Five ways a business consultant can transform your small business

Oxford Business Consultant

I’ve been there – one minute you’re just going about the little business you started, getting those first few customers or clients, deciding on branding, feeling proud you’ve finally broken away from the 9 to 5 grind. Fast forward a couple of years, and there’s somehow a company around you, or at least the beginning of one.

You’re doing everything yourself: working out Xero, how or if you need to hire someone, you’re working every evening and weekend and you’re completely overwhelmed.

To top it off, you’ve lost the clear vision of where you’re even trying to get to – you’ve not had time to think beyond this week.

If any of that sounds familiar, I've written more about what I mean by an accidental entrepreneur here.

That’s where a business consultant comes in. Here are five ways a business consultant can transform your small business.

(Still not sure what a consultant actually does day to day? I've broken that down in What Does a Business Consultant Actually Do? But for now, here's the transformation you can expect).

1.        Efficiency

Most small businesses begin with a sole trader and grow from there, organically. This means that your business is built around the working practices you inherited; but are those the best and most efficient? Efficiency can refer to time, to money and to ease of operations, and a business consultant can look at everything you’re currently doing and advise you on whether you’re making the most of those elements.

Sometimes this can be simple stuff you’ve not got around to yet, such as automating all payments. Sometimes it’s a lot more in depth, looking at the roles of each of your team members, their strengths, their weaknesses, and how that can be optimised to turbocharge your business. Improving your efficiency will improve your time management, your bottom line and your work-life balance.

2.        Accountability

All right, own up, how long have those “working on your business” items been on the to do list, or floating around in the back of your mind? That onboarding process you need to document, that cash flow doc you know you need in place before you go for investment but there’s just never time?!

That's not unusual. For a lot of my monthly consultancy clients, it's the work ON the business that sits there for months, the pricing review they know is overdue, the fact a local competitor has started creeping in on their unique positioning. They know it needs doing, they just don't have the impetus to make it the priority. That's where I come in. Sometimes it's the bigger strategic pieces, sometimes it's something as simple as a physical sign outside the shop that was never there. One client hadn't got round to it, we made it the priority, and they took an extra £1,600 in upfront income the following week alone, before even factoring in the lifetime value of those new clients.

A business consultant will help you prioritise the tasks that are going to give you the best bang for your buck, help you carve out time to get them done, and then check into make sure you’re willing and able to do them. Those things that have been on the list for six months? They’ll be done within no time at all. Your business will thank you.

3.        Outside perspective

When you’re working in your business day in, day out, it’s easy for your mind and your agenda to get clogged up with small items, the immediate pressures you face and the next win you’re looking for. Sometimes this leads us to run down paths that don’t align with our goals – hands up if you’ve ever invested a load of time or cash in a project that felt redundant a year later?

Having somebody looking down at your business from a height, who’s more isolated from the day-to-day, allows a much broader perspective. When it comes to brainstorming, thinking of new revenue streams, and working out the best next step for your business, this external perspective is invaluable.

4.        Experience

Have you ever started, scaled and exited a business before? If so, great! You already have amazing experience. But if you're an accidental entrepreneur, my guess is that you haven't. All good business consultants will have – beware of those who have just done a coaching course and don't have any lived experience!

For example, when I started my first business, we got hiring wrong. We didn't think through what the team would need to look like as we grew, and ended up with a team that wasn't streamlined and people in the wrong seats altogether. It's a mistake that costs you time, money and a lot of headspace to unpick. I can now help my clients sidestep it entirely, and that's only possible because I've lived through getting it wrong myself.

Funding troubles, a tricky employee, whatever it is, I've likely been there myself. As well as that lived and practical experience, having another entrepreneur as a sounding board is a really useful resource – make the most of it.

5.        It’s low risk

All accidental entrepreneurs are hungry for growth, otherwise they wouldn’t have started their businesses. Setting up a new side-line, opening a new site, or over-leveraging yourself with new clients are all high-risk strategies to increase growth. Investing in a business consultant is low risk, all that's at stake is the fees. But the rewards can be enormous.

The efficiencies, the advice, the experience and of course the network they bring to the table can transform your small business without drastically changing what you already do. And if you have a huge idea you want to get off the ground once all the foundations are in place? They’ll be by your side to support you.

Common questions about working with a business consultant

How do I know if my business is ready for a consultant?

If you're spending your evenings and weekends firefighting rather than steering, that's usually the sign. You don't need to have it all figured out first, that's the whole point of bringing someone in.

What's the difference between a business consultant and a business coach?

A coach helps you think. A consultant should have actually done it, started, scaled and ideally exited a business themselves, so they're bringing lived experience, not just a framework. Always ask what they've built before you hire them.

How much does a business consultant cost?

It varies depending on whether you want a one-off session, a deep-dive audit, or ongoing monthly support. Have a look at my services page for the options, or book a free discovery call and we can talk through what fits.

Is hiring a business consultant risky for a small business?

Not compared to the alternative. Opening a new site, launching a new service line or over-leveraging yourself on new clients are the genuinely risky moves. A consultant is low risk by comparison, the only thing on the table is the fee, and the upside can be enormous.

Wondering where some strategic consultancy could take your business? Drop me a line and let's chat. If I'm not the right fit for you, I'll point you to somebody who is. I look forward to smashing through that ceiling with you soon.