marketing consultant business plan

Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template

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Starting your marketing consulting business can be both thrilling and overwhelming. Having a solid plan in place is key to success in the competitive world of marketing consultancy. That's where ClickUp's Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template comes in handy!

The Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template is designed to help you:

• Outline your business strategy, target market, and services offered with ease
• Strategize effective marketing tactics to reach your audience and stand out from the crowd
• Create realistic financial projections for a profitable marketing consultancy business

Get ahead of the game and kickstart your marketing consulting business with ClickUp's comprehensive template today!

Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template Benefits

Sure, here's a list of benefits about the Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template:

• Streamlines the process of outlining a comprehensive business strategy for your marketing consulting business
• Helps identify and target the right market segment for your services
• Guides you in defining the range of services you'll offer to clients
• Assists in planning effective marketing tactics to promote your consulting services efficiently

Main Elements of Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template

To kickstart your marketing consulting business, ClickUp’s Marketing Consultant Business Plan template offers:

• Custom Statuses: Track progress with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do for each section of your business plan
• Custom Fields: Utilize custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section to add specific details such as references, approval status, and categorization to your business plan
• Custom Views: Access various perspectives including Topics, Status, Timeline, Business Plan, and Getting Started Guide to manage your business plan effectively
• Financial Projections: Easily input and visualize financial data with ClickUp's table view, graphs, and formulas to make informed decisions and projections

How To Use Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template

Crafting a comprehensive business plan for your marketing consultancy is crucial for setting a solid foundation. Here are four essential steps to effectively utilize the Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template in ClickUp:

1. Define Your Business Objectives

Before diving into the details, it's vital to clearly define your business goals and objectives. Identify what you aim to achieve with your marketing consultancy, whether it's increasing client acquisition, expanding services, or boosting revenue.

Utilize the Goals feature in ClickUp to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for your consultancy.

2. Analyze the Market and Competition

Conduct a thorough analysis of the market landscape and your competitors. Identify your target audience, assess market trends, and understand what sets your consultancy apart from others in the industry.

Leverage the Gantt chart feature in ClickUp to create a timeline for your market research activities and competitor analysis.

3. Develop Your Service Offerings

Outline the services you plan to offer as a marketing consultant. Define your service packages, pricing structure, and value proposition to attract and retain clients. Ensure that your services align with the needs and demands of your target market.

Use Board view in ClickUp to visually organize and map out different service offerings and pricing tiers for easy reference.

4. Create a Financial Plan

Construct a detailed financial plan that outlines your revenue streams, projected expenses, profit margins, and financial projections. Consider factors such as operating costs, pricing strategies, and investment requirements to ensure the financial sustainability of your consultancy.

Employ the Table view in ClickUp to create financial tables, track income and expenses, and calculate key financial metrics such as break-even points and return on investment (ROI).

By following these steps and utilizing the Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template in ClickUp, you can develop a robust business plan that will guide your marketing consultancy towards success and growth.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template

Marketing consultants and aspiring entrepreneurs can utilize the Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template in ClickUp to create a comprehensive strategy for their consulting business.

Start by clicking on “Add Template” to incorporate the Marketing Consultant Business Plan Template into your Workspace. Specify the Space or location where you want this template to be applied.

Invite relevant team members or collaborators to your Workspace to begin working on your business plan.

Leverage the template's features to develop a successful business strategy:

• Utilize the Topics View to outline different sections of your business plan, such as target market, services, and financial projections.
• Use the Status View to track the progress of each section, categorizing them as Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, or To Do.
• Create a detailed Timeline View to set deadlines and milestones for completing each aspect of the business plan.
• Refer to the Business Plan View to see a comprehensive overview of your entire strategy in one place.
• Utilize the Getting Started Guide View to access helpful tips and instructions on how to effectively use the template.
• Organize your business plan with custom fields:
• Use the Reference field to link related documents or external resources to your business plan sections.
• Mark sections as Approved to indicate completion or acceptance.
• Categorize each section with the Section field to maintain a structured and organized plan.
• Update statuses, custom fields, and views as you progress through your business plan to ensure alignment and productivity.

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• Sample Business Plans

Marketing Consultant Business Plan

Low startup costs, extremely high demand, and a vast target market make marketing consulting a rewarding business venture to undertake.

Anyone with resources or expertise in marketing can start a marketing consultancy. However, a detailed business plan will come in handy when you need to raise funds or scale the business.

Need help writing a business plan for your marketing consultancy? You’re at the right place. Our marketing consultant business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
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How to Write A Marketing Consultant Business Plan?

Writing a marketing consultant business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

Introduce your Business:

Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.

Market Opportunity:

Products and services:.

Highlight the marketing consultancy services you offer your clients. The USPs and differentiators you offer are always a plus.

Marketing & Sales Strategies:

Financial highlights:, call to action:.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

Business Description:

Describe your business in this section by providing all the basic information:

Describe what kind of marketing consultancy you run and the name of it. You may specialize in one of the following marketing consultant businesses:

• Digital marketing consultancy
• ECommerce marketing consultancy
• Specialized marketing consultancy: SEO, Content
• Marketing, Social media marketing, Email, etc.
• Branding consultancy
• PR consultancy
• Print and advertisement consultancy
• Describe the legal structure of your marketing consultancy, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.
• Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.

Mission Statement:

Business history:.

If you’re an established consultancy offering marketing services, briefly describe your business history, like—when it was founded, how it evolved over time, etc.

Future Goals

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

Target market:

Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.

Market size and growth potential:

Competitive analysis:, market trends:.

Analyze emerging trends in the marketing industry, such as AI for predictive analysis, AR and VR for immersive brand experience, voice optimization, etc. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends.

Regulatory Environment:

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your marketing consulting business plan::

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

Describe your services:

Mention the marketing consultancy services your business will offer. This list may include services like,

• SEO services
• Content marketing services
• Ad campaign services
• Branding development
• PR activities
• Consultation and advisory services

Describe each service:

• Strategy development.
• Ad creatives and setting up an ad.
• Monitoring and optimizing ad campaigns.
• Offering statistical and analytic reports to clients.

Quality measures

: This section should explain how you maintain quality standards and consistently provide the highest quality service.

Additional Services

In short, this section of your marketing consultant plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

Unique Selling Proposition (USP):

Define your business’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Identifying USPs will help you plan your marketing strategies.

Pricing Strategy:

Marketing strategies:, sales strategies:, customer retention:.

Overall, this section of your marketing consultancy business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your marketing consultancy, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

Staffing & Training:

Operational process:, tools & equipment:.

Include the list of tools and equipment required for marketing consultants, such as software applications, market analysis and research tools, presentation equipment, computers, laptops, security systems, etc.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your marketing consultancy management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

Founders/CEO:

Key managers:.

Introduce your management and key members of your team, and explain their roles and responsibilities.

Organizational structure:

Compensation plan:, advisors/consultants:.

Mentioning advisors or consultants in your business plans adds credibility to your business idea.

This section should describe the key personnel for your marketing consultancy, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

Profit & loss statement:

Cash flow statement:, balance sheet:, break-even point:.

Determine and mention your business’s break-even point—the point at which your business costs and revenue will be equal.

Financing Needs:

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more.These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the marketing consultant industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your marketing consultant business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

This sample marketing consultant business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful marketing consultant plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our marketing consultant business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a marketing consultant business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful marketing consultancy. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your marketing consultancy.

How to get funding for your limousine business?

TThere are several ways to get funding for your marketing consultancy, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are:

• Bank loan – You may apply for a loan in government or private banks.
• Small Business Administration (SBA) loan – SBA loans and schemes are available at affordable interest rates, so check the eligibility criteria before applying for it.
• Crowdfunding – The process of supporting a project or business by getting a lot of people to invest in your business, usually online.
• Angel investors – Getting funds from angel investors is one of the most sought startup options.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

How do I write a good market analysis in a marketing consultant business plan?

Market analysis is one of the key components of your business plan that requires deep research and a thorough understanding of your industry. We can categorize the process of writing a good market analysis section into the following steps:

• Stating the objective of your market analysis—e.g., investor funding.
• Industry study—market size, growth potential, market trends, etc.
• Identifying target market—based on user behavior and demographics.
• Analyzing direct and indirect competitors.
• Calculating market share—understanding TAM, SAM, and SOM.
• Knowing regulations and restrictions
• Organizing data and writing the first draft.

Writing a marketing analysis section can be overwhelming, but using ChatGPT for market research can make things easier.

How detailed should the financial projections be in my marketing consultant business plan?

The level of detail of the financial projections of your marketing consultancy may vary considering various business aspects like direct and indirect competition, pricing, and operational efficiency. However, your financial projections must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate a complete view of your financial performance.

Generally, the statements included in a business plan offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.

Can a good marketing consultant business plan help me secure funding?

Indeed. A well-crafted marketing consultant business plan will help your investors better understand your business domain, market trends, strategies, business financials, and growth potential—helping them make better financial decisions.

So, if you have a profitable and investable business, a comprehensive business plan can certainly help you secure your business funding.

What's the importance of a marketing strategy in a marketing consultant business plan?

Marketing strategy is a key component of your marketing consultant business plan. Whether it is about achieving certain business goals or helping your investors understand your plan to maximize their return on investment—an impactful marketing strategy is the way to do it!

Here are a few pointers to help you understand the importance of having an impactful marketing strategy:

• It provides your business an edge over your competitors.
• It helps investors better understand your business and growth potential.
• It helps you develop products with the best profit potential.
• It helps you set accurate pricing for your products or services.

About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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BUSINESS STRATEGIES

How to create a consultant business plan

• Nirit Braun
• Oct 30, 2023
• 12 min read

When launching your consulting business, one of the essential first steps is crafting a well-structured and detailed business plan. Your consulting business plan is like a strategic playbook that lays out your goals, tactics and financial projections. It not only steers you toward success but also equips you to adapt and thrive in the dynamic world of consulting.

Keep reading for tips on how to build a strong business plan for your business. Use the template provided at the end to get started on your own plan.

Looking to kick off your consultancy business? Create a business website today with Wix.

Why create a consultant business plan? Top benefits to consider

A business plan forces entrepreneurs to thoroughly evaluate their business idea, target audience and competitive landscape. This process clarifies their vision and mission, ensuring that they have a clear understanding of how their consultancy will provide value to clients. A business plan helps you in the following ways:

Create a business blueprint : With a business plan in place, entrepreneurs looking to start a business can make informed decisions based on a solid foundation of research and analysis. They can choose the most effective strategies for marketing, pricing and service delivery, enhancing their chances of success. Your business plan can also be used to explain what type of business you'll start - whether that's an LLC, Corporation or something else. Learn more about how to start an LLC .

Secure funding : The cost to start a consultancy business can range from around $60 to several thousand dollars . For those seeking external funding, a well-developed business plan demonstrates credibility and professionalism. Investors and lenders are more likely to support a venture with a thought-out plan that showcases its potential for growth and profitability.

Set measurable goals : A business plan sets measurable goals and performance metrics, which is vital with this type of business . This allows entrepreneurs to track their progress, adapt strategies as needed and celebrate milestones along the way.

Want to remind yourself of the basics? Learn more about how to start a service business .

How to create a successful consultant business plan in 6 steps

In this section, we'll break down the key components involved in crafting a successful consultant business plan in six steps.

Executive summary

Business and domain names

Market analysis and research

Operations plan

Marketing and advertising plan

Financial plan

01. Executive summary

An executive summary serves as a concise overview of the consultant's business plan, providing a snapshot of the key components and the business' essence. It's usually the first section investors, lenders and stakeholders read, so it must encapsulate the business' value proposition, objectives, strategies and projected growth. To write a clear executive summary for a consultant business make sure to keep it succinct yet informative. Clearly state the purpose of the business, the services offered, the target market and the unique value proposition. Avoid technical jargon that may confuse readers.

Then you can mention the business' strengths, such as the expertise of the consultants, unique methodologies or specialized services. Emphasize factors that set your consultancy apart from competitors.

Briefly discuss the market need for your services and how your consultancy plans to fulfill it. It’s worth noting that strategy and management consulting, as well as technology consulting, financial consulting and HR consulting are in high demand . Highlight any trends or changes in the industry that your business can capitalize on.

Remember to include a snapshot of your financial projections, indicating expected revenue, costs and profitability. This provides a glimpse into the business' potential financial success.

Example of an executive summary for a consultant business

"XYZ Consulting is a boutique consultancy firm specializing in digital transformation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With a team of seasoned professionals, we offer tailored solutions to help businesses harness the power of technology for growth. Our unique approach blends strategic consulting with hands-on implementation, ensuring tangible results. In a rapidly evolving tech landscape, XYZ Consulting is poised to be the partner SMEs need to thrive. Our financial projections forecast a steady growth trajectory, with a focus on achieving profitability within the first two years. With a proven track record and a finger on the pulse of industry trends, XYZ Consulting is well-equipped to guide businesses toward digital success."

02. Business and domain names

Knowing how to name a business is crucial for a consultancy venture and a key step before you register your business . It's the foundation of your brand and influences how clients perceive your services. With Wix , you can use a free business name generator or consulting company name generator as helpful tools for brainstorming unique and memorable names. Ensure the name reflects your expertise and the services you offer.

Similarly, the domain name for your business website is vital. It should be easy to remember, relevant to your services and ideally, match your company name. Check the domain's availability using domain registration platforms. Ensure the domain name aligns with your consultancy's focus and services. Generally, this means keeping it short and easy to spell and pronounce.

Learn more: How to make a consulting website

03. Market analysis and research

Incorporating a thorough market analysis within your consultant business plan is essential. Understand the competitive landscape, target audience and market trends. Research your competitors' strengths and weaknesses, pricing strategies and client base. This information will shape your business strategies and help you identify gaps in the market that your consultancy can fill.

04. Operations plan

The operations plan outlines the logistical aspects of your consultancy. It covers location, premises, equipment and staffing requirements. Determine whether your consultancy will be home-based, have a physical office or operate virtually. Define the equipment and software needed to deliver services effectively. Outline your staffing needs, including the roles and expertise required.

05. Marketing and advertising plan

Your marketing and advertising plan outlines how you will promote your consultant business. Identify the most effective strategies to reach your target audience. Consider content marketing, social media campaigns, networking events and speaking engagements to showcase your expertise. Emphasize how your marketing efforts will build brand awareness and attract clients.

You’ll need to develop a suite of brand assets to use in your marketing as well, starting with a company logo. You can use a free logo maker to get a professional logo in minutes.

06. Financial plan

The financial plan is a critical component of any business plan. It outlines how you will raise money for your business initially and provides a timeline for reaching profitability. Detail your startup costs, including equipment, marketing expenses and personnel. Present your revenue projections, taking into account different pricing models and growth scenarios. Highlight your break-even point and the strategies you'll employ to achieve profitability.

By addressing each part of their plan, entrepreneurs can create a robust business plan that guides them toward achieving their business goals and building a reputable consulting brand.

Consultant business plan examples

These templates illustrate two hypothetical consultant business plans, each tailored to a specific niche. These are just templates and should be adapted to your specific business goals and industry dynamics.

Consultant business plan template 1: XYZ Digital Consultants

XYZ Digital Consultants is a pioneering consultancy firm focused on digital transformation for businesses seeking to thrive in the digital age. Our team of experienced professionals offers strategic guidance and hands-on implementation to drive growth through technology adoption. With projected profitability within two years and a commitment to excellence, XYZ Digital Consultants is poised to lead businesses into a successful digital future.

Company and domain name

Company name: XYZ Digital Consultants

Domain name: xyzdigitalconsultants.com

Market opportunity: The rapid shift toward digital operations has created a substantial demand for expert guidance. Our analysis reveals a gap in the market for holistic digital transformation solutions tailored to the needs of SMEs.

Competitor research: We've identified key competitors and their strengths, which informs our strategy to emphasize personalized service and comprehensive implementation.

Location: Primarily virtual, with occasional in-person consultations as needed.

Premises: Home-based setup with access to modern communication tools.

Equipment: High-speed internet, latest software tools and virtual meeting platforms.

Staffing: Founder and lead consultant, supported by contract specialists as projects demand.

Content marketing: Regular blog posts on digital transformation trends, case studies and client success stories.

Social media campaigns: Active presence on LinkedIn and X to engage with potential clients and share valuable insights.

Networking events: Participation in industry webinars, seminars and local business events to showcase expertise.

Speaking engagements: Leveraging speaking opportunities at conferences and workshops to establish authority in the field.

