Freelance Consulting: Start & Grow Your Consulting Business

Transform your professional experience into a compelling consulting service by discovering your unique value proposition. While your consulting services will be based on your previous work, it is important to make sure you define the unique value you brought to those projects.

In this focused lesson, you’ll learn a straightforward 3-question framework to:

• Pinpoint your most marketable skills

• Understand the distinctive expertise you offer

Having fun is important in building a sustainable and fulfilling consulting career.  In this lesson, you’ll explore how to identify the overlap between your strengths and the work you genuinely enjoy. By answering three simple, reflective questions, you’ll gain clarity on:

• The types of work you’ve always found rewarding

• How to align your skills with your passions

• What services you can offer as a freelance consultant that you’ll continue to enjoy over time

Connect the insights from the previous sessions to crystallize your freelance consulting offering.

By connecting your professional strengths, personal interests, and market potential, you’ll develop a clear, focused service that represents your unique consulting approach.

Don't be afraid of a narrow focus. It doesn't exclude opportunities: it amplifies them.

Knowing what to charge isn’t easy, and it will change over time.

In this lesson, you’ll learn a simple formula to calculate your initial hourly rate based on your previous annual salary. You’ll also explore an overview of the three most common pricing models used by freelancers, helping you choose the approach that best fits your services and goals.

This video is taken from my YouTube channel, Consultant Corner.

In this video I discuss a method for deciding the right price for your consulting services using three consideration stages:

1. Benchmark

2. Upside

3. Downside

Another video from my YouTube channel, Consultant Corner.

Talking about money can be awkward, and it makes many people uncomfortable. In this video I discuss why talking about your prices is so important and ways to make it easier.

A brand is far more than just a logo or a catchy slogan—it’s the reputation and perception of your business in the marketplace.

In this lesson, we’ll explore how a brand encompasses every interaction, communication, and experience your company creates. Ultimately, a brand is the emotional and psychological relationship a business establishes with its customers, reflecting not just what a company sells, but how it makes people feel and the trust it generates in the marketplace.

Your brand, in other words, is everything you do.

An introduction to how to approach your branded materials with consistency

There are two sids of a brand that you have to understand:

1. The functional

2. The personal

This distinction is essential for creating a cohesive identity that reflects who you truly are.

In this video lesson, we’ll break down the main differences between these two sides of your brand, and then guide you through an exercise to identify your personal and functional brand elements and merge them into a consistent brand that represents who you are—not just who you aspire to be.

You can’t build a successful business without a robust online presence. When potential clients or partners can’t find you online, they inevitably perceive your business as uncommitted, unprofessional, or even non-existent.

In this lecture, I’ll guide you through three critical online profiles:

1. A strategic LinkedIn profile

2. A professional website with compelling content

3. Essential social media platforms

While a strong digital presence is crucial, printed materials remain indispensable. Providing someone with a physical item enhances your memorability and makes your presence more impactful.

In this lecture, we will explore three essential physical items you should have and how to effectively use them:

1. Business cards

2. A brochure

3. Branded objects

Another video from my YouTube channel in which I discuss business cards and try to settle the eternal debate: do we still need business cards in the 21st century?

A video from my YouTube series, helpful to this stage of setting up your consulting business.

A Mission Statement is a multi-functional tool for any business or business person. It becomes a foundation that gives you a simple way to make decisions and talk about your business, and it will make you stand out. Learn more and how to build one with this video.

Write a strong mission statement by avoiding these two, all too common, mistakes.

This section is about getting the word out

A business truly begins when you start spreading the word about it. While numerous marketing resources are available, the most effective first step is to start close to home. In this lesson, we’ll explore the critical conversations you should initiate with:

1. Previous work contacts

2. Family and friends

Engaging with your existing network is an invaluable strategy to refine your message and gather initial, honest feedback about your business concept.

In-person networking is a powerful tool, especially in the early stages of your consultancy. Face-to-face interactions provide immediate feedback and accelerate relationship-building in ways digital communication cannot match. In this lesson, I’ll explore the significant advantages of in-person networking and provide practical guidance on finding and selecting the right events to attend.

While in-person networking remains crucial, don’t restrict your professional connections by geographical boundaries.

In this lesson, we’ll explore online networking, focusing specifically on:

1. The main differences with in-person networking

2. How to become a digital content expert

3. Techniques for making meaningful online connections

Let's pause for a breath and review what you have learned so far. Use the questions in this lesson to assess the work you have done so far.

So far we have been talking about efforts to set up and launch your business. Now let's look at what you have to keep doing.

Word of mouth networking is incredibly powerful when done correctly. It spreads your reputation beyond your reach and lays a strong foundation for future relationships.

In this lesson learn what word of mouth marketing is, why it works, and how to build the habits needed to make it happen.

You may have heard of the Know-Like-Trust framework.

In this lesson we delve into why understanding this approach is so important for freelance consultants, and review how to reach each level with your contacts.

A video from my YouTube channel, Consultant Corner, where I explore the art of balancing self-promotion with business promotion.

How do you make your personal brand stand out while keeping it aligned with your services?

How can you master the “humble brag” without crossing the line?

