Do You REALLY Need a Business Consultant?
A Consultant Is Like a Doctor—for Your Business
I like to use the doctor analogy because it just fits. You need a doctor at different times for different reasons, and the same is true for a consultant.
Periods of rapid growth (the “pregnancy” phase): When your business is changing fast, decisions pile up and it can get scary. This is a great time to meet with a consultant regularly—weekly, biweekly, or at least monthly—to help you navigate the pace and avoid costly mistakes.
Stable seasons (your annual checkup): Once you’ve grown through the big changes and settled into a healthy rhythm, you may only need quarterly or semiannual check-ins. Keeping that relationship intact means you’ve got someone to call when the unexpected happens.
When things go sideways (you caught a “bug”): New regulations, compliance requirements, downsizing, a market shift, basically when your business feels “sick,” a trusted consultant helps you diagnose quickly and get back on track.
“But Consultants Are Expensive…”
I hear you. For most small businesses, the time you most need a consultant is when you feel like you can least afford one. That’s a tough truth.
Here’s my advice:
Build a relationship early. Be honest about your budget and needs.
Ask about scaled or phased options. Some consultants (myself included) offer sliding approaches so you can start where you are and adjust as results come in.
See it as an investment. A good consultant helps you avoid costly errors, improve efficiency, and stay compliant, savings that often outweigh the fee.
Where Consultants Add the Most Value
Efficiency & systems: My specialty is helping you set up processes so you don’t miss steps, waste time, or reinvent the wheel.
Compliance & policies: Especially if you’re new to hiring or regulated industries, you don’t know what you don’t know—and that can be expensive.
People & training: Growing quickly and can’t hire full-time HR or trainers yet? Bring in a consultant to onboard new employees, walk through the handbook, and establish consistent practices, and then step back once you’re stable.
Crisis management: Understanding tariffs, new rules, sudden market changes, please don’t white-knuckle it alone. Reach out to your network (or me!) and get targeted help fast.
Technology transitions: Switching CRMs, project tools, or finance systems? A consultant can train your team for a month or two and save you months of trial-and-error.
There’s a saying I associate with the military: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” There’s a season for moving fast, and a season for building durable systems so you can go far.
What Working Together Can Look Like
I’m here to serve. Start with my free resources on this website. Use those first. If you need more, I’m a message away.
I’m here to help!
-Emily (February 2025)
