If you’ve had a long successful professional career in finance, and you’re looking to break free from the traditional 9-5 office workplace setting, you may want to consider opening your very own financial consulting business. Working as a financial consultant is not only a way for you to share your vast knowledge of finance and the industry in a professional setting, but it is also a way to do so in your own time with plenty of freedom and flexibility, especially if you choose to work independently. If you are pondering the idea of launching a financial consulting business, there are a few steps to keep in mind to streamline the process, even if you are going into business for the first time.
Get Insured
Anytime you intend to work in finance, even as a consultant, you will want to obtain proper insurance to do so in a professional capacity. Finding the best investment linked insurance or the right consulting insurance can be done by using both local and online resources to compare your options and policies ahead of time. Whenever you are thinking of starting a business of your own, protecting yourself financially and from a legal standpoint, is imperative to prevent disruptions, hiccups, or even the loss of your entire investment.
Finding the best insurance for your consulting business is possible to do so on your own, but it is only recommended to search solo if you’re experienced when it comes to taking out insurance policies for businesses. Working with a business advisor, investor, or insurance agent can help walk you through the process of locating the right insurance agency near you for your specific needs, based on the type of clients you intend to represent. The right agent or advisor will take the time necessary to find an insurance policy that is specifically designed for the type of consulting company you’re interested in running.
Specialize
Anyone who is pondering the thought of going into finance should consider specializing in a particular industry or sector. Because of the vast nature of the financial industry as a whole, specialization can be key to helping you promote your services while standing out from other local competing consultants or consulting firms near you. From operating bail bond companies to offering consulting services to start-up entrepreneurs, there are many different areas to consider specializing in based on your own professional experience and any preferences you have when it comes to consulting with clients.
If you are unsure of what area(s) to specialize in with your financial consulting business, you will likely want to take some time to get to know more about the financial industry today, upcoming trends, and ever-changing technologies. Becoming actively involved in consulting, and various financial sectors will help you feel confident in your decisions and informed when it comes to making new suggestions and providing advice to your existing clients. Keeping up with the latest news, trends, inventions, and technologies can go a long way when it comes time to choose which area you would like to specialize in as a professional consultant.
Hire a Lawyer
Those who wish to go into the world of finance as consultants should only do so once they are prepared and legally protected themselves. Retaining antitrust lawyers or a business attorney is always recommended when you are thinking of working as a consultant, even if you have plenty of experience in the realm of law and the legalities of owning and operating companies yourself. When you choose to work with a lawyer, it will be much easier for you to maintain your peace of mind if you encounter backlash or legal repercussions for the advice or guidance you have provided for a client.
Hiring the right lawyer is a way for you to streamline the process of navigating your new business as a consultant, especially if you intend to go solo and work independently with a brand-new firm. When you have a business attorney by your side who represents your best interests, it will also be much easier for you to determine which type of clientele to target and what clients to take on based on your experience and the potential risk of doing so, depending on the area of business you are practicing in at the time. A law firm or an independent attorney will work to protect your rights and your ability to offer services based on your location and any laws in place surrounding the field of consulting.
Hire a Team
When you have a vision of starting a finance consulting business, and you want to scale up your idea as fast as possible, you will likely want to do so with a professional and reputable team by your side to help. Hiring a team when you are starting a financial consulting business can help streamline your efforts and expedite the process of marketing your services and attracting new clientele. Whether you intend to offer bank finance jobs or if you want to protect yourself as much as possible from potential workers compensation cases, anytime you are thinking of hiring a team for your consultation business you will want to do so with a suitable legal team or attorney to represent you.
Hiring a team when you build your business is optimal if you want to spend more time focusing on particular areas of consulting without dividing your time to focus on other areas of the business, such as accounting or even marketing. Choosing to build an entire team to represent your consulting business can also help in your attempts to scale and grow as fast as possible. When you are working with professionals who have vast experience in different sectors of consulting and entrepreneurship, you will likely also find it much easier to set and accomplish the goals that are most important to you for the future of your business itself.
