It doesn’t matter whether you’ve been in business for a while or this is your first day on the job: growing a consulting business can be challenging.
Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to boost your chances of success. In this article, we’ll outline some of our top tips on how to grow your consulting business.
1. Plan for the future
Planning ahead is essential if you want your consulting business to grow, as it will help you avoid running into cashflow problems and allow you to work out how much money you can reinvest in your business.
Taking a close look at your finances will also help you draw up a solid business plan. Not only will a good strategy give you a greater understanding of your financial performance, but it can also help secure the funding you need to move your business forward.
The better you understand your consulting business, the easier it will be to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Flagging up any issues early on will allow you to address them before they hinder your business’s performance.
2. Focus on your clients
Whether it’s positive or negative, client feedback can be invaluable. Listening to what your clients have to say about your business can help you identify areas for improvement and focus on the services they want most.
Growing your customer base can help you grow your consulting business, but attracting new clients often requires a solid marketing strategy. You may find it easier (and potentially more lucrative) to focus on existing customers and encourage them to pay for additional services.
Furthermore, maintaining excellent client relationships can solidify your business’s reputation, helping you gain new clients through word of mouth.
3. Make the most of technology
Using technology to automate tasks can save you time and allow you to focus on the big picture.
Cloud accounting services, such as Sage and Xero, can automate a wide range of tasks including:
- bill tracking and payment
- payroll
- invoices
- VAT returns.
Once you’ve signed up for cloud accounting, you won’t need to waste any more time rifling through piles of paperwork or spreadsheets; you’ll be able to view your information in real-time and create accurate reports at the click of a button.
With all the data you need at your fingertips, making well-informed business decisions and setting realistic short and long-term goals will be quicker and easier than ever.
4. Find your place in the market
You need to keep an eye on the market if you want to keep up with competitors.
Research other businesses in your industry to find out what has worked for them. What makes them successful? Can you learn anything from their mistakes? You may discover opportunities you never considered before.
If you want to stand out from the competition, reassess your current offering or try to find a niche that will appeal to your clients. Expanding into a new market or broadening your services may help you bridge the gap between where your business is now and where it needs to go.
5. Work with the right people
As your consulting business grows, you’ll need to expand your team or outsource more tasks to keep up with demand. Working with the right people can help you build your business into something you’re proud of.
If you’re hiring, offering a competitive salary and benefits can help you attract the best talent. In some cases, outsourcing to experts outside your organisation could be a more cost-effective way to delegate your workload.
As your accountants, we can help you meet your growth ambitions. We’ll keep an eye on your finances for you and help you maximise your profits by taking advantage of business tax planning opportunities. We can also offer expert guidance on how to grow your business in a sustainable way.
With us taking on your accounting and bookkeeping tasks, you’ll have much more time to focus on scaling your consulting business.
Get in touch with us to find out how we can get your consulting business where it needs to go.