There’s a clear method to achieving this balance, and I break it down step by step.

Building a network is not a one-time project. Sustained connections are the lifeblood of professional relationships.

In this lesson, discover 3 strategic approaches to maintaining your network with genuine, value-driven communication.

Key Networking Maintenance Strategies

• Consistent, meaningful touchpoints

• Providing value beyond transactional interactions

• Creating genuine, professional connections that endure over time

Your clients are buying a service from you, but that is not all. Wrapped up in what you do for them is how you do it: what is the experience like working for you.

Designing a specific customer experience will help you define your services more specifically, as well as attract the right types of clients. In this lesson learn about the customer experience and how it creates a competitive advantage for your practice, helping you stand out from the crowd.

A successful meeting begins well before the meeting itself. This lesson will show you how to prepare for every meeting, so you always know what your objective is and have a plan to make the most of each encounter.

Another video from my YouTube channel: the meeting doesn't end when you part ways, either.

Following up effectively and thoroughly means that the meeting has more longevity, it allows you to add building blocks to the relationship you are building. This video explains how and why to always follow up.

Running a successful consultancy requires more than completing tasks and checking off to-dos. It’s about adopting the right mindset and behaviors to attract clients and stay creative.

In this section, we’ll explore essential behaviors, discuss how to cultivate them, and provide practical tips for putting them into practice.

Curiosity is the driving force behind innovation and creativity. Developing a genuine curiosity mindset allows you to continuously learn and grow professionally. In this section, we’ll explore the power of asking insightful questions and cultivating curiosity across three critical areas:

• Your clients

• Your industry

• Your professional network

Consistency is a frequently undervalued yet powerful trait in professional success. True consistency means:

• Maximizing your productivity

• Building client reliability

• Establishing trust with colleagues and partners

Balancing consistency with innovation and personal growth is crucial for long-term business development. in this lesson we will explore three practical strategies to implement consistent practices in your freelance business.

Clarity sells.

Effective business communication is about strategic simplicity.

In this lesson, you’ll discover:

• Why clarity is a critical business skill

• Techniques for adapting your communication style

• Practical strategies to connect with diverse clients

The goal is to help you communicate with precision, ensuring your message is not just heard, but understood and acted upon.

Strategic Marketing Through Curiosity


Discover how curiosity can transform your marketing approach as a consultant. This lesson explores the power of strategic inquisitiveness and how it drives effective, dynamic marketing. Learn how curiosity is a fundamental tool for understanding and engaging with:

• Your Clients

• Your Industry

• Your Professional Network

Uncover how deep, genuine curiosity can become a powerful catalyst for marketing your consulting business with authenticity and insight.

Branding is more than just a logo or color scheme—it’s a reflection of who you are and how you want to be perceived. In this lesson, we’ll take a high-level strategic look at branding. Learn how to:

• Define your identity as a consultant

• Determine how you want to be known

• Translate that vision into a cohesive brand

Discover the importance of consistency and how to ensure your branding is aligned across all aspects of your work.

Another video from my YouTube channel, Consultant Corner

One common mistake freelancers make is pausing their marketing efforts when client work picks up. While it’s easy to focus solely on delivering great results or feel confident when business is thriving, the reality is that projects eventually come to an end.

To build a sustainable freelance business, it’s essential to balance your time between client work and marketing. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to create systems and strategies that ensure your marketing efforts continue, even during your busiest periods.

Competing solely on price is a strategy only suited for large businesses that can leverage economies of scale. As a freelancer, this approach can undermine your business and long-term success.

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

• The three key reasons why being the cheapest option can damage your business, including its impact on perceived value and profitability.

• How to deliver sustainable value, ensuring your services are priced to reflect their true worth while meeting client needs effectively.

Build a pricing strategy that highlights the unique value you bring, rather than relying on being the lowest-cost option.

Conducting periodic business reviews is essential for continuous improvement and strategic planning. Whether you align these with the calendar year or your unique business cycle, a systematic review process is crucial.

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

• The strategic purpose of comprehensive business reviews

• Key performance questions to ask yourself

• How to transform review insights into actionable growth strategies

By mastering this review process, you’ll develop a powerful tool for ongoing professional and business development.

In this lesson, explore the key tools every freelance business consultant needs to work efficiently and stay organized. Learn how to automate tasks, streamline workflows, and manage records effectively. This session will guide you through the importance of, and tips for selecting, the right:

• CRM system

• Invoicing software

• Project management platform

• Marketing tools

Set yourself up for success with the right technology to support your business.

All of this talk about networking, social media, and connecting with the world. But it’s not enough to show up: what you say to these people is crucial. With this lecture you will learn to create 4 simple elevator pitches that will suit you for every occasion.

How do you make sure you are ready by the deadline of your presentation? By not treating it as a deadline.

Sales targets are valuable for measuring performance, but they don’t provide a roadmap or the tools needed to achieve success. While sales are essential to your business, they ultimately rely on others choosing to buy. Your role is to create the conditions that inspire a willingness to purchase.

In this lesson, we’ll explore the critical difference between sales targets and sales goals. Learn how to focus your efforts on what you can control and develop a strategic approach to driving sales effectively.