Finding the best professionals to hire when you’re expanding a team for a consulting business can be done with professional referrals and references. You can also turn to social media and various platforms designed for professionals, such as LinkedIn, to seek out suitable candidates. Working with a local hiring agency can also expedite the process of searching for the most qualified candidates for the types of positions and roles you are currently promoting and have open.
Get an Office
If you are currently working in finance as a consultant, but you are doing so out of your own home or a cramped office, it may be time to start looking into office spaces for professionals. Investing in an office space designed for professionals will allow you to work in a corporate environment without purchasing an entire building from the ground up (or leasing it, depending on your location). When you opt for a local office space rental company, you can also find a unit or floor available that is just right for your needs and the number of staff you intend to employ at any given time.
Finding the best office space for commercial companies and consulting businesses can be done by asking those you know who currently rent office space for their input and advice. Researching commercial offices and units for rent online can also help you learn more about the current costs of renting units, locations, and amenities near you. However, if you are serious about investing in the right office space for your consulting business, you can also take the time to work with a local commercial real estate agency or agent near you.
Working with a real estate agent near you who specializes in commercial real estate is a way to learn more about your surroundings, common types of units available, and price ranges that are suitable for you. Additionally, a commercial real estate agent can walk you through the process of reviewing and comparing available properties, issues with each location, and the projected future market value of locations you are most interested in. When you are working with a real estate agent who is familiar with local commercial properties for rent, lease, or sale, you can also receive updates about the latest listings to make an offer or place a bid as quickly as possible, which may greatly increase your chances of having the offer accepted.
Market Your Business
When you offer finance consulting services in any capacity, you will also need to learn the basics of how to go about marketing and advertising your business. From learning about local marketing methods, such as radio, newspapers, and even local television ads, to investing in online solutions such as pay per click services, PPC ads, and social media marketing, or SMM, there are many ways to market and promote a business today. Understanding the world of marketing is rarely an overnight endeavor, which is why it may be advisable to work with a professional marketer or a local marketing agency to ensure you are maximizing your potential reach, both online and off. Professional marketers can help you determine whether a standard and traditional strategy is right for you or if you should transition online, depending on the type of clientele you are interested in attracting and representing professionally.
Working alongside a professional marketer is often key to better understanding any audience you intend to target or the demographics in a given area or region you represent. Marketers are well-versed in both digital and traditional marketing methods, providing them with an advantage when it comes to creating a winning strategy for your financial consulting firm or business. When it is time for you to promote your current services, you can do so knowing your consulting services are in the right hands when you are working with a reputable and professional marketer or marketing firm near you.
Build Team Morale
Finally, even if you intend to work in finance for the rest of your life as a consultant, team morale should not be underestimated. Having the ability to maintain the morale among your team members can go a long way when it comes to attracting new clientele, retaining existing clients, and ultimately, generating revenue and profits. If you’re committed to building team morale, but you’re unsure of where to get started, you can do so by investing more time and a bit of your earnings back into those who are dedicated their time to your consulting business day in and day out.
From giving out a corporate branded gift to your team members regularly to offering additional vacation and PTO to those who refer the most clients to your business, there are many different ways to go about giving back to your staff and employees. The more actively engaged you become with providing incentives and rewards to those who work for you, the more likely your staff is to respond accordingly with hard work and commitment. Taking the time to appreciate your team members can have a major impact on the future success of your consulting firm, regardless of the size and location of your firm at the time.
To get to know more about how you can increase morale among your entire team, consider hosting a meeting to learn just that. Ask staff questions about the type of incentives that they are most interested in pursuing and the type of gifts or rewards they are most likely to find themselves excited about or motivated towards while working each day. Taking time out of your day to research reward ideas, outings, and even unique opportunities can also help demonstrate just how much you care about the well-being of those who are working for your consulting business.
Anytime you are thinking of going into the finance industry with your own consulting business, it’s imperative to understand the ins and outs of doing so to best protect yourself, both legally and financially. Whether you’ve been working in consulting for decades or if you’re just getting started as a consulting for the very first time, knowing what to expect is key to ensuring ongoing success. The more actively involved and engaged you become as a consultant, the easier it will be for you to attract and retain clients for years to come.
