anywhere from $125-$250 per hour. Flat rates are typically around $1,000 for a full day’s worth of work.

What Is An Hourly Or Flat Rate Business Consultation?

The basic idea is that you’re providing one-on-one advice on how to make someone’s business more successful.

Typical topics include marketing strategy and social media strategy; how to use analytics data; how to increase sales; how to manage employees better; how to identify the best opportunities within a business; etcetera.

You’ll also want to provide some sort of plan or timeline for your clients so they know what exactly needs to be done and when it needs to happen for them to see results from this investment in their business’ success.