Startup costs (equipment, website development, marketing materials): $15,000

Revenue projections (year one): $150,000

Revenue projections (year two) : $300,000

Break-even point: Achieved by the end of year one

Funding: Initial investment and savings from the founder

Consultant business plan template 2: LeadersEdge Consultants

LeadersEdge Consultants is a dynamic consultancy dedicated to leadership development and organizational excellence. Our experienced team offers customized programs that empower leaders to drive positive change. With a projected growth trajectory and a commitment to fostering impactful leadership, LeadersEdge Consultants is poised to transform organizations and elevate their success.

Company name: LeadersEdge Consultants

Domain name: leadersedgeconsultants.com

Market opportunity: Our analysis reveals a growing need for leadership development programs in diverse industries.

Competitor research: We've identified competitors' offerings and recognized an opportunity to provide a unique blend of coaching, training and strategy implementation.

Location: Virtual consultations, with the option for on-site workshops

Premises: Virtual office setup with video conferencing capabilities

Equipment: High-quality audiovisual tools, assessment software and learning platforms

Staffing : Founder will serve as the lead consultant, supported by certified leadership coaches

Customized workshops: Designing tailored leadership development programs for individual organizations.

Webinars: Hosting webinars on leadership best practices to showcase expertise and engage potential clients.

Thought leadership content: Publishing whitepapers, eBooks and video content on leadership topics.

Collaborations: Partnering with HR and talent development professionals to expand reach.

Startup costs ( making a website , training materials) : $10,000

Revenue projections (year one): $120,000

Revenue projections (year two): $250,000

Break-even point: Achieved within the first six months

Funding: Initial investment from the founder.

How much should you be charging as a consultant?

The amount you charge as a consultant will depend on a number of factors, including:

Your experience and expertise

The type of consulting services you offer

The value you provide to your clients

The market rate for consulting services in your field

In general, consultants charge between $100 and $500 per hour. However, some experienced and highly specialized consultants can charge upwards of $1,000 per hour.

To determine your consulting rate, you can use the following formula:

Consulting rate = Hourly rate * Value multiplier

Your hourly rate should reflect your experience and expertise, as well as the type of consulting services you offer. For example, if you have 10 years of experience and you offer specialized consulting services, you can charge a higher hourly rate than a consultant with less experience and who offers more general consulting services.

Your value multiplier should reflect the value you provide to your clients. For example, if you can help your clients to achieve significant results, you can charge a higher value multiplier.

Here is an example of how to use the formula:

Consultant: Experienced consultant with 10 years of experience offering specialized consulting services

Hourly rate: $200 per hour

Value multiplier: 2

Consulting rate: $200 per hour * 2 = $400 per hour

Can a consulting business be profitable?

Yes, a consulting business can be profitable. In fact, consulting is one of the most profitable industries in the world. According to a report by IBISWorld, the average profit margin for consulting businesses is 20%. This means that for every $100 in revenue, consulting businesses generate $20 in profit.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the profitability of consulting businesses. First, consultants are able to charge high fees for their services. Second, consulting businesses have relatively low overhead costs. Third, the demand for consulting services is high, and it's only expected to grow in the coming years.

Of course, not all consulting businesses are successful. Some consultants struggle to find clients or to charge high enough fees. Others may not be able to deliver the results that their clients expect. However, for consultants who are able to overcome these challenges, the potential rewards are great.

Here are some tips for increasing your chances of success as a consultant:

Specialize in a high-demand area of consulting. This will allow you to charge higher fees and attract more clients.

Build a strong reputation and network of clients. This will help you to generate word-of-mouth referrals and land new clients.

Market your services effectively. Make sure that potential clients know about your services and how you can help them.

Deliver high-quality results. This is the most important thing you can do to ensure that your clients are satisfied and that they continue to use your services in the future.

How much does it cost to start a consulting business?

The cost to start a consulting business can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the type of consulting services you offer, the size of your business and your location. However, in general, you can expect to spend between $10,000 and $50,000 to start a consulting business.

Here is a breakdown of some of the typical start-up costs for a consulting business:

Business formation: $100 to $1,000

Website and domain name: $100 to $2,500

Marketing and advertising: $500 to $5,000

Office equipment and supplies: $500 to $5,000

Professional liability insurance: $500 to $1,000

Other miscellaneous expenses: $500 to $5,000

Total start-up costs: $10,000 to $50,000

You can reduce your start-up costs by working from home, using free or low-cost marketing tools and purchasing used equipment. You can also start your consulting business part-time while you continue to work your full-time job. This will give you a chance to generate revenue and build a client base before you leave your full-time job.

If you need financial assistance to start your consulting business, you may be able to qualify for a loan from a bank or credit union. You may also be able to find investors who are willing to invest in your business.

Which clients to avoid and which to take on?

Here are some tips on which clients to avoid and which to take on in a consulting business:

Clients to avoid

Clients who aren't willing to pay your rates. If a client isn't willing to pay your rates, it's a sign that they don't value your services.

Clients who are unrealistic about their expectations. If a client has unrealistic expectations about what you can achieve, you're likely to set yourself up for failure.

Clients who are difficult to work with. If a client is demanding, rude or disrespectful, it's best to avoid them.

Clients who aren't a good fit for your business. If a client isn't in your target market or if their business isn't aligned with your values, it's best to decline working with them.

Clients to take on

Clients who are willing to pay your rates. This shows that they value your services and are committed to working with you.

Clients who have realistic expectations. This makes it more likely that you will be able to meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

Clients who are easy to work with. This will make the consulting process more enjoyable and productive for both of you.

Clients who are a good fit for your business. This means that they're in your target market and that their business is aligned with your values.

In addition to the above, here are some other factors to consider when deciding which clients to take on:

Your own skills and experience. Make sure that you have the skills and experience to help the client achieve their goals.

The client's budget. Make sure that the client has a budget that's sufficient to cover your fees.

The client's timeline. Make sure that you have the time and resources to meet the client's timeline.

Your gut feeling. If you have a bad feeling about a client, it's best to trust your gut and decline working with them.

It's important to be selective about the clients you take on. By avoiding difficult clients and focusing on good-fit clients, you can set yourself up for success in your consulting business.

Consultant business plan FAQ

What qualifies you as a consultant.

To qualify as a consultant, you need to have the expertise and experience in the area that you're consulting in. You also need to be able to communicate your ideas effectively and build relationships with clients.

How do you start off as a consultant?

How to make 6 figures as a consultant, how do you pay yourself as a consultant, do consultants pay their own taxes, want to create another business plan.

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How to Create a Marketing Plan for Consultants & Crush your Competition

Learn how to grow your consulting business with the right marketing plan. Practical tactics, growth hacks, and tools to help you scale.

Ben runs the content operation at Mayple. He's got 7+ years in digital marketing, previously worked for an 8-figure eCommerce brand, has published articles on FastCompany, Invoca, Loox, Sindible, and ShaneBarker.

Learn about our

Natalie is a content writer and manager who is passionate about using her craft to empower others. She thrives on team dynamic, great coffee, and excellent content. One of these days, she might even get to her own content ideas.

Updated February 25, 2024.

We all know how hard it is to hustle as a digital marketing consultant . You have so many pans in the fire and have to juggle them all without getting burned. You have to find new customers, send out contracts, chase payments, make sure everyone is satisfied, and still have time to service them all.

Probably the hardest part of the equation is customer acquisition. Every marketing consultant needs a comprehensive marketing plan template to get all their strategies in order and execute them well.

In this post, we break down the entire marketing process that's required to grow a consulting business. Here are the top strategies you should use to market yourself.

Let's dive in.

Identify your target market

Who are your ideal customers.

Create a customer persona for different types of target customers that you're trying to reach. Describe the characteristics, interests, demographics, and unique needs of each of your customer personas.

Differentiate your service from the competition

If you don't differentiate your offering, your value proposition, you will get eaten by your competition. It's super important to be able to describe your unique value proposition in one sentence.

What makes your company unique?

Think of your ideal customer and identify the problem that you are solving for them. Are you able to execute faster or better than other companies? Do you have access to a unique talent pool or a specific technology that gives you an edge?

Establish your online presence

It's super important to establish your business online as soon as possible. You don't want to wait on that because first impressions are really important. When someone hears about you they will go online to check you out.

And most likely, they will land on your LinkedIn page.

If your social media profiles aren't optimized or if there isn't any content about you online then they will likely move on to hire another marketing consultant .

Here are some of the best ways to establish your online presence.

Claim your local listing on Google

Claim your Google profile and optimize it. Add your name, address, phone number, and get your customers to leave some reviews. It will also help with your SEO consultancy efforts and give you a better standing with Google.

Create & optimize your social media pages

This is pretty self-explanatory. Make sure that all of your social media pages are optimized, look good, and are ready to attract potential clients. Use effective tools to schedule posts on a regular basis and respond to every comment and message that comes in.

Invest in graphic design

Don't be cheap on the graphics. Get a graphic designer on Fiverr or a similar site to spruce up your pages. If you have the budget for it you should create and only post branded images to all of your social media profiles.

Use graphic designers for your pitch decks, which is a slide deck for your potential clients. Look snazzy but also stay true to your brand.

Here’s an example of a slide deck we did about Facebook ads.

Establish yourself as a thought leader

You may be asking yourself - what do I do with all this social media content? The answer is that you have to use it to strategically position yourself as a thought leader in the industry. Here's how to do it.

Create lots of video content

It's 2022 people, blog posts aren't enough.

You have to stop being camera shy and make some videos! Studies show that 86% of marketing professionals already use video as a marketing tool. 78% of them say that videos have directly helped them increase sales and 86% of them say that videos helped increase traffic.

Video content is much more personable and ranks better on social media platforms. It also lasts longer, especially if you put it up on YouTube or re-purpose it as podcast episodes.

Create viral LinkedIn posts

Our very own marketing survey showed that LinkedIn is the #1 place marketing leaders go to learn marketing and get new ideas. Look up what other industry experts or influencers are doing on LinkedIn and see what strategies you can glean from them.

Here's a list of high-level suggestions:

• Spend 30 minutes daily commenting on other peoples' posts
• Publish a post 2-3 times per week
• Learn how to write viral LinkedIn posts

Here's a great process Josh Fechter did to reach 25M+ views on LinkedIn in only 4 months.

Speak at local events and conferences

Written and video content is not enough.

You should also participate in events and conferences (both in-person and virtual). Go to networking events to create new partnerships and meet potential clients. Host an event and invite all the top influencers in your industry. Attend local meetups regularly.

Get featured in thought leadership articles

Last but not least, get featured in expert roundups, written interviews, and thought leadership articles on online publisher sites. Leverage the connections you've made with industry experts and influencers (from all those videos and events you've been going to) and see if any of them would like you to publish a guest post on their blogs.

You can use a tool like PressHunt to reach out to relevant journalists and pitch them your business and your expertise. You can also use a platform like HARO but it will take significantly more time to get published. Alternatively, you could DM various content editors of relevant publications on LinkedIn and see if you could contribute a piece.

Offer a referral program

Referrals are an incredible marketing strategy for any business because they convert better than regular leads. We all know this instinctively when we ask our friends to recommend products or services to us, and are more likely to buy that product based on that recommendation.

Studies show that:

• 92% of consumers trust referrals from people they know
• Referral leads have a 30% higher conversion rate than leads from any other channel
• Customers referred by a friend are 4X more likely to buy.

If you do this right, your referral program could get you the most ideal clients.

Pro tip: Don't just depend on your customers for referrals. Use Slack communities to meet other marketers, make friends, and ask for referrals.

Establish partnerships with other businesses

Partnerships are a great way to get more leads for your business. You can partner with another marketing consulting firm that has different competencies than you or a bigger marketing team and share leads with them.

Host events and webinars with other industry leaders and launch giveaways or promotional events together. These kinds of partnerships are a great way to build a community of like-minded people.

For example, here’s a partnership we did with Storetasker , a Shopify development platform. If their clients need marketing help they go to us, and if our clients need Shopify dev work they get to work with an expert developer through Storetasker.

Join associations and online communities

One of the challenges of being a marketing consultant , in any industry, is that you often lack community. Joining local associations as well as online communities is a really powerful way to find mentors, make partnerships, and get more referrals.

How do you find these communities?

• Search for slack groups
• Join Facebook groups
• Join Discord spaces
• Connect to LinkedIn influencers in your niche
• Look for your local associations

Here’s our very own Slack community we created for our expert digital marketers .

Write all this down in a marketing plan

Don't let all these marketing efforts go to waste. Write them down in a detailed marketing plan. It's like a business plan that's specifically for your marketing campaigns.

A digital marketing plan should include:

• Your marketing goals
• The general marketing strategies you will be employing
• Specific marketing tactics
• Your marketing mix (each marketing channel and type of content you'll be using)

Optimize your marketing strategy at each level of growth

Your marketing plan shouldn’t be a static document. It should change and expand as your business grows. Make sure that you write down the things you’ve tested and the results you got for each tactic and marketing channel.

Go above and beyond for your clients

It’s much easier to retain an existing customer than to acquire a new one. So make sure that you go the extra mile to service your customers. Send out regular NPS surveys to see how satisfied your customers are, jump on regular calls, and make sure that everyone is happy.

Also, make sure you ask your happy customers for reviews and publish them on all the relevant review platforms for your industry. It will help you get more clients and scale your business.

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How to Start a Profitable Marketing Consulting Business [11 Steps]

By Nick Cotter Updated Feb 02, 2024

Business Steps:

1. perform market analysis., 2. draft a marketing consulting business plan., 3. develop a marketing consulting brand., 4. formalize your business registration., 5. acquire necessary licenses and permits for marketing consulting., 6. open a business bank account and secure funding as needed., 7. set pricing for marketing consulting services., 8. acquire marketing consulting equipment and supplies., 9. obtain business insurance for marketing consulting, if required., 10. begin marketing your marketing consulting services., 11. expand your marketing consulting business..

Understanding the landscape in which your marketing consulting business will operate is crucial for positioning your services effectively. A comprehensive market analysis will help identify your competition, understand your target audience, and reveal market trends. Here's how to get started:

• Research your competitors: Identify other marketing consulting businesses, analyze their services, pricing, and market positioning.
• Analyze demand: Gauge the demand for marketing consulting services by looking at industry growth rates and the number of potential clients.
• Understand your audience: Profile potential clients, including their size, industry, and marketing needs to tailor your services.
• Identify trends: Stay abreast of the latest marketing trends and technologies that could impact your business or provide new opportunities.
• Assess the economic environment: Examine how economic factors such as recessions or booms may influence clients' marketing budgets and needs.
• Review regulatory factors: Be aware of any legal or regulatory issues that could affect your consulting practice or your clients' industries.

Are marketing consulting businesses profitable?

Yes, marketing consulting businesses can be profitable if they offer quality services that meet the needs of their customers. To maximize profitability, marketing consulting businesses should focus on understanding customer needs, developing effective strategies, and staying up to date with the latest industry trends. Additionally, marketing consulting businesses should invest in customer service, marketing automation tools, and other technology to maximize their efficiency and scale.

Starting a marketing consulting business requires a well-crafted business plan to outline your vision, set clear objectives, and define the strategies for growth. This plan is your roadmap to success, guiding you through the establishment and operation of your consulting firm. Consider the following key elements when drafting your plan:

• Executive Summary: Briefly describe your business, the services you will offer, and your unique value proposition.
• Market Analysis: Research your target market, understand the needs of potential clients, and identify the competition.
• Marketing Strategies: Develop a plan to market your services, including branding, pricing, sales channels, and online presence.
• Operations Plan: Outline the logistics of running your business, such as location, equipment, software, and staffing requirements.
• Financial Projections: Provide an estimate of startup costs, projected income, and a break-even analysis.
• Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks and outline strategies to mitigate them.
• Measurable Goals: Set short-term and long-term goals to help you track progress and make adjustments as needed.

How does a marketing consulting business make money?

A marketing consulting business makes money by helping companies create and implement effective marketing strategies. They typically charge a fee for their services per hour, project, or monthly retainer. The target audience of a 11 Steps To Starting a Successful Spice Business could include entrepreneurs who want to launch their own spice-based business, catering businesses who need advice on starting up, or established businesses in the spice industry who are looking for new ways to break into the market. By developing a tailored strategy that caters to the specific needs of their client, a marketing consulting business can act as a valuable asset towards increasing profitability.

