You want to make sure you choose the right business consultation company to work with. Asking the right questions upfront will help you determine if a consultant is a good fit. Here are six key questions you should ask before bringing them on board.
1. What Is Your Area of Expertise?
A consultant may list a broad range of abilities on their website, but you want to know their true niche. The more specialized experience they have that aligns with your business needs, the better results you’ll see. Ask for details on their most frequent consulting focuses and how many clients they’ve helped in those areas.
2. How Do You Track and Measure Success?
Any business consultation company you hire should have concrete ways of defining and tracking progress. Ask how they will determine if their strategies are successful for increasing your revenue, and efficiency. They should be willing to share case studies, metrics, or systems they use.
3. What Is Your Communication and Availability Style?
You want to understand upfront how responsive a consultant will be and the communication style that works best for them. Do they prefer phone, email, or text? Ask how quickly you can expect replies and if they will be available for questions during your engagement. Clarifying expectations will prevent issues down the road. According to Zippia, just over 37% of all business consultants are women, while just over 62% are men. Make sure you choose someone you’re comfortable working closely with.
4. What Are Your Fees and Billing Practices?
Never hire a business consultant without a clear written understanding of what their services will cost. Make sure to ask if they charge flat project fees or hourly rates, how often they bill, and what expenses might come up. Get all fee details in a formal agreement.
5. Can You Provide References?
Any reputable consultant should be happy to provide references from past clients. Speaking to others who have experience working with the consultant gives great insights. Ask their referrals about the consultant’s strengths and weaknesses, results delivered, and their working relationship.
Following up on these questions will help you find the right business consultant match for your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to interview a few different companies to compare. Reach out to Activate Detroit if you’re looking to work with a business consultation company.