Related Posts
ZS Associates
I have a couple of questions for ZS fishes-
1. Is it possible to turn down a promotion at ZS? I'm currently happy with my responsibilities as a Decision Analytics Consultant and don't want any added responsibilities in the near future (next 5 years)
2. Is it possible to shape up a career path in the BC stream which doesn't involve business development? I don't want to get into working on SOWs and RFPs.
More Posts
Why is the ad community in London so cliquey?
Anonymous User
Visual Storyteller
Finally got the call! 🙌🏼🙌🏼 First day on the job.
Additional Posts in Consulting
Julia's Empanadas. Not the worst way to end s night
People who don't use Oxford commas are barbarians.
Which hotel has the best soap?
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Chief
This question doesn’t really make sense. It’s like saying “I like to play golf, how hard is it to be on the PGA Tour?”
Hard isn’t really the way to think about it. Running any small business is hard work. The real question is, what will you consult on? What expertise will you provide to the market? Why will clients want to pay for what you will offer? How will you find those clients? You can’t even really begin to think about starting a consultancy until you have answers to those questions, and that’s what drives your timing.
Easy peasy... until you have to worry about finding clients, running payroll, hiring staff, delivering quality work, dealing with non-paying clients, working endless hours including weekends, marketing the firm, and still making time for your family and friends. It’s a walk in the park, and I keep wondering why more people don’t do it 🤔
Chief
Have you ever sold anything (of value) to anyone?
Have you done this in the context of your current employment?
To answer your question plainly - it is very difficult; more than you can ever imagine.
First try going independent- see if you can sell yourself without the support of your firm. If you are successful doing that, then try to scale and before you know it you’ll have your own firm.
Or you could have your own consultancy as a Partner in your firm.
First focus on building your niche and differentiator.
Rising Star
Not hard to create it - very hard to sustain it.
Some of the most successful people in business never got an MBA it even finished college :-)
Don't let having an MBA fool you.
Rising Star
Creating is easy, finding clients is hard, retaining client and staff is harder.
It’s actually quite easy. There are numerous platforms that streamline the process of finding clients, creating contracts, and invoicing for payment.
The vast majority of new consultancies stay at 1 to 10 employees, though. If you want to scale up beyond that, then it gets harder.
Rising Star
If you have a niche of expertise it’s not that hard. You are basically just contracting for a company.
Finding clients who can believe in you and your delivery capabilities is the hardest part. Who will be ready to sign at least 100-500K $ project with you?
Rising Star
I did it for a bit and keeping it up would have been to the detriment of everything else.
Just being an independent is one thing but selling consulting at scale outside your immediate control is difficult.