Creating a strong brand identity for your marketing consulting business is critical as it reflects your expertise, values, and the unique solutions you provide to clients. A cohesive brand helps you stand out in a competitive market and establishes trust with potential clients. Here are some key steps to develop your marketing consulting brand:

• Define Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP): Clearly articulate what makes your consulting services distinctive and valuable to your target audience.
• Choose a Brand Name and Logo: Select a name and design a logo that are memorable, reflect your business values, and resonate with your target market.
• Develop Your Brand Voice and Messaging: Craft a consistent brand voice and messaging that will be used across all marketing materials and channels to communicate with your audience.
• Design a Professional Website: Your website should be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and clearly convey your services and brand message.
• Build a Content Strategy: Create valuable content that showcases your expertise and helps to build authority in your field.
• Leverage Social Media: Utilize social media platforms to engage with your audience, share insights, and promote your brand.

How to come up with a name for your marketing consulting business?

When coming up with a name for your marketing consulting business, it is important to consider the message you are trying to communicate. Your name should reflect your professionalism and credibility. It can also help differentiate you from competitors in the industry. Consider creating a name that reflects the services you provide, or one that is creative and unique. This could involve a play on words or alluding to a relevant concept found in marketing and business. By taking the time to craft a thoughtful and purposeful name, you can make an impactful first impression with potential clients.

Once you've laid the groundwork for your marketing consulting business, it's time to make it official by registering your business. This legal step is crucial as it will impact your taxes, liability, and overall operation. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the formalization process:

• Choose a business structure: Decide whether you want to operate as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), or corporation. Each has different legal and tax implications.
• Register your business name: If you've chosen a name for your business, check if it's available and register it. This process can usually be done through your state's Secretary of State office or a similar entity.
• Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN): Apply for an EIN through the IRS. This number is necessary for tax purposes and to open a business bank account.
• Register for state and local taxes: Depending on your location, you may need to register for various state and local taxes, such as sales tax or payroll tax.
• Obtain necessary permits and licenses: Check with your city, county, and state to determine what specific permits and licenses you need to legally operate your marketing consulting business.

Resources to help get you started:

Explore top resources curated for marketing consulting entrepreneurs, featuring comprehensive insights on market trends, operational excellence, and strategic growth methodologies:

• Harvard Business Review: Offers articles and case studies on marketing strategies and business operations. https://hbr.org/
• MarketingProfs: Provides in-depth marketing guides, online courses, and industry reports for marketing professionals. https://www.marketingprofs.com/
• Consulting.us: A platform with news, insights, and reports specifically tailored for the consulting industry, including a section on marketing consulting. https://www.consulting.us/
• CMO Council: Features thought leadership, best practices, and networking opportunities for marketing executives and consultants. https://www.cmocouncil.org/
• AdWeek: Delivers the latest marketing news, insights, and trends, crucial for staying ahead in the dynamic marketing consulting field. https://www.adweek.com/
• Forrester: Provides market research reports and strategic advice on technology's impact on marketing strategies. https://www.forrester.com/

Starting a marketing consulting business requires not just expertise in the field, but also compliance with legal requirements. Acquiring the necessary licenses and permits is crucial to operate legally and build credibility with clients. Below are key steps you should follow:

• Research local requirements: Check with your city or county government office to understand the specific licenses and permits needed for a consulting business in your area.
• Register your business: Obtain a general business license, which is typically required to legally operate a business in most municipalities.
• Specialized permits: Depending on your services, you may need additional permits, such as a home occupation permit if you're working from home or a zoning permit for your office location.
• Professional licenses: Some jurisdictions might require consultants to have a professional license, especially if you offer specialized services, so check with the relevant state board or agency.
• Trademark your brand: Consider protecting your brand by registering a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
• Tax registration: Register for state and federal taxes to ensure compliance with tax laws, including sales tax if applicable in your state.

What licenses and permits are needed to run a marketing consulting business?

The type of licenses and permits that may be needed to run a marketing consulting business depend on your jurisdiction, as regulations can vary from place to place. Commonly, you may need a business license and/or permit, an occupational or professional license for the marketing consulting services you offer, and any other specific permits or licenses related to what services you provide (for example, if you provide design services, you may need an additional permit for that). It’s important to check in with local or state regulations before beginning a business of any kind.

Setting up a dedicated business bank account is crucial for keeping your finances organized and professional. If your marketing consulting business requires additional capital, exploring funding options can help you cover initial costs and grow your business. Here are the steps to get you started:

• Choose the right bank: Look for a bank that offers services tailored to small businesses, with low fees, online banking, and good customer service.
• Prepare the necessary documentation: Typically, banks require your business registration papers, EIN (Employer Identification Number), and personal identification to open an account.
• Understand the banking fees: Review and understand the fee structure for transactions, maintenance, and any additional services to avoid surprises.
• Explore funding options: Consider small business loans, lines of credit, venture capital, crowdfunding, or angel investors, depending on your financial needs and business goals.
• Develop a solid business plan: A clear and detailed business plan is often required to secure funding and should outline your business strategy, financial projections, and marketing approach.
• Build creditworthiness: Maintain a good credit score personally and for your business, as this will impact your ability to secure loans and favorable terms.

Setting the right prices for your marketing consulting services is critical to attracting clients while ensuring your business remains profitable. It's essential to strike a balance between competitive pricing and the value you provide. Below are some guidelines to help you determine an appropriate pricing structure:

• Assess Your Costs: Calculate all business expenses to understand the minimum income required to operate profitably.
• Value-Based Pricing: Price your services based on the value delivered to clients, not just the time spent. Consider the ROI that your services can generate for your clients.
• Competitive Analysis: Research what competitors charge for similar services to ensure your rates are in line with the market.
• Experience and Expertise: Charge more if you have specialized skills or significant industry experience that adds to your consultancy's value proposition.
• Pricing Models: Offer a variety of pricing models (hourly rates, project-based fees, retainer agreements) to cater to different client needs.
• Flexibility: Be flexible with pricing but establish clear boundaries to maintain profitability and value perception.
• Clear Communication: Ensure your pricing structure is transparent to avoid misunderstandings with clients.

What does it cost to start a marketing consulting business?

Initiating a marketing consulting business can involve substantial financial commitment, the scale of which is significantly influenced by factors such as geographical location, market dynamics, and operational expenses, among others. Nonetheless, our extensive research and hands-on experience have revealed an estimated starting cost of approximately $11500 for launching such an business. Please note, not all of these costs may be necessary to start up your marketing consulting business.

When launching a marketing consulting business, having the right tools and supplies is integral to delivering high-quality services to your clients. It's important to invest in equipment that will help you communicate effectively, create professional-grade content, and analyze market data efficiently. Below is a list of essential items to consider for your consulting toolkit:

• Laptop or Desktop Computer: A fast, reliable computer with sufficient processing power to handle various software used for data analysis, content creation, and communication.
• High-Speed Internet Connection: Essential for research, client communication, and accessing cloud-based services.
• Industry-Standard Software: Subscription to software for customer relationship management (CRM), project management, graphic design, social media management, and data analysis.
• Office Supplies: Basic office supplies such as notepads, pens, and planners for organization and note-taking.
• Communication Tools: Reliable phone system, video conferencing software, and professional email hosting service.
• External Hard Drive or Cloud Storage: For secure backup of important documents and client data.
• Professional Website: Invest in a well-designed website that showcases your services, case studies, and contact information.

List of software, tools and supplies needed to start a marketing consulting business:

• Marketing tools, such as Google Analytics and Hootsuite (est. $15/month)
• Social media scheduler, such as Buffer (est. $10/month)
• Brainstorming and project management software, such as Trello (est. Free - $20/month)
• Email marketing service, such as MailChimp (est. Free - $50/month)
• Graphic design software, such as Canva ( est. Free - $12.95/month)
• Content management system, such as WordPress (est. Free)
• Design software and image editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop or InDesign (est. $9.99/month)
• Project tracking software, such as Basecamp (est. Free - $99/month)
• Video editing software, such as iMovie (est. Free)
• Teleconferencing tool, such as Zoom or Skype (est. Free - $15/month)

Starting a marketing consulting business involves managing a variety of risks, from legal liability to data breaches. Obtaining the right business insurance can protect your consultancy from unexpected events and financial losses. Here are some key steps to consider when looking into insurance for your marketing consulting business:

• Assess Your Risks: Identify the specific risks associated with your marketing consulting services, such as professional liability, property damage, or data security issues.
• Research Insurance Types: Investigate different types of business insurance, including professional liability (errors and omissions), general liability, cyber liability, and business owner’s policy (BOP).
• Consult with Insurance Agents: Speak with multiple insurance agents or brokers who specialize in business insurance to get professional advice tailored to your business needs.
• Compare Quotes: Obtain and compare insurance quotes from several providers to find the best coverage at a competitive rate.
• Review Policy Details: Carefully review the terms, conditions, coverage limits, deductibles, and exclusions of each policy before making a decision.
• Consider Client Requirements: Be aware that some clients may require you to carry certain types or amounts of insurance before they do business with you.
• Maintain and Review: Once you have your insurance in place, keep it up to date and review it annually to ensure it continues to meet your business’s evolving needs.

Now that you're ready to offer your marketing consulting services, it's crucial to spread the word and attract clients. Effective marketing of your own business will not only help you gain clients but also serve as a testament to your expertise. Here are some strategies to begin marketing your services:

• Build a Professional Website: Your website should showcase your services, past work, testimonials, and a blog with insightful marketing content.
• Utilize Social Media: Create professional profiles on platforms relevant to your target audience, share your insights, and engage with the community.
• Network: Attend industry events, webinars, and local business gatherings to connect with potential clients and fellow professionals.
• Content Marketing: Produce valuable content like e-books, white papers, and case studies that demonstrate your knowledge and can be shared across multiple channels.
• Offer Workshops or Webinars: Establish yourself as an expert by offering free or paid sessions on marketing topics.
• Referral Program: Encourage your existing network to refer new clients by offering incentives for successful introductions.
• Partnerships: Collaborate with complementary service providers to offer bundled services and expand your reach.

Once you've laid the groundwork for your marketing consulting business and have started to build a client base, it's time to consider expansion. Growing your business can involve diversifying your services, reaching new markets, or scaling your operations. Below are strategies to help you expand effectively:

• Offer New Services: Keep an eye on the latest marketing trends and technologies to offer new, relevant services that meet the changing needs of your clients.
• Hire Talent: Bring in experts with different skill sets to provide a broader range of services and to handle an increasing workload.
• Invest in Marketing: Allocate a budget to market your own business through various channels, both online and offline, to attract new clients.
• Networking: Attend industry events and join professional organizations to form partnerships and get referrals.
• Expand Geographically: Look for opportunities to serve clients in other regions or countries, potentially through online consulting services.
• Develop Training Programs: Create workshops or courses based on your expertise to establish authority and open up additional revenue streams.
• Use Scalable Tools: Implement scalable project management and CRM systems to accommodate a growing client base without compromising on service quality.

How to Develop a Marketing Plan for Your Consulting Company

Your marketing plan can be the difference between the success and failure of your consulting company. With the right plan, you can gain new clients on an ongoing basis. With the wrong plan, not only will your firm struggle to generate sales, but you will waste valuable time in misguided marketing efforts.

This article will show you how to develop a winning marketing plan for your consulting firm.

Download the Ultimate Marketing Plan Template

What is a Marketing Plan?

A marketing plan is a document that outlines your  consulting marketing strategies  and goals. It includes information on who your target audience is, how you will reach them, what you will offer them, and how you will measure your success.

Why Do You Need a Marketing Plan?

A well-crafted marketing plan can help you achieve the following:

• Attract more clients
• Increase sales
• Differentiate your business from the competition
• Stand out in a crowded market
• Improve your bottom line

If you need to raise money from investors, a detailed marketing plan will also demonstrate that you have a solid understanding of the market and how your business can succeed in it.

How To Write a Consulting Marketing Plan

The marketing plan for a consulting business should include the following components:

Executive Summary

Target market segments, unique selling proposition (usp), pricing and positioning strategy, distribution strategy, marketing materials, promotions strategy, digital marketing plan, conversion, referral, and retention strategy, financial projections.

Each component will be discussed in detail below.

Executive Summary 

The executive summary is a brief overview of your marketing plan. It should include the following:

• Who you are and what you do
• What is your target market
• How you will reach your potential customers
• Your unique selling proposition (USP)
• What you will offer your target audience
• How you will measure success
• The financial projections for your business

This section should be no more than 2-3 pages long and is generally the last section you will actually write.

Your target market is the group of people you are selling to. In order to create an effective marketing plan, you need to understand who they are and what they want. You need to consider the following:

• Location – where is your potential client base located?
• Gender – is your target market male or female?
• Age – what is the age range of your target market?
• Income – what is the income range of your target market?
• Education level – what is the education level of your target market?
• Interests – what are the interests of your target market?
• Business Details – If/when serving B2B (business to business) clients, you need to know what size of companies you will serve and what functions within these companies (e.g., HR managers) are your ideal audience. 

When selecting your customer base, it is important to choose a group that is large enough to generate significant sales, but small enough that you can reach them effectively.

Your target market should also be a group that you can afford to serve. It is not cost-effective to try and market to everyone. You need to identify a specific group of people that you can focus your efforts.

Once you have identified your target audience, you need to understand their needs and wants. What are they looking for in a consultant? What problem are they trying to solve? What are their biggest concerns? The more you know about your potential customers, the better you can position your business to meet their needs.

Your unique selling proposition (USP) is what makes your company different from the competition. It is what sets you apart and makes people want to do business with you. When developing your USP, you need to consider the following:

• What do you do better than anyone else?
• What are your unique qualifications or experience?
• What do you offer that is not available from the competition?
• Why should someone do business with you instead of someone else?

Your USP should be something that is relevant to your potential clients. It should be something that they care about and that is important to them.

As an example, FedEx’s initial USP was “When it absolutely, positively has to be there overnight.”

When setting your prices, you need to consider the following:

• What is the market value of your specific services?
• What are your costs?
• How much do you want to make per hour?
• What are your competitors charging?

It is important to price your services appropriately. If you charge too much, you may lose customers. If you charge too little, you may not be able to cover your costs and earn healthy profits. You also need to consider how you want to position your business. Do you want to be seen as a premium consulting service or a more affordable option?

How you distribute your service offerings is important. You need to consider the following:

• Are you going to offer in-person consultations?
• Are you going to offer online consultations?
• Are you going to offer phone consultations?
• What countries are you going to target?
• What language will your consultations be offered in?
• Will you offer your services through partners?

When developing your marketing plan, you need to consider the types of offers you will make to your potential clients. Will you offer a free consultation? A discount for first-time customers? A package deal?

It is important to create offers that are attractive to your potential customers.

Your marketing materials are the tools you use to promote your business. They should be designed to attract attention and generate interest in your professional services. Some of the most common marketing materials include:

• Business cards
• Press releases
• Email newsletters

It is important to design your marketing materials in a way that is visually appealing and easy to read. It is critical that your materials match the branding (e.g., premium) you are trying to achieve.

This section should include the mix of marketing activities that will generate interest in your professional services. Some of the most common promotions include:

• Newspaper Ads
• Digital Marketing (see below)
• Public Relations
• Teleseminars
• Trade shows
• Networking events

It is important to consider your target audience when developing your promotions. What type of activities will they find appealing?

In today’s digital age, it is important to have a strong online presence. This includes having a website, establishing a social media presence, doing online advertising, conducting email marketing, and using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. When developing your digital marketing plan, you need to consider the following:

• Branding : How will you create a website that reflects your company’s brand? How will this be reflected on your social media profiles?
• Content Marketing : What type of content will you post on your website and social media pages? How often will you post new content?
• Online Marketing Strategy : What are the best online marketing techniques for your consulting company? What types of digital marketing campaigns will you run? For example, will you use pay-per-click advertising? Cold email? Direct outreach on LinkedIn, etc.?

In order to be successful, you need to have a strategy for converting leads into customers, getting referrals from current customers, and retaining new clients for future consultancy services. When developing your conversion, referral, and retention strategy, you need to consider the following:

• How will you track conversions?
• What will you do to try to maximize your conversion rates (e.g., offer bonuses to new clients)?
• How will you encourage referrals from current customers?
• What are the best methods for retaining customers?
• How often will you review your conversion, referral, and retention strategy?

When developing your marketing plan, it is important to project your income and expenses for the next year. This will help you determine if your marketing efforts are generating a profit. You should also track your progress over time to see if your marketing plan is effective.

Marketing Plan Examples for a Consulting Business

Below are sample marketing plans for consulting firms.

Example #1 – CloudNet, an IT Consulting Business

CloudNet offers quality IT consulting services that will help your business grow. We have over 10 years of experience in the industry and our team of experts is ready to help you achieve your goals.

