5 Questions to Ask Your New Business Consultant

There are times when bringing in a small business consultant can pay huge dividends for your business. A consultant brings a fresh pair of trained eyes into the mix and can boost the long-term capabilities and prospects of your business. 

However, before rushing into an arrangement and getting overawed by a consultant’s experience, there are some key questions you need to ask to ensure they are the right fit for you. 

What is Your Functional Experience?

It’s great if a small business consultant has a wide range of experience in different sectors and disciplines, but what you need to know is how much experience they have in the areas that apply directly to your own business. 

This is a classic interview question that everyone has to face at some point in their lives, and it’s about digging down into the real, functional experience the consultant has in your industry. 

How Much Do You Know About My Company?

This enquiry isn’t so much a trick question as it is about probing whether the consultant has done their due diligence on your firm. 

A quality small business consultancy will come armed with all the information they need to show that they have thoroughly researched your business. This isn’t to say that you should expect them to know every minute detail, but they should be able to articulate what you do and give you the sense that they understand your USPs and market position. 

How Will You Customise Your Approach to My Business?

At this point, you’re seeking some in-depth answers on exactly how the consultant proposes to tailor their approach to the needs of your organisation. 

They should be able to give you some idea as to how they will work with you and how they plan to tailor their support for your business. They may even talk about things like leadership coaching and other ways they feel they can bring a tailored, beneficial approach to what you do. 

In as Few Words as Possible, Describe Your Approach 

A good small business consultant can always sum up their approach in a sentence or two. If they have to speak in complex terms without any weight to their words, then they may be bluffing. If, however, they can clearly and simply lay out what they do, how they do it and the reasons why, then they know their business and chances are you can believe them. 

What is Going to be the Cost of Your Services?

Unless you’re planning on retaining a consultant on a rolling basis, this is information you need. 

Many businesses consider it somewhat gauche to ask this outright, but it’s important to know the overall costs of the service you’re soliciting. Eschew this issue, and you might very well find a sting in the tail once you’ve decided on a consultant and then realise their prices are beyond your means. 

HiThrive specialises in consultancy services for small and medium-sixed businesses. Our aim is to provide tailored, cost-effective consultancy services that makes a real difference to your business. Get in touch today and see how HiThrive can help you.