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Consulting Launch Path

Start your consulting business with essential contracts and financial planning

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Difficulty
Intermediate
Time Estimate
6-8 weeks
Resources
6
Target Audience
Consultants and agencies starting out

Path Overview

Starting a consulting practice requires more than just expertise. You need to understand your financials, price correctly, and protect yourself legally.

This path walks you through building the foundation of a sustainable consulting business: from understanding your costs and margins, to creating proposals that win deals, to securing recurring revenue through retainers.

Learning Steps

1

Step 1: Plan Your Finances

3-4 hours Incomplete

3-year P&L projection and cash flow forecast for your consulting business.

Why it matters:

Know your break-even point and profitability targets from day one.

Key Actions
  • Project revenue based on rates and utilization
  • Model all expenses
  • Calculate monthly cash needs
Open Guide
2

Step 2: Determine Your Pricing

1-2 hours Incomplete

Calculate ideal pricing based on costs, overhead, and profit margins.

Why it matters:

Pricing too low = struggling financially. Pricing too high = losing clients.

Key Actions
  • Calculate break-even price
  • Model 4 pricing scenarios
  • Compare to competitor rates
Open Guide
3

Step 3: Protect Your Work

2-3 hours Incomplete

Professional contract template for agencies and consultants.

Why it matters:

Contracts clarify expectations and protect you legally.

Key Actions
  • Customize for your services
  • Have lawyer review
  • Use for all new clients
Open Guide
4

Step 4: Establish Confidentiality

1-2 hours Incomplete

Mutual NDA template for partnerships and client engagements.

Why it matters:

Protect client secrets and your proprietary methods.

Key Actions
  • Create mutual NDA
  • Share with prospects
  • Keep signed copies
Open Guide
5

Step 5: Write Winning Proposals

2-3 hours per proposal Incomplete

Proposal and SOW with indemnification, NDA carveouts, and marketing permissions.

Why it matters:

Professional proposals win 3x more deals than verbal agreements.

Key Actions
  • Customize template per client
  • Be specific on deliverables
  • Include clear payment terms
Open Guide
6

Step 6: Secure Recurring Revenue

3-4 hours Incomplete

Tiered retainer contracts with scopes, KPIs, and pricing flexibility.

Why it matters:

Retainers provide predictable income and deepen client relationships.

Key Actions
  • Design 2-3 retainer tiers
  • Define monthly deliverables
  • Add performance metrics
Open Guide

What You'll Achieve

  • → Understand your unit economics
  • → Price confidently without undercharging
  • → Win more contracts with professional proposals
  • → Build recurring revenue stream with retainers
  • → Protect yourself and clients legally