As a leading IT consulting business, CloudNet offers quality services and solutions that will help your business grow. Our team of experts has over 10 years of experience in the industry, and we are dedicated to providing each client with the best possible solution for their needs.

Our pricing strategy is to offer quality services at a fair price, and we are positioning ourselves as a premium IT consulting business. We partner with several local business associations and chambers of commerce, as well as attend trade shows and networking events. We offer a free consultation to any businesses who are interested in our services. We also provide a variety of marketing materials to our potential customers which are available for download on our website and include an overview of our services, case studies, brochures, flyers, presentations, and more.

Outside of our traditional marketing efforts, we also plan to engage in SEO, paid search, social media marketing, and email marketing to help attract new customers as well as retain our existing clientele. All conversions and referrals will be tracked through the use of our CRM in coordination with Google Analytics. In order to be successful, our conversion, referral, and retention strategy will be implemented on an ongoing basis. With an advertising budget of $2,500/month, our financial projections show that we will remain profitable thanks to our marketing efforts.

CloudNet specializes in providing IT consulting services to mid-sized businesses and large enterprises. Our goal is to provide each client with the best possible solution for their needs. We focus on serving IT managers who have limited internal staffing.

Unique Selling Proposition (USP) 

CloudNet’s pricing strategy is to offer quality services at a fair price. We believe that our clients should receive the best possible value for their money. We are also positioning ourselves as a premium IT consulting business. This means that we offer the highest quality services and solutions in the industry.

CloudNet’s distribution strategy is to partner with local business associations and chambers of commerce to reach small and mid-sized businesses. We will also be attending trade shows and networking events to reach larger businesses.

Offers 

CloudNet is currently offering a free consultation to all businesses who are interested in our services. We believe that this is the best way to determine if our services are a good fit for the client’s needs.

CloudNet has a variety of marketing materials available for download on our website. These materials include:

• An overview of our services
• Case studies
• Presentations

CloudNet is currently running a promotion for all businesses that are interested in our services. We are offering a free consultation to all businesses who are interested in our services.

CloudNet’s digital marketing plan includes the following components:

• Paid search
• Social media
• Email marketing

In order to be successful, CloudNet needs to implement a variety of marketing strategies on an ongoing basis to encourage customers to convert, refer and remain loyal customers. We will be tracking conversions, referrals, and retention through the use of a CRM system. We also have a number of methods for encouraging referrals and retaining customers, including:

• Offering discounts to current customers
• Encouraging word-of-mouth marketing
• Offering loyalty programs
• Sending out customer surveys

In order to remain profitable, CloudNet’s marketing efforts will need to generate an annual revenue of $150,000. Our financial projections show that we will be able to achieve this goal with an advertising budget of $30,000. We anticipate that our largest source of revenue will come from our IT consulting services, which account for 85% of our total sales. The remaining 15% of our sales will come from our other services.

We anticipate that our gross margin will be 50%, which means that we will earn a profit of $75,000 after covering our expenses. We expect to have a net income of $50,000 after paying taxes. This will allow us to maintain a healthy cash flow and increase our equity.

Example #2 – Fund Your Future, a Personal Finance Consulting Business

Fund Your Future is a personal finance consulting business that offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the needs of families with children, single parents, retirees, and college students. We are committed to helping our clients achieve their financial goals, and we believe that our high level of customer service will set us apart from our competition.

Our unique selling proposition is that we offer a comprehensive suite of services that are tailored to meet the needs of our target customer segments. We provide our clients with personalized service, which means that they can rely on us to help them make sound financial decisions. Our pricing and positioning strategy is to offer our services at a competitive price while positioning ourselves as an affordable alternative to larger financial institutions.

We plan to distribute our services through a combination of direct marketing, referrals, and online marketing. We will be attending local events and networking with key influencers in our target customer segments to generate leads. We will also be running a series of radio ads and online ads to promote our services.

Our goal is to earn a total of $120,000 in revenue during the first year of operations. This will allow us to cover our expenses and generate a profit of $25,000.

Fund Your Future is a personal finance consulting business that specializes in helping individuals and families save money and improve their financial situation. Our target customer segments are:

• Families with children
• Single parents
• College students

We are committed to helping each and every one of our clients achieve their financial goals.

Our unique selling proposition is that we offer a comprehensive suite of services that are tailored to meet the needs of our potential clients. We provide our clients with personalized service, which means that they can rely on us to help them make sound financial decisions.

Fund Your Future is priced competitively, and we are positioning ourselves as an affordable provider of personal finance consulting services. We believe that our high level of customer service will set us apart from our competition.

Our distribution strategy is to partner with local business associations and chambers of commerce to reach small and mid-sized businesses. We will also be attending trade shows and networking events to reach larger businesses.

We are currently offering a free consultation to all families who are interested in our services. We believe that this is the best way to determine if our services are a good fit for the client’s needs.

We also offer a monthly webinar series geared towards helping retirees, low-income and single-parent families, and college students save money and improve their financial situation. This webinar directly ties in with our unique selling proposition, and we are confident that it will be a valuable resource for our customer segments.

We have a number of marketing materials that we will be using to promote our services, including:

• A website that is designed to appeal to our target customer segments
• A series of brochures that highlight the services that we offer
• A PowerPoint presentation that can be used for presentations and as a sales tool

To generate leads, we will be running a series of radio ads and online ads. We will also be distributing promotional materials at local businesses and events.

We are currently in the process of designing a website that will be launched in the near future. The website will be designed to appeal to our target customer segments, and it will include a section where clients can download our brochures and PowerPoint presentation.

We are also in the process of setting up a social media profile on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. We will use these profiles to promote our services and to connect with potential clients.

In order to increase our conversion rate, we plan to offer a free consultation to all prospective clients. We will also follow up with all of our clients to ensure that they are satisfied with our services and that they would be willing to refer us to their friends and family.

We expect to earn a total of $120,000 in revenue during the first year of operations. This will allow us to cover our expenses and generate a profit of $25,000.

As you can see, there are a number of things that need to be considered when developing a marketing plan for a consulting firm. By taking the time to create a detailed plan, you can be sure that your business will reach its target customer segments and generate a healthy profit.

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Blog Graphic Design 13 Essential Consulting Templates For Marketing, Planning and Branding

13 Essential Consulting Templates For Marketing, Planning and Branding

Written by: Sara McGuire Mar 20, 2019

Consultants have a lot of their plates. To execute on their many jobs, they need the right tools.

We’ve spoken to many Venngage users who either run their own consulting business, or who work for a larger consulting firm. No matter the size of their team, virtually every consultant seemed to face the same problems:

• They need to communicate clearly with their clients, in a way that gets buy-in from management and C-levels
• They need to compile research, track progress on their projects, and show results
• They’re often working within tight budgets and time constraints
• They want to stand out from the competition and establish themselves as experts in their fields
• They need to score new clients while also juggling their current ones

If any of this sounds like you, this guide may have tools that can help.

In this guide, I’ll share 12 essential types of consulting templates to help solve those problems (and make your life a bit easier). I’ve also included tips for communicating with visuals, and design tips to make your reports, marketing collateral and client communications visually engaging AND effective.

Here are 13 consulting templates to make your life easier (click to jump ahead):

• Consulting Proposal Templates
• Consulting Report Templates
• Business Card Templates
• Project Plan Templates
• Timeline Infographic Templates
• Mind Map Templates
• Market Research Report Templates
• Business Pitch Deck Templates
• Social Media Templates (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram)
• Brochure Templates
• Email Newsletter Templates
• Business Letterhead Templates
• User Persona Templates

IMPORTANT: Brand Your Visuals

1. consulting proposal templates.

Acquiring new clients is one of the biggest challenges many consultants face. You need to convince them that you are the right person to fix their problems. But I don’t need to tell you this, you’ve probably experienced it first-hand.

So let’s talk about how you can design a consulting proposal (also known as a business proposal ) that turns leads into clients.

A consulting proposal acts as a sales pitch that you send to a potential client. In your consulting proposal, you typically include:

• An outline of how you will handle a specific project
• You experience and skills that make you the best fit for the job
• Your pricing terms and conditions

Because your consulting proposal needs to be persuasive, you need to think strategically about your proposal design. How does it reflect your brand voice ? What visuals can you use to reinforce your credibility?

Here are some consulting proposal tips and templates to help you close those deals. Pick the template you like. You’ll enter our online drag and drop proposal maker tool where you can customize them to your liking–no design experience required!

Create an Eye-Catching Consulting Proposal Cover Page

First impressions matter, especially when you’re trying to land clients. Your consulting proposal should give the impression that you’re professional, reliable and knowledgeable. Easier said than done, right?

The cover page of your consulting proposal will tell your clients a bit about who you are and your approach to solving problems.

Organize Your Consulting Proposal Into Sections Using Blocks

As much as we would like to think that people read every word we write in a proposal, we know that isn’t true.

Because you will have a lot of information to cover in your consulting proposal, make sure that your pages are organized. You can do that by using blocks to lay out the different sections on your page.

Here’s an example of what that can look like:

This organizes the information into bite-sized sections, making it easier to scan the page. The icons in the top corner of each square also help illustrate the information.

Check out our job proposal templates and business proposal templates to get started.

Use Icons to Illustrate Ideas

Icons are the perfect little visuals to include in your reports. They’re compact and super useful.

There are a ton of ways you can use icons to improve your page designs. That’s because a basic rule of design is that eyes are drawn to wherever there is an image, bolded text or a block of color on a page.

That means you can use icons to draw your readers’ attention to important information. For example, look at how this page from a consulting proposal uses icons to highlight each deliverable:

You can also use icons to create custom illustrations (no need to hire a designer). This comes in handy when you want to design an eye-catching cover page. Or if you want to create an illustration to balance out the text on a page.

Want more tips for creating an irresistible consulting proposal? Read our in-depth consulting proposal guide. Also, check out our other consulting proposal templates .

2. Consulting Report Template

Typically, your clients will expect regular reporting on your findings, progress and budget spent. Guess where a sloppy report will get you.

Landing a new client is only the first step. You will also need to maintain their confidence in you throughout your time with them. Think of it like dressing up for a dinner date with your partner – it helps keep the romance alive.

There are a few different types of consulting reports that you will most likely need, depending on your niche. Two common types of reports are:

• project status reports
• competitor analysis reports

Let’s look at some examples of each one.

Project Status Reports

Project status reports are exactly what they sound like. They communicate what you’ve accomplished and what still needs to be done. They also help you flag and analyze any issues you’re facing. Project status reports are crucial for building and maintaining trust with your clients.

The length and detail of your project status report will depend on the amount of time you’re reporting on. For example, a quarterly report will probably contain a lot of information:

Meanwhile, a weekly project status report could be a quick one-page update:

You may also want to create a brief summary page for a presentation:

Competitor Analysis Reports

To make smart marketing and product decisions, it helps to scope out the competition. A comprehensive competitor analysis report will help you understand what kind of threat your competitors pose. It will also help you identify gaps in the market that you can go after.

Typically, a competitor analysis report includes:

• A product summary
• Competitor strengths and weaknesses
• Competitor strategies and objectives
• Outlook: is the marketing growing? Flat? Segmenting?

Your report should highlight important numbers like your competitors’ social media presence and site traffic. You can do this using bold text, color blocks and visuals like icons:

Read our guide for more information about  how to write a competitor analysis report .

Vary Your Page Layouts

This is an important report design rule of thumb: vary your page layout to keep your readers engaged. Switch it up between two-column layouts, three column layouts, and horizontal-split pages.

Here’s an example of a consulting report that mixes up the page layout:

3. Business Card Templates

Every consultant and freelancer needs a memorable, professional business card. If we learned anything from Mary Harron’s American Psycho, it’s that the right business card can leave a powerful and lasting impression!

At networking events, conferences, trade shows, and even after meetings, handing out a business card boosts your chances of being remembered in the following days and weeks. Without anything to be remembered by, you lose your chances to nurture the connections you made. Plus, you’re only helping your competitors who will definitely have business cards to hand out.

Designing an eye-catching business card is easy enough. Our variety of business card templates make it easy to personalize your business card design. Here are a few approaches you can take to creating a memorable business card design.

Modern, professional business cards

A professional business card doesn’t need to be complicated. This technology-themed business card is simple and clean. With My Brand Kit, you can just apply your brand colors, or try different color schemes from our pre-set color swatches.

On-brand, personal business cards

Your business card design is also a way to get your personal brand across. Have fun with your design to create something that shares a little bit about your personality. This illustrator business card includes warm colors and cute illustrations. Who’s going to forget fun and quirky citrus fruits?

Unique, vertical business cards

Finally, the typical landscape business card is just one format. Vertical business cards are also rising in popularity. They different layout lets you package information a bit differently and bring together a unique design.

4. Project Plan Templates

Before you embark on any project, you need a plan. You wouldn’t assemble IKEA furniture without reading the instructions first, right ? (Pause for awkward throat clearing and shifty eyes.)

A project plan is an essential document for keeping a project on track . In a project plan, you identify:

• The scope of a project
• Project goals
• Project deliverables deliverables
• Project deadlines
• Key team members involved in the project
• Project budget and resources required

In a nutshell, your project plan should show the steps towards completing a process, how the steps are measurable and actionable, and the impact each step will have. This will give you credibility and help you build trust with your client.

Here are some tips for creating a project plan that clients can understand and get onboard with.

Use a Flexible Project Plan Template

Most project plans aren’t set in stone, especially if you’re using agile planning . They’re flexible documents that may need to be adjusted and added to along the way. That means that the project plan template you use should be easy to edit.  

A simple but organized report design is ideal for this. Using simple color blocks to section your information on the page will make it easy to reorganize the page if needed.

Plot Your Project Timeline Visually

A timeline is the backbone of a project plan. Your project plan should clearly identify deadlines, and what is required to meet those deadlines. Generally, your project timeline should be broken down into smaller tasks with clearly defined deliverables.

There are few types of visuals you can use to visualize project timelines:

Gantt charts

A Gantt chart is probably the most popular type of project plan visual. Gantt charts are handy because they allow you to show different timelines running concurrently, with staggered start and end dates.

Want more gantt chart examples and templates? Check out our blog guide.

Timeline infographics.

A timeline infographic is a versatile way to visualize milestones, steps in a process, and specific goals. For example, you could use a timeline to show an overview of your project deadlines:

We’ll talk about timeline infographics in more depth a bit later in this guide.

Mind maps show the relationships between parts of a whole. They’re a good way to break down the different components of a strategy.  

Want more tips for creating a project plan? Read our project plan guide and check out our other project plan templates .

Marketing Plan Templates

Marketing plans are a type of project plan that focuses specifically on your marketing strategy .  

Typically, a marketing plan will include:

• An overview of your business’s marketing and advertising goals
• A description of your business’s current marketing position
• A timeline of when tasks within your strategy will be completed
• Key performance indicators you will be tracking
• A description of your business’s target market and customer needs

The scope of your marketing plan will depend on its purpose. For example, you could create a plan that encompasses an entire’s company’s marketing strategy:

Or you could simply focus on a specific channel like SEO or social media:

Visualize KPIs Using Charts and Icons

Consultants need a marketing plan with measurable, actionable KPIs . Visualizing these KPIs using charts or graphs will not only help clients understand your recommendations immediately but also help your marketing plan stand out. It’s an opportunity to help brand yourself.

The type of chart you use will depend on the data you’re visualizing, and what you want the goal of the chart to be. We’ve got a handy guide to picking charts that you can open for after you’re done this one.

Read our full guide to writing and creating a marketing plan . Click here for more marketing plan templates .

5. Timeline Infographic Templates

Timeline infographics are one of the most popular types of templates that Venngage users create. There’s a reason for that: timelines are a versatile type of visual.

You can use a timeline infographic to provide an overview of events, to highlight important points in time, to show the stages in a process, and to reveal things that people may have missed.

Many consultants we’ve spoken with use timeline infographics to visualize project timelines for their clients and team members.

Some consultants may need to work with multiple teams at a company. Keeping everyone on the same page can be a time-consuming and frustrating challenge. A timeline infographic quickly communicates deadlines, and who’s responsible for what. It’s a document the client can refer back to again and again.  

But timelines aren’t just for project planning. People love sharing timelines infographics on social media. By creating a timeline about a topic that interests your audience, you have the potential to spark some great engagement.

For more templates, check out our timeline infographic guide .

6. Mind Map Templates

Mind maps are an essential type of visual for connecting ideas, showing relationships between parts, and breaking out concepts into smaller parts.

Typically, a mind map starts with a central idea, with supporting ideas branching out from it. But mind maps can get pretty complex.

