Choosing The Right Consultants For Your Business

December 6, 2022

Company Culture

Hiring the expertise required to move the company forward is not always possible or fiscally prudent in business.

When the moment arises, and you don’t have the expertise in-house to handle what’s required and creating a permanent role isn’t in the budget, it’s time to hire a business consultant.

Finding a business consultant, or more specifically, the right business consultant, can be a daunting task. A quick Google for “business consultant” returns 5.4 billion with a B search results.

Let’s look at some ways you can pare down those results and find the right expert to offer the solutions your business requires.

Before exploring the consulting market, your business needs to determine what help you need to resolve your company’s current problems.

Be specific and decide where your future consultant offers the most benefits. Do you need help in marketing, IT, operations, or another business segment?

After you’ve narrowed your needs to a specific segment, ask whether you need them for an overall view or whether some tasks and projects need their expertise, such as fundraising or creating a marketing plan.

Next, consider whether your business wants to hire a large general consulting firm like Deloitte or Price Waterhouse Coopers or a specialised consulting firm like Quartz Enterprises.

Both offer distinct advantages and disadvantages. Large general firms like PWC provide a wide breadth of experience and resources to handle all areas of your business but tend to lack a personal connection with your team. That and they will be a bloated line item in your next budget.

A specialised firm, while notably smaller, offers a more focused team with high levels of expertise in their specific business specialities. These specialist consulting firms are nearer to your start-up mentality and provide a kinship to your business leaders beyond their consulting fees.

Either large and general or smaller and specialised can be a good choice, but it’s essential to consider which will be the right choice before committing.

Do early due diligence on the firms you’re considering. Consider their clientele. Consider where your business would rank in priority compared to its other clientele. If there is an emergency, will they take your call first or after they’ve serviced their larger clients?

Consider their services and specialities. They may have several high-profile clients that sing their praises, but if none operate in your sector, they may not have the expertise your unique business requires.

If you need information technology or human resources help, shortlist a consulting firm that touts its IT and HR credentials over a more general firm.

Find a firm that works with you, not just for you. When you have a large project, it’s best not just to outsource it and wait for the results. The consulting firm you choose needs to partner with you, guiding your team through the process from beginning to end.

The firm must outline clear communication channels that work with your business hours. You need assurances that they’re there for you when you need them.

What does this mean for the bottom line? There are a few standard pricing models when hiring a business consultant; monthly retainers, project-based rates, daily rates, or bill by the hour.

The initial purpose of hiring a business consultant was to bring in the required expertise while saving money over a permanent hire. Consider the scale of your needs and compare the overall expense when paid via the four pricing models.

The lowest price shouldn’t be your primary determining factor. Instead, it’s the cost efficiency and value provided. The benefit isn’t there if a firm charges less but doesn’t provide the quality you need or takes 2-3x as long to deliver.

There is a lot to consider when hiring the right consultants for your business. Take the time to identify what your business needs to evolve from a start-up to a stable medium business.

After thoughtful consideration, contact Quartz Enterprises if you need a specialised firm competent in project management, human resources, information security, strategic intelligence, or global translation services.

We make companies thrive.