Consulting is not easy. Wait, it actually is. However, the outcome of your consultation will determine whether you stay in business or be ignored amongst the crowd of existing consultants. We launched our consulting agency, Albusi, over three years ago in Zürich, Switzerland. Since then, we’ve had quite decent turnovers, and we’re growing. Here’s our consulting business plan and methodology that we used before launching.
The Foundation – Our Team’s Experience
When we first ventured into the world of consulting, we had a solid foundation to build upon – our team’s experience in launching and fundraising for our own tech startup over a decade ago. Those early years taught us invaluable lessons about the challenges and nuances of seeking investments.
We knew that to succeed in the consulting game, we needed to leverage this hard-earned expertise. Our team had been in the trenches, facing the same hurdles that our future clients would encounter. We understood the pain points, the common pitfalls, and the strategies that could make or break an investment bid.
This insider knowledge became our secret sauce. We could empathize with our clients’ struggles and provide them with practical, battle-tested advice. Our consulting approach wasn’t just theoretical mumbo-jumbo; it was grounded in real-world experiences, failures, and successes.
As we onboarded new clients, we made it a point to share our own startup journey with them. This not only built trust and rapport but also demonstrated our deep understanding of the consulting business plan process they were embarking on.
Adapting and Evolving – Our Flexible Structure
While our team’s experience laid a solid foundation, we knew that a successful consulting business plan required more than just expertise. It needed to be a living, breathing document that could adapt to the ever-changing landscape of our industry and the unique needs of our clients.
That’s why we made our business structure a top priority from the get-go. We didn’t want to be bogged down by rigid hierarchies or bureaucratic processes that could slow us down. Instead, we embraced a flexible approach, constantly tweaking and adjusting our team’s roles and responsibilities based on the demands of each project.
Every year, we evaluated our structure, making changes where necessary. Sometimes, that meant bringing in new talent to fill specific skill gaps. Other times, it involved reshuffling our existing team members to better align with emerging client needs or market trends.
This agile mindset allowed us to stay nimble and responsive, pivoting our consulting business plan as required. We weren’t afraid to shake things up if it meant delivering better results for our clients.
Moreover, our flexible structure fostered an environment of continuous learning and growth. As we tackled new challenges and ventured into uncharted territory, our team members had the opportunity to expand their skill sets and expertise, further strengthening our consulting capabilities.
Finding Our Niche – Switzerland and Global Investment Needs
As we solidified our team and structure, we realized the importance of carving out a specific niche within the vast consulting landscape. After all, trying to be everything to everyone is a surefire recipe for mediocrity. We needed to focus our efforts and position ourselves as experts in a particular domain.
For us, that niche became investment documentation and fundraising support, with a particular emphasis on serving clients in Switzerland and globally. This decision was a strategic one, born out of our own experiences in launching a startup and seeking investments.
We understood the nuances and complexities involved in crafting compelling investment materials – from crafting a compelling business plan to creating pitch decks that could captivate potential investors. Moreover, we recognized the unique challenges faced by Swiss-based companies and startups when it came to accessing international funding sources.
By honing in on this specific niche, we could offer our clients a level of expertise and specialized knowledge that generalist consulting firms simply couldn’t match. Our consulting business plan was tailored to address the intricacies of investment documentation and fundraising, making us a go-to resource for companies seeking capital.
Furthermore, our global focus allowed us to tap into a broader market, attracting clients from various corners of the world who were looking for seasoned guidance in navigating the complex world of investment acquisition.
Tools of the Trade – Streamlining Execution
As our consulting business started gaining traction, we quickly realized that having the right tools and systems in place was crucial for efficient execution. We needed a way to collaborate seamlessly with our team and clients, while also ensuring that our work process was organized and streamlined.
Enter our arsenal of digital tools – the unsung heroes that helped us stay on top of our game. At the heart of our operations was Slack, our virtual command center. This nifty communication platform allowed us to have real-time conversations, share files, and coordinate tasks with ease, regardless of where team members were located.
But that’s not all – we also relied heavily on Google Drive to house all our documents and presentations. No more emailing back and forth or dealing with version control nightmares. With Drive, we could collaborate on files in real-time, with everyone working on the latest iteration.
And let’s not forget about Google Meet, our go-to video conferencing tool. Whether we were brainstorming with our team or hopping on a call with a client, Meet allowed us to connect face-to-face (virtually, of course) without any hassle.
These tools might seem like simple conveniences, but they played a pivotal role in our consulting business plan’s success. By streamlining communication and collaboration, we could work more efficiently, respond to client needs faster, and deliver top-notch results every time.