In most cases, a simple mind map is an effective one. Consultants can use mind maps to flesh out the components of a strategy, for example. Strategies often have many moving parts. A mind map help clients or team members wrap their head around a new strategy.

For example, you could use a mind map to plot out a product launch:

You could also organize a mind map by goal or problems you’re setting out to solve:

Mind maps are also useful for plotting out a brand’s mission, or for identifying key parts of their brand voice:

For more templates, check out our mind map guide .

7. Market Research Report Templates

In many cases, consultants may need to justify their recommendations by backing up their claims. Especially if they’re newer to the game, or kicking things off with a new client.

If you want to gain the trust of your clients and get buy-in from the executive team, having some solid research to back up your ideas can make a huge difference.

Generally, market research involves gathering information about the needs, problems and preferences of your target customers. It’s also a document you use to any conclusions you came to after analyzing your findings.

Market research is extremely useful for developing customer personas (more on that later), planning product updates, and developing your marketing plan.

Furthermore, it can also be a useful tool for analyzing your client’s main competitors as well. Check out our guide to creating a competitor analysis report for more on that.

Use Visuals That Reflect the Theme of Your Market Research Report

Of course, how you present that information will also make a difference. That’s why you should take time to create a market research report with an engaging design.

You can use charts, infographics and diagrams to visualize data. But you should also use visuals to reflect the theme and goals within your market research report. Design choices like that will help reinforce your findings and lend to your credibility.

Use Color to Draw Attention to Key Information On the Page

Color is one of the most important elements of design, both aesthetically and practically. You can use color to draw attention to particular points on a page. Pick a bold, bright color that contrasts with the background and use that color to highlight important data points and words.

For example, look at how pink and purple are used in the market research report below. The contrasting colors draw attention to the data on the chart and main conclusions from the research.

You can easily use your brand colors (or a client’s brand colors) to achieve this effect in your market research report.

8. Business Pitch Deck Templates

If you want to get buy-in from your clients or business stakeholders for your business plan, your pitch needs to be convincing.

A pitch deck provides an overview of your business plan. But the mistake consultants can make is to try and pack as much information into a pitch deck as you would a business plan.

One of the tenets of persuasive presentation design is to not clutter your slides with too much text. You business pitch deck should be a tool to help you tell a compelling narrative that gets your audience excited to work with you. Design your slides to highlight the most important and convincing information.

Need to create a business plan too? Our online drag and drop tool is perfect even for design newbies.

Vary Your Slide Layouts to Keep Your Audience Engaged

We surveyed over 350 keynote speakers , asking them what challenges they faced with designing their slide deck. 42% said their biggest challenge was keeping their audience excited and engaged.

There are a handful of ways you can strategically design your pitch decks to keep your audience engaged.

One way to prevent presentation monotony is to vary your slide layouts (just like how you would vary your page layouts in a report). Alternate how you arrange the sections on your page. Switch up solid color background, split pages, and background photos.

Structure Your Pitch Deck to Answer a Problem

Another way to keep your client engaged is to hook them with a problem , then reveal the answer. This helps create a narrative for your audience to follow–hopefully, one that will get them invested in your business plan.  

Take Inspiration From Famous Pitch Decks

If you’re not sure where to start, look at pitch deck examples from successful businesses. How did they set up the problem that their business solved? What types of numbers, quotes, and examples did they pick to include?

Then, look for ways to enhance the approach they took using visuals.

This pitch deck template reimagines Airbnb’s famous pitch deck:

Check out our in-depth guide to creating a business pitch deck .

9. Social Media Templates

Maintaining an active social media presence , and a well thought out SEO strategy,  can play a big role in keeping your audience engaged. It’s also an important part of establishing thought leadership in your space.

Consultants can use social media to offer helpful tips, share client testimonials, celebrate holidays , and advertise events.

Not to mention, you can interact directly with your audience and show them who you are. Brand authenticity is more highly valued than ever.

To save yourself time and resources – especially if you’re a bootstrap business , you can repurpose content into multiple visuals for different platforms. Just make sure to use the best image dimensions for the platform in question:

LinkedIn: 350 pixels wide

Twitter: 440 x 220

Facebook: 1200 x 630

Instagram: 1080 x 1080

Pinterest: 236 pixels wide

LinkedIn Templates

LinkedIn is a great place for consultants to connect with other people in your industry and to find new clients. You can make yourself stand out as a an expert in your field by sharing relevant statistics, quotes and tips on your feed.

If you want to share a resource like a white paper or a webinar, you can create an eye-catching visual to entice people to download the resource:

LinkedIn Banner Template

An important part of building your presence on LinkedIn is making sure your profile is up-to-date and on-brand. Check out these excellent LinkedIn profile tips that will help you get noticed by prospective clients.

You can use icons to visualize your areas of expertise:

Twitter Templates

Twitter is a fast-paced platform. That means the content you post on Twitter needs to be eye-catching, inspirational and conversational.

For example, you could share an inspirational image to motivate potential and existing clients:

Twitter is also the place where conversations during live events happen. Have some Twitter templates handy, so you can quickly plug in questions, quotes and tips will help you engage your niche.

Facebook Templates

Whether you’re running Facebook ads or simply sharing some useful content, a consultant’s visuals need to stand out on your audience’s news feeds.

For example, if you’re advertising an event to attract new clients, create a visual that shows what people can expect from attending:

Facebook is also a great platform for sharing posts about causes you support (an important part of establishing your brand):

Facebook Ad Templates

According to a Facebook images study we conducted , Facebook ads with dark color schemes can get as much as 131% more clicks than ads with lighter schemes. This is probably because the darker color scheme stands out from Facebook’s light feed.

But color scheme aside, it’s also important to make sure your value proposition is as clear as possible:

Instagram Templates

Many people take to Instagram for inspiration. It’s also arguably the best platform to show the authentic personalities behind your brand.

Instagram is a visual-first platform. That means the images you post need to have impact.

But many consultants struggle to develop a brand or don’t know how. Using Instagram templates that you can brand with one click can help you develop one.

Bold colors and stunning photos can go along way to get engagement on Instagram:

Typography-focussed visuals are also popular on this platform:

Click here to see all of the social media templates we have to offer.

10. Brochure Templates

Brochures are one of the oldest marketing tools in the book. While digital content may be dominating the marketing landscape, traditional tools like brochures aren’t going anywhere.

In fact, a marketing research firm did a study and found that physical media is more memorable, persuasive, and likely to drive behavior than many forms of digital media.  

Brochures can be useful to give out during an initial meeting with a prospective client, or to hand out in lieu of business cards at a networking event.

The key is for consultants to be strategic about your brochure copy and design. Because you have a limited amount of space, you should have a clear target audience in mind. You should also aim to drive a specific metrics.

For example, the goal of your marketing brochure could be to book more service consultations. The messaging in your brochure would then be targeted towards educating about your services.

Have a Single Clear Message On the Front Page

The front page of your brochure will either entice people to open it and read on, or pass. That means you need to communicate what you’re offering and why readers should care as clearly and concisely as possible.

One way to pique your audience’s interest is to ask a question:

Meanwhile, if your brochure is just an informational summary of your business, you could use your first page to showcase your branding :

Meanwhile, you can use the back page of the brochure to share any important, additional information. Also, don’t forget to end with a clear call-to-action:

Find more brochure templates here . For more design tips, read our brochure design guide .

11 . Email Newsletter Templates

An important part of keeping your core audience engaged is to maintain regular content with them. While some people may say that newsletter is dead, 81% of consultants still use email marketing to nurture leads and engage their audiences.

The key is to craft an email newsletter that your audience looks forward to reading…and one that nurtures potential leads and gets repeat business. One that they know they can rely on for reliable information, entertainment, and inspiration.

Just like any piece of content, your newsletter should have an engaging design. Now, that doesn’t mean that your newsletter design has to be elaborate. But it should be designed to make your information digestible and your CTAs obvious.

Starting with an email newsletter template will make it easy for you to plug in your information on a weekly, monthly, quarterly basis.

Divide Your Email Newsletter Into Sections

If you have a lot of information you want to include in your newsletter, try organizing it into sections. This can make it easier for your audience to scan the newsletter for information that interests them.

You can do this using different color block backgrounds:

Or by making your sections headers stand out using color, bold text and visuals:

Give Your Newsletter an Eye-Catching Header

Like the cover of a book, your newsletter header is the first thing your audience will see when they open your email. So it should tell them a bit about what they can expect in the newsletter. You can create a custom header using a photo or icons.

You can also brand your newsletter and inspire confidence by including your headshot:

For more email newsletter templates, examples and design tips, read our ultimate guide .

12. Business Letterhead Templates

To establish a strong brand , your messaging needs to be consistent. A business letterhead is a pre-printed heading that you can put on letters, memos, and notes. Typically, it will include your logo and use your brand colors and fonts (if you don’t actually have a logo yet, our logo maker can help you create a professional logo).

While you probably don’t want your business letterhead to be too busy, some bold colors can make your branding look fresh and current:

Use a Thematic Design For Your Business Letterhead

Like any other branded document, your business letterhead should say something about your brand personality. Are you going for a more sleek, agile personality? Approachable and trustworthy? Creative and forward-thinking?

You could take a more abstract approach, using shapes and gradient colors:

Or use icons to visualize your expertise:

For more tips, read our business letterhead design guide . Find more business letterhead templates on our templates page.

13. User Persona Templates

When a consultant gets hired on to come up with a marketing strategy for a company, or to help with a product launch, there’s a learning curve. You have to learn about their unique product and their unique customer-base…along with a whole slew of other complexities unique to their business.  

Whether you’ve been tasked with identifying a business’s different user segments, or finding a better way to cater to their segments, a user persona guide is key. Ultimately, you create  educational marketing content  for your clients.

A user persona guide will help you outline your ideal customer’s goals, pain points, behaviors, and demographic information.

Here are some user persona templates to help you better understand users.

Illustrate Each User Persona With Photos or Icons

Putting a face to your usr personas will help them seem more real. That’s why, when putting together a write up of your user personas, you should also include a photo or illustration of this “person”.

Making a user persona seems more real can help your team empathize with them.

Compare and contrast different user journeys

Being able to break down the various customer segments of a business is important for creating targeted marketing campaigns, onboarding experiences and product offerings.

It can also be helpful to visualize each segment concurrently, to compare the similarities and differences between each segment. We suggest using a comparison infographic for this. This can help consultants identify gaps and opportunities in the client’s product and processes.

Click the template above to enter our online  customer journey map  maker. Customize the template to your liking–no design experience required.

For more tips, read our in-depth guide to creating user personas . And check out our other user persona templates .

A big part of creating a recognizable consultant brand is using a cohesive visual style. That means using:

• consistent brand colors
• brand fonts
• your logo, of course

Once you’ve created a few branded templates, you can save time by reusing them. Just plug in new text and images, and adjust the page dimensions as needed.

Venngage’s Brand Kit makes it easy to apply to branding to any template you create. You can learn more about the Brand Kit here.

You’ve Got This.

Yes, your plate is full. But you can work smart. You can get more clients and deliver on your promises.

Equip yourself with the right consulting templates to help you build your brand and deliver on your promises. Once you’ve got your reporting and communications sorted, you can focus on the important part–getting to work and building strong relationships with your clients, partners and stakeholders.

Learn more about branding:

Discover popular designs

Infographic maker

Brochure maker

White paper online

Newsletter creator

Flyer maker

Timeline maker

Letterhead maker

Mind map maker

Ebook maker

5-Step Consulting Marketing Strategy To Get Clients Consistently

Are you having trouble building a consulting marketing strategy that helps you get clients consistently ?

According to our How To Start A Consulting Business Study , marketing is the BIGGEST challenge for consultants.

And this is not only true for early-stage consultants but also for those who have been in business for several years.

If you’re not generating enough sales conversations with your ideal clients , then you have a marketing problem.

And if you have a marketing problem, it will trickle down to every aspect of your business :

• You won’t be making sales (because you don’t have enough calls)
• You won’t be optimizing your fees (because you aren’t offering enough services)
• You won’t be improving your offers (because you don’t have enough projects)

Learning how to generate conversations with your ideal clients is critical to your success as a consultant.

In this post, I’ll share a simple, 5-step consulting marketing strategy that will help you generate consistent calls with your ideal clients so you can win more business .

Whether you’re an experienced consultant earning high 6 or 7 figures — or brand new to consulting — you’ll find the best practices for marketing your consulting business in this post.

Let’s dive in…

CONSULTING MARKETING STRATEGY: QUICK LINKS

• What Is A “Consulting” Marketing Strategy?

Step 1. Discover Your “Magic Number”

Step 2. identify your ideal client, step 3. develop your magnetic message, step 4. activate your network, step 5. rev up your marketing engine, data-based marketing tips for consultants.

• Get Help Creating (& Executing) Your Consulting Marketing Strategy

What Is A Consulting Marketing Strategy?

First, let’s define both “marketing” and “strategy.”

Marketing (for consultants) is how you attract the attention of your ideal clients and your ability to generate conversations with them .

Your strategy is a detailed plan of how you’ll achieve that goal .

So, your marketing strategy is a specific plan for how you’ll attract the attention of your ideal clients and generate conversations with them .

For example, posting on LinkedIn is a marketing tactic . It can work, but only within the context of a proper strategy.

Your marketing strategy defines what tactics you’ll actually use .

As you may have noticed, relying on referrals is not a strategy.

We’ve had many high 6 and 7-figure consultants who have joined our program because their referrals started to dry up.

Don’t get me wrong: getting referred based on the work that you do is great.

But, at some point, you should implement a consulting marketing strategy if you want to grow your consulting business to the next level.

Over 50% of consultants investing $5K+ in their marketing are earning more than six figures per year.

Note that marketing for consultants is very different from marketing other types of businesses.

You’re not selling t-shirts or widgets for a couple of hundred dollars or less.

You’re selling your thinking and your expertise that creates anywhere from tens of thousands to millions of dollars of potential value for your clients.

So, you’ll have to market yourself in a way that demonstrates your thinking and expertise and demonstrates value .

Next, I’ll go into the five steps to creating your consulting marketing strategy.

If you’ve been consulting for a while, as you read through the rest of this article, think about what you can adjust or improve in your current marketing system.

And if you’re new to consulting, simply follow the steps below.

We’ll start with a step that most consultants skip (but is very important).

Consultants who write down their goals are much more likely to achieve them.

Research by psychologist Gail Matthews shows that just by writing down your goals, you’ll increase your chance of achieving them by 42%.

This is especially true when it comes to marketing and sales.

If you know…

• Your monthly revenue target/goal
• How much your average project is worth
• How many conversations with ideal clients it takes to win a project

…you can be very specific about what you must do daily to achieve your monthly target.

Six-Figure Blueprint

For example, let’s say you want to make $50K per month.

(Many of the consultants in our Clarity Coaching Program are earning this amount — or even much more — by applying what we teach in our marketing modules)

And if your average project is $25K.

And 1 out of every 4 conversations with an ideal client turns into a paid project (25% closing rate).

Based on these numbers, you can conclude:

• You need to win 2 projects per month to reach $50k.
• You need to have 8 conversations with ideal clients per month — or 2 conversations per week.

Then, you can zoom out and look at what you’re doing TODAY to generate those 2 calls per week.

We’ve created a simple spreadsheet for you to do this exercise and plug in your numbers :

Magic # Exercise Spreadsheet

Click File > Make a copy to save a copy of the spreadsheet for yourself.

Just by writing down your goals, you’ll increase your chance of achieving them by 42%.

Knowing your “Magic #” makes your marketing and sales targets crystal clear.

You’ll use the rest of what we teach in this guide to generate that number of conversations with your ideal clients.

As a consulting business, you provide expert advice to people or organizations to solve problems and create results.

Who are those people or organizations, exactly?

The more specific you are about WHO you serve, the easier it will be get in front of them and make sure that your message and materials resonate with them

Doing this will help you to stand out.

Without standing out, your ideal clients won’t pay attention to your messaging and content (which is marketing).

They’ll be less receptive to having a call with you about how you can help them (which is sales).

Your marketing strategy begins by getting clear about who your ideal client is.

Think of it this way: it’s easier to stand out by being a big fish in a small pond.

You’ll stand out more, garner more attention, and people will see you as the expert you are, usually much faster. And it will make it much, much easier to get clients.

So how do you actually figure out who your ideal client should be?

You’ll have to brainstorm and find your “niche.”

A niche is an industry or type of client. For example…

• Nic Campbell works with nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
• Jason Fearnow of Prime Contract Solutions works with mining companies.
• Husain Shekhani of Ultrasonic Advisors works with companies in the ultrasonic device industry.

None of these consultants target “businesses” or even “small businesses.”

Instead, successful consultants serve a specific niche.

How do you actually pick a niche that you feel confident about?

In our Clarity Coaching Program , we instruct clients to use the Niche Scoring Method.

(If you’ve already selected a well-defined niche, then you can skip this exercise. But it’s good to double-check your niche to make sure that it fits the right criteria and is the ideal one for you to be focusing on.)

Write down a couple of niches that you’re interested in serving.

If you can’t think of any, pick the industries that you’ve worked with before.

• What industry does the company you work for now belong to?
• What about companies you’ve worked with in the past?
• Or, how about companies you applied to work at?

Once you’ve picked out a few of these industries, score them on the following factors on a scale of 1-5 — with 1 being weak, and 5 being very strong:

• Experience : How would you rate your experience with this niche?
• Expertise : How would you rate your status as an expert within this niche?
• Results : How would you rate your confidence that you can deliver results for this niche?
• Potential : How would you rate this niche’s growth and how willing they are to hire consultants?
• Interest : How would you rate your interest in this niche?
• Access : How would you rate your ability to speak with ideal clients in this niche?

Then, you add up the total scores for each niche. Pick the one with the highest score to start with.

Pay particular attention to the “Interest” score.

You’ll enjoy your work more if it’s an industry or niche you are passionate about helping.

You can always change your niche later. But if you want to build a successful consulting marketing strategy, you must first pick a niche. Only then can you go on to the next step.

Now that you’ve gotten clear about your Ideal Client, you’ll write a simple and clear message that gets their attention.

We call this your “Magnetic Message.”

A good Magnetic Message is “magnetic” — it attracts the attention of your ideal clients like a magnet. It’s the “ unique value proposition ” for consultants.

Before writing that message, let’s think more deeply about your ideal client.

Your ideal clients have problems they want to solve.

You, as the consultant, use your expertise to solve those problems.

As a result of those actions, your expertise creates results for your clients.

Problems, Actions, and Results are the building blocks of your Magnetic Message.

For example, let’s say you’re a sales consultant who helps enterprise software technology companies.

• Problem : Your ideal client’s sales team is performing poorly.
• Action : You offer a 6-week sales training program.
• Result : On average, your program increases the sales team’s performance by 33%.

Do this exercise now.

• Write down the biggest problem your ideal clients have.
• Write down the actions (high level) you take to solve that problem.
• And then, write the result of each of those actions (the OUTCOMES your work will create for your client).

Now, you can put all of this together into your Magnetic Message.

Here’s the formula:

I help [WHO] to [solve WHAT problem] so they can [see WHAT results]. My [WHY choose me]…

Let’s break each part of the formula down.

• WHO : Who you serve.
• WHAT (Problem) : What problem you solve for them.
• WHAT (Result) : What result you create for them.
• WHY : Why they should choose you.

Here’s an example.

I help enterprise software companies with underperforming sales teams so that they can boost sales and revenue. My 10 years of experience and 6-step program has helped over 20 clients boost their sales by an average of 33% in 6 months.

• WHO : Your ideal client (ex: enterprise software companies).
• Solve WHAT problem : The problem that you solve for your ideal client (their sales team’s underperformance).
• See WHAT result : The result you create for your ideal client (ex: boost sales and revenue).
• WHY choose me : Why your ideal client should choose you (ex: 10 years of experience and 6-week program has helped over 20 clients boost their sales by an average of 33% in 6 months).

The Magnetic Message has everything you need to draw the attention of your ideal client.

Its purpose isn’t to win the sale. It’s to simply get them interested in you and want to learn more.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Once you’ve written it and it’s “good enough” you’re ready to test it in the market.

What’s the easiest way to market your consulting business?

Inside our Clarity Coaching Program , one of the first areas we take clients through is the “Network Reactivation Campaign.”

It’s a process of reaching out to everyone in your network so that they’re aware of what you’re doing .

When you focus on adding value and building relationships, more opportunities will come your way.

It’s a practical method to jumpstart your marketing strategy. Run this process after you’ve written or updated your Magnetic Message.

First, make a list of everyone you know. LinkedIn is great for this.

Think past clients, colleagues, employers, family members, friends — EVERYONE you know. You never know who will provide a referral.

Then, send each of them an email. It might look something like this:

Hey NAME, I just thought about you.

What’s going on? Would love to hear from you.

{Insert a line about what’s going on in your personal life}

{Insert a line about what’s going on in your business — what you’re working on and your Magnetic Message}

If you know anyone that might be interested in this or might need help in these areas, please let me know.

And remember, networking is a 2-way street.

Add value to the people in your network’s lives as well.

Share helpful articles with them. Connect them to people who they’d benefit from knowing. Promote something that they’re working on.

Consulting is a relationship business.

Make a habit of spending 20-30 minutes a day on networking : adding value to people’s lives and making sure they know your Magnetic Message.

Make sure EVERYONE you know is aware of your Magnetic Message, and you’ll systematically market your business and increase the chance that you’ll be referred.

This is the “low-hanging” fruit of your marketing strategy.

Next, we’ll get into the execution of your strategy: building and running your Marketing Engine.

Should you be on Instagram?

Is YouTube the way to go?

What about paid Google or Facebook ads?

There are thousands of ways to get the attention of your ideal clients.

However, most of these are “shiny objects” and tactics.

For consultants, some of them work — and many of them don’t.

If you don’t focus on what actually creates conversations with your ideal clients, you’ll be stuck in “marketing tactical hell.”

Here’s what you want to focus on with your marketing — actions that generate conversations with your ideal clients:

1. Direct Outreach : reaching out directly to start having meaningful conversations with your ideal clients.

For example, a direct LinkedIn message or email sharing valuable content with an ideal client to add value to their lives — and to get them interested in what you offer.

2. Follow-up : following up with ideal clients and adding more value.

For example, sending a direct mail to them — something they would find interesting, meaningful, unique (like a case study or white paper), and prompts them to reach out to you to learn more.

3. Authority-building : Publishing thought leadership and doing SEO to position yourself as an authority and to support your outreach/follow-up efforts.

For example, using your consulting website to publish articles that help your ideal clients.

You should be doing Outreach, Follow-Up, and Authority-Building EVERY DAY.

If you combine outreach, follow-up, and authority-building, your marketing will be effective and fulfill its purpose: to build relationships with your ideal clients and to create conversations with them.

You need a plan — a daily list of activities — that will help you create X number of conversations with your ideal clients.

Remember your three key marketing activities: Outreach, Follow-Up, and Authority-Building.

Early-stage consultants will spend more time reaching out to clients and following up with them.

Writing content to build authority is a longer-term strategy, whereas outreach and follow-up can create conversations very quickly.

You need to wake up each day and know exactly what to do every day in order to hit your numbers.

Doug Nelson , one of our Clarity Coaching clients, put his magic # everywhere around his home.

His day wasn’t finished until he had his required number of conversations with ideal clients.

As a result, he grew his consulting business from $400k to over $2M dollars within 18 months.

Here’s a sample daily plan you can use to start your Marketing Engine:

• 8:00 AM : Start your direct outreach in the morning
• 8:30 AM : Follow up with any potential clients from the previous day
• 9:00 AM : Make warm follow-up calls
• 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM : Client work
• 2:00 PM : Marketing Engine conversations/Authority Building
• 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM : Client calls and meetings
• 4:00 : Daily review (focus on the most direct path and stage of your marketing maturity)

If you follow this marketing strategy, you’ll be reaching out to ideal clients, following up with ideal clients, and creating content for your ideal clients.

And you’ll systematically begin generating conversations with them.

So, you’ve started your marketing engine and you’re beginning to book calls with your ideal clients.

How do you improve the overall effectiveness of your strategy and system?

Here are a few tips to focus on: the 80/20 of marketing for consultants.

1. Referrals Are King

37% of consultants listed “referrals” as their primary means of generating new business — 20% higher than the next most selected answer: Networking & Events (18%).

If you can build systems around asking for referrals, you’ll win more business.

Don’t expect clients to just give you referrals. Go out there and ASK for them.

2. Pick Up The Phone

41% of consultants say that making phone calls is their most disliked marketing method.

However, 7% of consultants say that making phone calls makes them the most money — the third highest income-generating marketing method for the consultants we polled.

Don’t be afraid of picking up the phone to call your ideal clients. It will create more opportunities for you than you think.

3. Follow Up!

Did you know that 80% of sales are generated between the fifth and twelfth contact ?

However, 92% of salespeople give up after no sales on the 4th call.

That means most of you are giving up before your prospective client is ready to buy.

If you want to make more consulting sales, the magic is in the follow-up.

Plan to follow up with each of your prospects at least five times. Shoot for 10-12 follow-up touch points spaced out over 8-12 weeks.

If you feel like you’re being too “pushy” or “spammy,” then make sure that your follow-ups add value.

4. Make It A Daily Habit

We see a positive correlation between marketing frequency and the number of clients.

Consultants who work with 1-3 clients per year market their business less (only 25% market their business daily) than consultants who work with 6+ clients per year (38% market their business daily).

Consistency is key with your marketing; don’t just market when you need clients. If you make marketing a daily habit, it will become automatic.

5. Invest In Your Marketing

Investing more in your marketing correlates to a higher income.

Marketing is an investment, not a cost.

If you invest $10K in your marketing and it helps you win 3 $25K clients (that’s $75,000), would you do it? Of course.

If you want to become an elite consultant , invest in coaching, programs, and systems that will help you market your business and get more clients.

Get Help Creating (& Executing) A Consulting Marketing Strategy That Consistently Generates New Clients

If you struggle to generate calls, you’ll struggle to build a successful consulting business.

You can spend years trying to figure out marketing for yourself…

…or you can leverage our expertise in this area to “short-cut” the entire process.

If you want help creating a marketing strategy for your specific business and situation, check out our Clarity Coaching Program .

We’ll work with you one on one to dial in your marketing strategy AND tactics so that you’re booking calls with high-value prospects every single day.

We’ll work hands-on with you to develop a strategic plan and then dive deep and work through your ideal client clarity, strategic messaging, consulting offers, fees and pricing, business model optimization, and help you to set up your marketing engine and lead generation system to consistently attract ideal clients.

Schedule a FREE growth session today to apply for our limited capacity Clarity Coaching Program by clicking here .

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Marketing Consulting Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Advertising & Marketing

Do you want to start a marketing consulting company and need to write a plan? If YES, here is a sample marketing consulting business plan template & feasibility report.

If you are marketing inclined and you are looking for a consulting business to start, then one of your options is to start a marketing consulting business. The fact that everyone in business has a product or services to sell makes this line of business viable.

The truth is that this industry is highly profitable because every business would want to increase sales. Your level of profitability is dependent on your ability to come up with workable solutions to marketing challenges for various businesses.

Below is a sample marketing consulting company business plan template that can help you to write your own with little or no difficulty.

A Sample Marketing Consulting Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Firms in the Marketing Consultants industry provide operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on marketing issues, such as developing marketing objectives and policies, sales forecasting, new product development and pricing, licensing and franchise planning and strategies.

Some of the niche areas in this industry that a marketing consulting firm may specialize on are marketing strategy and market development consulting services, sales management, development consulting services, strategic management consulting services and other marketing management consulting and implementation services.

If you keep a close watch of happening in the industry, you will notice that the industry has experienced slow growth over the past five years. As corporate profit began to rise, businesses emerged from their cost-conscious slump and began to develop new products and increase investment.

This alone, however, was not enough to jolt the industry back into growth. Instead, gains in research and development (R&D) expenditure prompted renewed industry growth.

Major advertising agencies have also increasingly acquired market consulting companies to pursue value-added services in this complementary industry. Furthermore, the industry has observed the rise of do-it-yourself market research through increased non- employer activity.

Statistics has it that in the united states of America, the industry is worth $55 billion, with an estimated growth rate of 4.5 percent between 2014 and 2019.

There are about 218,657 registered and licensed market consulting firms in the United States and they are responsible for directly employing about 412,039 people. It is important to point at that in this industry, no firm can boast of having a lion share of the available market in the United States.

A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that over the five years to 2019, the industry has benefited from rising corporate profitability and increasing advertising expenditure, which have resulted in higher demand for advisory services.

With an improving economy, clients are spending more on advertising, especially through new digital channels. As a result, many companies have sought the expertise of marketing consultants to help them navigate the world of online advertising and sales.

Strong demand has translated into steady industry revenue growth at an annualized rate of 4.4 percent to $55.3 billion. Starting a marketing consulting firm is one good business to start if you have the expertise and capacity to reach out to your target market and you know how to produce results for your clients.

2. Executive Summary

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is a licensed marketing consulting firm that will be located in the heart of Nassau – Suffolk, New York. We have been able to sign a long term lease contract for a standard corner-piece facility that is highly suitable for the kind of business we want to operate.

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is in marketing consultants industry to provide operating advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations on marketing issues.

We are geared towards providing our clients with cost savings, accelerated marketing development timelines and result oriented service offerings. We are well trained and equipped to service the market segments that require the services we will be offering.

At J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP, our clients’ overall best interest would always come first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hire professional and certified marketing consultants and researchers with various skills set who are passionate in helping our clients achieve their business goals within record time.

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a marketing consulting firm, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our clients’ needs precisely and completely.

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is owned and managed by Jacob Prince Logan. Prince Logan is going to be the Chief Consultant of the organization. He is a qualified (BSc, MSc and MBA) and certified marketing consultant with over 25 years’ experience working for some of the leading brands in marketing consultant industry in the United States of America.

His skills revolve around Research, Analysis, Marketing Strategy, Customer Service, Client Relationships, Familiarity With Media Channels, Writing, Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Attention to Detail, Organization, Planning, Self-Starter, Multi-Tasking, Innovative, Creative, Time Management, Financial Skills, Leadership, and People Management.

3. Our Products and Services

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is in the marketing consulting business to offer varieties of services. Our intention of starting our firm is to become one of the leading brands in the industry and to also make profits and we will do all that is permitted by the law in the US to achieve our aim and business goal.

These are the marketing consulting services that J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will be offering;

• Marketing strategy and market development consulting services
• Sales management and development consulting services
• Strategic management consulting services
• Customer services management consulting services
• Marketing research and public opinion polling services
• Other marketing management consulting and implementation services

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to establish a standard marketing consulting firm whose services and brand will not only be accepted in the United States of America, but also in other parts of the world.
• Our mission is to provide professional and highly creative, result – oriented marketing consulting services and other related services that will assist businesses in promoting their brands all over the globe. We want to build a marketing consulting firm that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the industry.

Our Business Structure

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is will be built on a solid foundation. From the outset, we have decided to recruit only qualified professionals to various job positions in our organization. We hope to leverage on their expertise to build our marketing consulting business to be well accepted in Nassau – Suffolk – New York and the whole of the United States.

When hiring, we will look out for applicants that are not just qualified and experienced, but honest, customer centric and are ready to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all our stakeholders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Consultant/Chief Executive Officer

Marketing Consultant

Office Administrator

• Marketing Executives

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Researcher/Chief Executive Officer:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for providing marketing expertise to clients
• Researches industries, markets, demographics, trends, sales results, and other data related to the client’s products or services
• Analyses details of competitor offerings, including specifications, market share, pricing, and promotional materials
• Creates detailed reports with research findings and analysis to inform marketing strategies
• Provides written documents and verbal presentations for each client to guide the creation of new marketing plans and strategies
• Recommends specific marketing approaches and spending budgets to achieve the client’s desired sales goals
• Assists marketing managers and directors in coming up with focused branding, positioning, and marketing tools for each product or service
• Works within the client’s budget to produce effective promotional materials and advertising opportunities
• Tracks sales and feedback and adjusts marketing strategies as necessary
• Establishes marketing tracking methods to help each client evaluate performance overtime
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of the organizations’ Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversee the smooth running of the daily activities for the organization.

Marketing Executive

• Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new clients, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Document all customer contact and information
• Represent the organization in strategic meetings
• Help increase sales and growth for the organization
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting report
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization.
• Welcomes clients and visitors by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the principal partners in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries
• Receives parcels/documents for the organization.

6. SWOT Analysis

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is set to become one of the leading marketing consulting companies in Nassau – Suffolk, New York. We want our marketing consulting firm to be the number one choice of all organizations. We know that if we are going to achieve the goals that we have set for our business, we must ensure that we build our business on a solid foundation.