The Power of Design – Our Secret Consulting Business Weapon
While our consulting expertise and streamlined processes were crucial components of our success, we knew that there was another element that could take our clients’ investment materials to the next level – impeccable design.
We understood that in the competitive world of fundraising, presentation is everything. A well-crafted pitch deck or business plan wasn’t just about the content; it was also about how that content was packaged and presented visually.
That’s why we made design a core pillar of our consulting business plan. We partnered with a top-notch design agency, bringing their creative genius on board to elevate our clients’ investment materials.
These design wizards had a deep understanding of the psychology behind effective visual communication. They knew how to craft layouts that were not only aesthetically pleasing but also strategically designed to capture and hold an audience’s attention.
From color palettes that evoked specific emotions to typography choices that conveyed professionalism and credibility, every design element was meticulously considered and executed with precision.
But their magic didn’t stop there. Our design partners also brought their expertise in crafting compelling narratives through visual storytelling. They helped us transform complex financial data and business projections into easily digestible, visually engaging presentations that could captivate even the most discerning investors.
By prioritizing design in our consulting business plan, we were able to offer our clients a competitive edge – investment materials that not only communicated their vision but also left a lasting impression on potential investors.
Continuous Improvement – Seeking Feedback and Enhancing Outcomes
At the core of our consulting business plan was a relentless pursuit of excellence. We understood that standing still was the quickest path to becoming obsolete. To stay ahead of the curve, we embraced a culture of continuous improvement, actively seeking feedback from our clients and using those insights to refine our processes and deliverables constantly.
After every project, we’d conduct thorough debriefs, gathering candid feedback from our clients on what worked well and areas where we could improve. We treated every piece of constructive criticism as a valuable opportunity to learn and grow.
But we didn’t stop there. We also explored innovative ways to enhance our outcomes further. One such avenue was leveraging the power of AI technology. While we firmly believed in the irreplaceable value of human expertise, we recognized that AI could be a powerful tool for streamlining certain aspects of our work.
For instance, we experimented with AI co-writing assistants to help us organize our thoughts and generate initial drafts more efficiently. This allowed our consultants to focus their time and energy on refining the content, adding their unique insights, and tailoring the materials to each client’s specific needs.
However, we drew a clear line when it came to the final deliverables. All investment materials were meticulously reviewed and crafted by our human consultants, ensuring that the end result was a product of our team’s collective expertise and experience.
Adapting to Seasonality – Our Dynamic Consulting Financial Plan
As seasoned consultants, we understood that the world of business isn’t static – it ebbs and flows with different seasons and market dynamics. To navigate these fluctuations successfully, we built a dynamic financial model into our consulting business plan.
Unlike a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach, our financial model was designed to be malleable, adapting to the changing demands and seasonality of our industry. We regularly reviewed and adjusted our targets, pricing structures, and resource allocation based on real-time data and market trends.
During peak periods, when demand for our services was high, we ramped up our capacity by bringing in additional consultants or partnering with trusted freelancers. This allowed us to meet the increased workload without compromising on quality or turnaround times.
Conversely, during slower seasons, we could scale back our operations, focusing our resources on strategic initiatives like training, market research, or developing new service offerings. This agility allowed us to stay lean and efficient, minimizing unnecessary overhead costs.
Moreover, our dynamic financial model enabled us to experiment with different pricing structures and revenue streams. We explored options like retainer-based agreements, project-based fees, and even equity-based compensation models, constantly seeking the optimal approach for our business and clients.
By embracing this adaptable mindset, we could weather any storm and seize opportunities as they arose, ensuring the long-term sustainability and growth of our consulting business.
Final advice on consulting as a business
In closing, we’d like to leave you with a piece of advice that has served us well throughout our consulting journey: focus on building a sustainable, recurring revenue model.
While one-off project-based work can be lucrative, the true key to long-term success lies in cultivating a steady stream of recurring clients and revenue. This not only provides financial stability but also allows you to forge deeper, more meaningful relationships with your clients, truly understanding their businesses and becoming a trusted partner in their growth.
One avenue we highly recommend exploring is offering monthly retainer-based services, such as marketing consulting, auditing, or ongoing advisory support. These recurring engagements not only provide predictable cash flow but also position you as an integral part of your clients’ operations, fostering loyalty and repeat business.
If you want to download a template, we have tons here that are free.
Remember, a consulting business plan is a living document – it should evolve and adapt as your business grows and changes. We’ve learned that some old techniques don’t work.
Embrace flexibility, continuously seek feedback, and never stop learning and improving. With dedication, perseverance, and a unwavering commitment to excellence, you too can build a thriving consulting practice that delivers remarkable value to your clients.