Even though our Chief Consulting (owner) has a robust experience in marketing consulting industry, we still went ahead to hire the services of business consultants that are specialized in setting up new businesses to help our organization conduct detailed SWOT analysis and to also provide professional support in helping us structure our business to become a leader in the marketing consultants industry.

This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP;

Our core strength lies in our ability to quickly adopt new technology, access to skilled and flexible workforce and provision of relevant results. Also, we have a team that are considered experts in the industry, a team with excellent qualifications and experience in the market research industry.

Aside from the synergy that exists in our carefully selected team members and our strong online presence, J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is well positioned in a community with the right demography and we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our doors for business.

As a new market consulting company in Nassau – Suffolk – New York, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and gain acceptance especially from top profile clients in the industry; that is perhaps our major weakness.

• Opportunities:

Trends in total mainstream media advertising, particularly in radio, TV, newspapers and magazines, have a direct effect on this industry. As companies increase their investment in advertising, they are more likely to increase their use of marketing consultants.

Total advertising expenditure is expected to rise in 2019, representing a potential opportunity for the industry. Strong growth in advertising expenditure will boost the industry. The opportunities that are available to market research companies are unlimited considering the fact that the marketing consultants industry is a dynamic industry. 

Every organization that has products and services to sell would always look for marketing strategies that will help them reach out to their target market, hence the need for the services of marketing consulting companies.

The business sentiment index acts as a gauge for the overall level of confidence businesses across the economy have in macroeconomic conditions. As the index increases, businesses’ outlook on the economy is seen as improving, which leads them to invest in marketing consultants.

In 2019, the business sentiment index is expected to slightly decrease, posing a threat to the industry. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a marketing consulting firm in same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

The growing trend which makes it easier for people to spend more time on the internet especially on social media networking sites is a major boost in the revenue generated by marketing consulting companies.

It is not common to find players in this industry generating an increasing amount of advertising revenue per user by developing targeted advertising tools to measure the effectiveness of advertising and marketing. This has indeed changed the way organizations interact with customers.

A substantial percentage of consumer interactions and profiling are now being carried out online and on social media platforms with higher visibility. Another common trend in marketing consultants industry is that most marketing research firms no longer settle for clients within the location where their physical office is located, but also from any part of the world.

The truth is that with the advent of the internet, it is now easier for a marketing consulting firm to work for clients in any part of the world. A marketing consulting firm can be located in the United States of America and have their biggest client in United Arab Emirates or in China, many thanks to the power of the internet which has brought the world closer to us.

Lastly, the marketing consultants industry will continue to evolve due to the advancement of computer technology and software applications designs.

8. Our Target Market

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is in business to service a wide range of customers in Nassau – Suffolk – New York and all across the United States of America. We will ensure that we target both private companies and government organizations.

The fact that we are going to open our doors to a wide range of customers does not in any way stop us from abiding by the rules and regulations governing marketing consultants industry in the United States. In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various corporate organizations and individuals who we know can’t afford to do without our services.

Below is a list of the people and organizations that we will market our services to;

• Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
• Blue Chips Companies
• Manufacturers and Distributors
• Real Estate Owners, Developers, and Contractors
• Research and Development Companies
• The Government (Public Sector)
• Schools (High Schools, Colleges and Universities)
• Sport Organizations
• Religious Organizations
• Political Parties
• Television Stations
• Branding and Advertising agencies
• Aspiring celebrities
• Entrepreneurs and Startups

Our Competitive Advantage

Aside from the competitions that exist amongst various marketing consulting companies, they also compete against marketing research companies, branding companies and social media marketing companies that are also into market research.

To be highly competitive in marketing consultants industry means that you should be able to provide ground breaking research and provide solutions at all times.

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is coming into the market to favorably compete in the industry. We will ensure our pricing policy is appropriate, plus the fact that we have a good reputation and also economies of scale. Our staff are well groomed in all aspects of market research and all our employees are trained to provide customized customer service to all our clients.

Lastly, all our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will ensure that we do all we can to maximize the business by generating income from every legal means within the scope of our industry. Below are the sources we intend exploring to generate income for J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP;

• Other marketing management consulting and implementation service

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain, there would always be corporate organization, entrepreneurs and businesses et al who would need the services of marketing consulting firms to help them increase sales.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in the industry and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income/profits from the first six months of operation and grow our marketing consulting firm to enviable heights.

We have been able to examine the marketing consulting space, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. Below are the sales projection for J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP, it is based on the location of our business and the wide range of our marketing consulting services and target market;

• First Fiscal Year (FY1): $200,000
• Second Fiscal Year (FY2): $500,000
• Third Fiscal Year (FY3): $750,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

The marketing and sales strategy adopted by J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will be based on generating long-term personalized relationships with customers. In order to achieve that, we will ensure that we offer all – round marketing consulting services at affordable prices compared to what is obtainable in and around Nassau – Suffolk.

All our employees will be well trained and equipped to provide excellent and knowledgeable marketing consulting services and customer service.

We know that if we are consistent with offering high quality and result oriented marketing consulting services, we will increase the number of our customers by more than 25 percent for the first year and then more than 40 percent subsequently.

Before choosing a location for our marketing consulting firm, we conducted a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to penetrate the available market and become the preferred choice for organizations in Nassau – Suffolk.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the marketing consultants industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market in and around Nassau – Suffolk – New York.

In summary, J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to win customers over;

• Introduce our marketing consulting firm by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to individuals, corporate organizations, religious organizations and other key stakeholders all across the United States of America.
• Promptness in bidding for marketing consulting contracts from the government and other cooperate organizations
• Advertise our business in relevant business magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations
• List our business on yellow pages’ ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local expos, seminars, and business fairs et al
• Create different packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We are in the marketing consulting business -to become one of the market leaders and also to maximize profits hence we are going to explore all available means to promote our company.

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP has a long – term plan of working for clients all across the United States which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Nassau – Suffolk – New York before venturing out. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP;

• Place adverts on both print (community – based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community research programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
• Install our billboards in strategic locations all around Nassau – Suffolk – New York
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Ensure that all our workers wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company’s logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Generally, consulting services are billed on flat fees on a weekly or monthly basis as it applies. As a result of this, J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will charge our clients flat fees except for few occasions where there will be need for us to charge special clients on hourly basis.

At J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP we will keep our fees below the average market rate for all of our clients by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America. Here are the payment options that J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for our services without any stress on their part.

13. Our Startup Expenditure (Budget)

If you are looking towards starting a marketing consulting firm, then you should be ready to raise enough capital to cover some of the basic expenditure that you are going to incur.

Even though it is cost effective to start a marketing consulting firm, you will need money to secure a standard facility, acquire relevant software apps and pay your workforce and pay bills for a while until the revenue you generate from the business becomes enough to pay them.

The items listed below are the basics that we would need when starting our marketing consulting firm in the United States, although costs might vary slightly;

• The total fee for registering the Business in the United States – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits – $1,500.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of – $3,580.
• The cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
• The cost for computer software (Accounting Software, Payroll Software, CRM Software, Microsoft Office, and QuickBooks Pro et al) – $7,000
• Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $3,400.
• The cost for payment of rent for 12 months at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of – $105,600.
• The cost for facility remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits – ($2,500).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $500,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, tables and chairs et al) – $4,000.
• The cost of launching a website – $700
• Miscellaneous – $10,000

We would need an estimate of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) to successfully set up our marketing consulting business in Nassau – Suffolk – New York. P

Generating Funds/Startup Capital for J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP.

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is owned and managed by Jacob Prince Logan. He decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from the bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $30,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $150,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and business structure. If all these factors are missing from a company, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to offer our marketing consulting services a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

J P Logan® Marketing Consulting Firm, LLP will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our organizations’ corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of three years or more. We know that if this is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check : Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of facility and remodeling the facility: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Printing of Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Compilation of our list of marketing consulting areas that will be our strong emphasis: Completed
• Establishing business relationship with corporate organizations, businesses and other key stakeholders in the United States of America: In Progress.

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Companies that win don’t just talk about customer experience—they sell and market in a way that’s both convenient and relevant to customers. Traditional approaches don’t foster this seamless simplicity. What’s needed is a new paradigm: an integrated unification of marketing and sales. We help companies develop the underlying human and technical capabilities that enable a more agile, data-driven marketing and sales organization.

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• The reality for CMOs in today’s world is one of constant change, uncertainty, and innovation. All of this brings opportunity. We help CMOs rethink their business in a meaningful way that drives sustainable growth.
• New digital channels and e-commerce have precipitated dramatic changes in consumer behaviors and expectations. Through a digital transformation of their marketing functions and capabilities, we help businesses anticipate consumer needs and respond better.
• Our unmatched personalization program creates a self-reinforcing cycle of truly 1:1 customer experiences and deepening brand engagement, delivering value for both customers and the business. By reshaping the way companies operate, our marketing and sales consulting experts help enable unprecedented cross-organizational collaboration.
• Balancing go-to-market innovations with traditional sales-force levers is key to getting digital sales right. We help clients improve the effectiveness of their marketing and sales strategy by adopting new trends in data-driven selling, digitization, and selling models.
• Customers are rapidly shifting how they learn about—and buy—products and offerings. We help transform companies’ GTM approach by integrating the tools and data and analytics that direct sales activity into their marketing and sales strategy.
• Centralizing operations teams from marketing, sales, and customer success has emerged as a high-impact way to accelerate revenue growth and go-to-market (GTM) operations efficiency. Our marketing and sales consultants help clients organize their GTM operations in a meaningful way.

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We helped lead an end-to-end marketing transformation for one of the world’s largest convenience retailers to achieve $200 million in-year growth —on a path toward more than $1 billion in annual impact. Our digital marketing consulting experts redefined marketing execution through over 100 pilots in all channels and shaped a vision for a new retail media division. And we fully integrated an agile-squad model to upskill their teams for sustained impact.

A leading global technology company, held back in their new cloud offerings by a traditional field based sales model, was falling behind digital native competitors. We helped the organization design a next-generation sales model and build a regional inside sales center in 90 days and established a true global demand center marketing team. The company expects this new capability to well over $1 billion in run-rate revenue after the first three years.

We helped a client in the retail industry realize an increase in annual revenue of $300 million by implementing one-to-one marketing—experiences based on preferences, usage, location, and context relevant to individual customers.

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How to Start a Small Business in 10 Steps

Learn how to start a small business from scratch with expert guidance. Get essential tips and steps for launching your dream journey successfully.

Brett Grossfeld

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Do you have a killer idea that you think would be perfect for launching a small business? If you believe what you see on TikTok, becoming an entrepreneur is just about as easy as posting a 30-second video. But in the real world, launching a small business can be a bit more challenging.

Starting a small business may seem daunting, but if you ask those same business owners if it’s worth the risk — few would trade the opportunity to shape their own destiny.

But where to start? Thankfully, you don’t need to have everything figured out before going out on your own. Successful small business owners are constantly learning from their mistakes — and improving their ideas and dreams along the way.

If you’re ready to take the leap and become a small business owner, keep reading.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

What is a small business, how much does it cost to start a small business, how to start a small business in 10 steps, what do you need to start a small business, start small — but think big.

Small businesses are generally defined by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as independent operations having fewer than 200 employees. And the majority of small businesses in the United States have fewer than five employees, according to the U.S. Census Bureau . 

But the number — or lack — of employees doesn’t necessarily define a “small business.” A business’s size can also be determined by the number of sales, the range of individual business locations, and other factors.

Along with size requirements, the SBA considers a company to be small if it’s:

• Independently owned and operated
• Not dominant in its field
• Physically located and operated in the U.S. (or a U.S. territory)

If your company meets the SBA’s definition of a small business, many government programs offer resources and local assistance for you to turn your dreams into reality.

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If you’re skilled in a certain trade — say, bookkeeping — you can launch a business with almost no money . But if your idea needs to be fleshed out and developed by researchers, scientists, and engineers, your startup costs can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and beyond. But most startup costs fall somewhere in the middle. 

Factors that influence cost

A sole proprietor working from home is going to have very different startup costs than a Silicon Valley startup flush with venture capital funds. But it doesn’t matter if you have $1,000 or $1 million to launch your small business — you’ll need to have a budget.

Are you moving the clutter out of your garage to make room for a desk? Or are you going to hire an architect to remodel a warehouse space in a trendy neighborhood? Obviously, both businesses are going to have wildly different expenses.

Think about your budget and what you can afford to get started. And it’s good to assume that unexpected expenses will pop up along the way — especially in your first year of business.

What kinds of costs to expect

The SBA has a worksheet that will help you calculate typical expenses for a small business, including one-time expenses such as:

• Rent : This includes security deposit, first month’s rent and utilities. If you’re working from home, you can deduct a percentage of your rent or mortgage on your taxes .
• Improvement costs: Anything that you might spend on your physical place of business to make it suitable for work.
• Inventory : If you’re selling a product, you’ll need goods to keep up with customer demand.
• Employees : This includes payroll, payroll taxes, and health insurance.
• Professional services: Accountants, lawyers, and consultants will all need to be paid
• Supplies : Think office supplies, such as paper and pencils, and operating supplies, like computers and printers.
• Marketing: Business cards, stationery, flyers, and advertising all fall under this category.
• Miscellaneous : This includes licenses, permits, legal fees, signage, technology, and accounting software. Everything else — liability insurance, repairs, maintenance, and dues.

The most difficult part of starting a small business is committing to your vision. It’s easier if you break down the process into small, achievable goals. Here are 10 steps that will get you on your way:

1. Do your research

If you don’t do basic market research before you launch your business, you may be down for the count before you even get started. Ask neighbors, friends, and even your barista if they would be interested in your product or service — and ask how much they’d be willing to pay for it. 

Conduct competitor research, local and global searches, and even offer surveys to consumers to see what the need versus want ratio is. 

2. Write a business plan

A business plan is your roadmap; it helps guide you as you start and grow your company. If you need capital to get started, most investors will want to review a business plan before they commit to any financing. 

To organize your ideas, download and fill out a business plan template . A well-written business plan provides clarity, confirms the math, and helps you establish goals so your business has the best chance of success.

3. Choose a business name

Finding the perfect brand name is a vital step in launching a new business. But hiring a professional naming company doesn’t come cheap — it can cost as much as $100,000 , according to Fast Company. 

If that’s outside your budget, there are countless AI-powered business name generators available online, and Fiverr has entrepreneurs who will help brainstorm business names for three figures or less.

4. Decide on your location

Take a look at the taxes, zoning laws, and regulations in your location. You may find that operating your business in a different location could offer financial advantages. Review the fees, costs, and tax benefits of each state to see which location makes the most sense for your business . A strategic move may put you ahead of the game before you even open the doors.

5. Get your finances in order

Startup costs discourage many would-be entrepreneurs, but the reality is that many successful businesses got started with little more than a vision, discipline, and hard work. However, if you really need cash for that newly opened business bank account, here are four ways of getting that money:

• Self-funding: If you have the means, you may use your own earnings to kickstart your business or see out financial counsel to work it into your budget.
• Outside investors: For a stake in your company, relatives or venture capitalists may be willing to invest in your business.
• Small business loans: If you want to keep full ownership of your business, a small business loan may be the way to go.
• Crowdfunding: If you’re feeling creative and confident, try sites such as Kickstarter or GoFundMe to generate capital.

6. Take care of the legal stuff

Register your business in the state where it was formed — and make sure that you’re set up to pay state income and unemployment tax. Review whether your local municipality requires filing for a license or permit to operate your business. 

To satisfy Uncle Sam, apply for an EIN from the IRS . Confirm that no one else is using your business name by contacting your state filing office or online database. Some business structures require using a doing business as (DBA) name, and you may be required to open a business bank account.

7. Develop a marketing plan

Once you have a terrific name for your company locked down, you’ll want to create an online presence for your business. Be consistent on your social media channels , ideally creating accounts on the channels — meeting them online where they are. 

Develop a website that’s intuitive and filled with all the information your customers need. Your marketing may also include advertising campaigns and public relations.

8. Set up your CRM software

To enhance your marketing efforts and grow your small business, try customer relationship management ( CRM) for Small Business . This will be your solution for storing and managing prospect and customer information such as contact information, accounts, leads, and sales opportunities — all in one single source of truth. 

With Salesforce’s Starter Suite , you can start in minutes and easily manage your marketing, sales, and customer service as your business scales.

9. Launch your product or service

Congratulations: You’ve done all the hard work and you’re ready to introduce your product to the world. Make sure to announce your launch on social media — and consider throwing a media-friendly bash to celebrate.

10. Keep your customers happy

When you use CRM software, you can keep track and personalize support for all your customers. And happy customers are good for business — 80% of them say the experience a company provides is just as important as its products or services .

The United States has more than 33 million small businesses, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , and that number represents 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. And most of those small businesses started the same way — with an entrepreneur and an idea. But it takes more than just a dream to launch a small business.

So, where to start?

It’s time to take some notes. First, start outlining your business plan. If you’re stuck, ask yourself these four questions when developing your plan :

• Goals : What do you need to accomplish to achieve your vision?
• Methods : What are the steps you need to follow to get you there?
• Measurements : How will you determine when each objective has been met?
• Obstacles : What could throw you off course along the way?

Once you’ve written a business plan and are feeling confident, you’re ready to establish:

A name for your business

A great business name should succinctly identify your company and its audience. Brainstorm and get feedback from friends, family, and potential customers. And before you fall in love with your new company name, make sure that an established business in your industry isn’t already using that name.

A location for your business

Choosing where to conduct business is one of the most important decisions you can make for your small business. While staying close to home may be your first instinct, a change of venue may prove to be financially advantageous.

A business structure

For tax purposes and protection of personal assets, you need to choose a business structure that offers the right balance of legal protections and benefits. Common business structures include sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), corporation, and cooperative.

A legal presence

If you want personal liability protection, legal protection, and tax benefits for your company, you’ll need to register your business with state and local governments.

Federal and state tax ID numbers

Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) works like a personal Social Security number, but for your business. You need an EIN to pay state and federal taxes for your company.

Licenses and permits

Whether your business needs to apply — and pay for — licenses and permits depends on your business activities, location, and government rules. Review regulations from city, state, and federal agencies.

A business bank account

Opening up a bank account exclusively for business use will help keep your personal finances separate, making life easier at tax time. There are several banks that will allow you to open a business checking account with a zero balance, but traditionally banks will require an opening deposit of anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000.

Start-up funds

Even if you open a business checking account with a zero balance, you’re going to want to have some funds to cover basic operating expenses. The SBA offers guidance on obtaining funding for your small business, including loans, grants, and investors.

Starting a new business may feel like a gamble, but business insurance will help you cover your bet. The right insurance policy will help protect you against accidents, natural disasters, and lawsuits.

You should also consider:

Customer relationship management

A CRM platform keeps your customer data organized and provides the foundation to build connected customer experiences (that can be made even better through artificial intelligence). Starting with a suite of sales, service, marketing, and commerce tools is easy.

Invoice and billing software

While it is possible to keep track of your financial records on a traditional paper ledger, modern invoice and billing software makes the process much, much easier.

A graphic designer

A well-designed logo can make or break a business. The Nike “swoosh” was created by a graphic design student — and the $35 Nike initially spent paid for itself many times over.

Many small businesses exist with just a presence on social media, but having a professionally designed website adds legitimacy to your business.

Marketing experts

Like graphic design, marketing expenses are costs that many small business owners initially want to avoid. But strategically investing in a marketing campaign can be a boon for a small business that wants to make noise in a crowded marketplace.

A Human Resources department

Once your business grows to a certain size, it’s time to create a human resources (HR) department — or, at least, to hire an HR professional. This professional can focus on things such as labor law compliance, employee recruitment, employee engagement and development, and compensation and benefits management while you manage your business.

An assistant

For most small businesses starting out, hiring an assistant to perform administrative and clerical duties is something of a luxury. If your budget is tight, consider a virtual assistant .

What are some popular small business ideas?

If you have a unique idea for a small business, great. But some of the best small business ideas build on your strengths and experience. What do you love to do? What lights you up when you are helping the community? Do you have a pull to do something more?

What are the odds that my small business will succeed?

Starting a small business is no guarantee of success. Approximately 80% of small businesses survive their first year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The survival rate decreases to 50% after five years and 30% after 10 years.

What are some Fortune 500 companies that started small?

Not all big companies started with millions of dollars in venture capital. Some of America’s biggest brand names had far more modest beginnings . Apple famously got started in a Silicon Valley garage, while Mattel was building dollhouse furniture from picture frame scraps in its early days.

What are the most business-friendly states?

Before setting up shop in New York or California, consider launching your small business in North Dakota, Indiana, Arkansas, South Dakota, or North Carolina. These states offer the best conditions to start a business , according to Forbes Advisor.

What can I deduct for my small business at tax time?

(Almost) everyone knows that you can deduct entertainment and travel expenses as a small business owner. But you can also deduct software subscriptions, office furniture, and interest on small business loans, according to NerdWallet .

Taking the leap to start your own small business is just the first step on your entrepreneurial path. But you’re in good company. Nearly half of all U.S. employees are employed by a small business — and more than 80% of those small businesses are solo ventures , according to Forbes Advisor. There’s no better time than the present to start turning your dreams into reality.

Want to grow your new small business? Sign up for a Salesforce free trial .

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Business Plan Writers & Consultants Serving Texas

Growthink is a national business plan development company . Growthink’s business plan experts are located in several major cities across the United States. Since 1999, our business plan experts have written more than 4,000 strategic business plans for entrepreneurs, small businesses, mid-sized firms, and Fortune 500 corporations.

Our consultants work with clients located all over the country (and all over the world), including many business clients in Texas including all major Texas cities such as Houston , Dallas , San Antonio , Austin and Midland .

We have written business plans for clients in hundreds of industries. Previous Growthink clients from Texas include restaurant owners, alternative energy companies, internet/software companies, retail businesses, and business services firms.

If you are seeking professional help with your business plan, call us at 800-216-3710 or complete one of the forms below. Additional information on our Texas and nationwide business plan services is below.

Growthink Creates Plans to Help You Achieve Your Goals

Since 1999, growthink has created more than 4,000 business and strategic plans for clients who have gone on to achieve tremendous success..

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What Makes Growthink Unique​

We are in constant contact with investors and other funding sources. This enables us to develop plans that raise money. Since 1999, Growthink clients have raised more than $2.5 Billion.​

Vast Client Experience

We have developed plans for clients in over 500 industries, including startup, multi-national corporations, and non-profit organizations. We know how to develop a successful plan regardless of your stage of growth or type of business.

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We don't just document your ideas on paper. Our experts conduct market research and collaborate with you to create strategies for you to succeed in today's competitive environment and over the long-term.​

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Growthink consultants have attained degrees from top universities including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, UCLA and the University of Michigan.

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Who we serve, mid-sized to larger companies, early stage entrepreneurs, fortune 500 companies, small business owners, non profit and government, representative clients.

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Jay has over 25 years of experience in starting, building, advising and investing in high growth firms. His advisory work spans industries and market sectors, including corporate clients like Deutsche Bank, McKesson, Infospace, Samsung, Porsche, & Paramount Pictures seeking to inject entrepreneurship and innovation into their organizations. He has an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA and a Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University.   Read more.

Dave Lavinsky

Growthink’s President, is the author of the Amazon #1 Best Seller in Entrepreneurship “ Start at the End: How Companies Can Grow Bigger and Faster be Reversing Their Business Plan ,” published by Wiley. Dave is a contributor for Enterpreneur.com and Forbes.com. BusinessWeek went so far as to call Dave ‘The Business Plan Expert.’ Dave has an MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and a Bachelor’s degree from University of Virginia.   Read More

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Texas Business Plan Resources

The US Small Business Association West Texas district web page. https://www.sba.gov/district/west-texas

The US Small Business Association El Paso district web page. https://www.sba.gov/district/el-paso

The US Small Business Association Dallas – Fort Worth district web page. https://www.sba.gov/district/dallas-fort-worth

The US Small Business Association Houston district web page. https://www.sba.gov/district/houston

The US Small Business Association San Antonio district web page. https://www.sba.gov/district/san-antonio

The Greater Houston Partnership’s business resources page. https://www.houston.org/business-resources

Texas Economic Development Corporation’s business resources page. https://businessintexas.com/why-texas/small-business-innovation/

The State of Texas’ business resources page. https://gov.texas.gov/business/page/small-business

The Texas Small Business Development Center Network provides complementary and confidential business consulting,  and affordable training. https://sbdctexas.org/

SCORE is a volunteer organization where established businesspeople provide mentorships, workshops, events, and consulting for entrepreneurs. A complete listing of offices throughout Texas can be found here. https://www.score.org/contact-us?state=TX

Learn more about Growthink’s business plan consulting services and methodology. 

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Advertising Marketing Consulting Business Plan

Start your own advertising marketing consulting business plan

Pioneer Consulting

Executive summary executive summary is a brief introduction to your business plan. it describes your business, the problem that it solves, your target market, and financial highlights.">.

A marketing plan must be a “winner.” If the plan does not help management to gain market share, increase sales, lower marketing costs or otherwise “win”, the plan is a waste of time. This is crucial for small businesses that must get the highest return on every marketing dollar spent. Pioneer Marketing will provides its clients with a broad range of “winning” marketing consulting services. These services include strategic planning as well as tactical implementation. Strategic planning utilizes those processes that lead to an executable marketing plan including identifying areas of opportunity, market segmentation, product line analysis, financial planning, competitive analysis, and culminate in the design of a project implementation plan. This will serve as a detailed road map for the planning and supervision of all marketing activities. Once completed, the tactical process is initiated leading to the real-world execution of the plan.

Pioneer Consulting consists of five graduate students from the Marshall School of Management at State University. Marshall’s Marketing Program is ranked in the top 15 in the country and its graduates have gone on to take positions with the nation’s largest marketing firms. The members of Pioneer Consulting won this year’s Andrew Stiegman Marketing Competition. This prestigious award is given each year to the best strategic marketing plan for a proposed small business. Teams from the region’s five graduate marketing programs submitted proposals that were then evaluated by a panel of top marketing professionals.

The target client of Pioneer Consulting is the small business that can rarely afford the cost of contracting the services of a marketing firm to maximize the effectiveness of their marketing expenditures. Pioneer Consulting will be a results-driven marketing firm. We provide a complete range of services. This allows us to evaluate a variety of marketing communications tools, choosing those that are best suited to the client’s requirements. We then combine those tools in such a way so as to create meaningful, effective marketing for optimal results.

1.1 Mission

Our primary focus is to work closely with clients and help them succeed in setting and meeting their marketing goals. We offer total support and a commitment to communicate their ideas in a strategic, creative, and cost-effective manner.

1.2 Keys to Success

• Have the technical expertise to minimize the learning curve for our clients and minimize their expenses.
• Be a part of our client’s business team.
• Insure the timely launch of each client’s marketing program.
• Generate new innovative strategies for our clients that result in a high-quality and cost-effective product.

Company Summary company overview ) is an overview of the most important points about your company—your history, management team, location, mission statement and legal structure.">

Pioneer Consulting consists of five Masters program students from the Marshall School of Management at State University.

2.1 Company Ownership

Pioneer Consulting’s co-owners are Susan Noyes, Elizabeth Rayburn, Issac Harris, Al Takemoto, and Chris Pin.

2.2 Start-up Summary

Pioneer Consulting’s co-owners will each invest $200. The start-up costs are primarily for marketing material and a company cell phone and messaging service.

Pioneer Consulting will offer the following services:

• Development and preparation of strategic marketing plans and programs.
• Key market segment identification plans and programs.
• Design of overall advertising/public relations strategies.
• Industry trend analysis.
• Execution of marketing implementation plans and programs.

Market Analysis Summary how to do a market analysis for your business plan.">

Pioneer Consulting will be focusing on a very specific part of the business market:

• Small Start-up Companies.
• Existing Small Businesses.

4.1 Market Segmentation

Pioneer Consulting will focus on two groups of businesses:

• Small Start-up Companies  – These small start-up businesses can rarely afford marketing consulting services and don’t have the in-house expertise to create strategic marketing plans. Their focus is always on getting a product or service out to customers. The city is growing at a rate of 10% annually and the numbers of start-ups increase each year in all the city’s major industries and service areas. Pioneer Consulting believes that this is an underserved market segment and that they could provide an invaluable service to these target clients.
• Existing Small Businesses – These companies have already reached some limited success and are planning to expand their operations. Typically, they haven’t used marketing consulting services in the past. Perhaps the success of their product or service is only hiding marketing problems in the operation that will emerge as greater pressure is placed on the company performance. Each stage of growth in a company presents challenges that can hurt its performance and success. Pioneer Consulting can provide these companies a focused marketing approach that is responsive to unique client demands, assisting them in achieving their future sales goals.

Strategy and Implementation Summary

Pioneer Consulting will focus on the small start-up companies and existing small businesses that need marketing consulting but heretofore could not afford outsourcing the development of strategic marketing plans.

5.1 Competitive Edge

Pioneer Consulting’s competitive advantage is twofold:

• Pioneer Consulting is targeting customers that the large professional marketing consulting firms don’t actively pursue. There is no direct competition to Pioneer Consulting’s services.
• The broad range of services that Pioneer Consulting can provide to its customers.

5.2 Sales Strategy

Pioneer Consulting’s sales strategy will be based on systematic person-to-person contacts with new and growing businesses. A list of potential customers has already been compiled and will serve as a launching pad for marketing the group’s services.

5.2.1 Sales Forecast

The following table and chart highlight forecasted sales for three years.

Management Summary management summary will include information about who's on your team and why they're the right people for the job, as well as your future hiring plans.">

Pioneer Consulting will be managed by project managers Susan Noyes and Issac Harris.

Susan Noyes was co-leader of the marketing team that won this year’s Andrew Stiegman Marketing Competition. Susan has worked for MediaHound as a marketing assistant for the past three years and has participated in number of successful direct-mail campaigns.

Issac Harris worked for Dynamic Marketing Research as a research assistant for two years before entering Marshall School of Management’s Marketing Graduate Program. He was also co-leader of the marketing team that won this year’s Andrew Stiegman Marketing Competition.

The remaining team members are:

• Elizabeth Rayburn – Elizabeth has three years of experience in media marketing as a former employee of Premier Marketing Consultants.
• Al Takemoto – Al’s skill focus is Internet and e-mail marketing. He has worked as a staff member of Gold Online Marketing Services for three years prior to his admission to Marshall School of Management.
• Chris Pin – Chris has been a marketing assistant at Quick Silver Advertising for the past two years. His area of expertise is print advertising.

6.1 Personnel Plan

Brought to you by

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Financial Plan investor-ready personnel plan .">

The following sections will present the break-even analysis, profit and loss, cash flow, and the balance sheet.

7.1 Break-even Analysis

The Break-even Analysis is laid out in the following table and chart.

7.2 Projected Profit and Loss

The following table will indicate projected profit and loss for three years.

7.3 Projected Cash Flow

The following chart and table indicates projected cash flow.

7.4 Projected Balance Sheet

The following is the projected balance sheet for three years.

7.5 Business Ratios

The following table provides important ratios for the real estate industry, as determined by the Standard Industry Classification (SIC) Index, 7319, Advertising, nec.

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Original text

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2024 – For entrepreneurs, creating a comprehensive marketing plan can seem like a daunting and overwhelming task. However, a solid marketing plan is crucial to reach your target audience, increase brand awareness, and ultimately drive sales and revenue. As mentors to America’s small business owners, SCORE understands the importance of a well-crafted marketing plan and is committed to helping business owners create one that will put your business on the path to success.

Instead of trying to conquer your corner of the business world by marketing everywhere all the time, it’s important to plan your marketing thoughtfully. Your plan doesn’t have to be overly ambitious. But it does need to help set you up for success, rather than leaving you feeling frazzled or overwhelmed.

Represent your brand

You might already have a logo and branding materials, but it’s time to take that branding to the next level. Envision your logo in various advertising and marketing forms - on community bulletin boards, in newspaper ads, on bus shelters. Where do you want to see your logo? Where do you want to hear people talking about your brand?

Consider asking a mentor for assistance with this process. Luke Jian, founder of Agora Coworking in Grayslake, Ill., turned to SCORE mentors Alan Blitz and Paul Rosenstrock for help with starting his business. “They were always available to answer my questions and provide guidance, even outside of our scheduled meetings,” explained Jian. “Their input helped me to develop a comprehensive business plan and marketing strategy that has set my coworking space up for success in the long run.”

Raise awareness

Once you’ve thought about your brand aesthetic, it’s time to figure out how to reach your target customer. Define who your potential customers are and where they are already consuming information. Try to get a sense of their lifestyle and set your marketing efforts to match.

Not sure where your customers learn about products and services like yours? Ask them. Hearing their preferences can guide where you invest your marketing dollars as you work to raise awareness of your business.

Reward loyal customers

“Communicate often and effectively with your customers,” recommends SCORE mentor Rex Winter. “Repeat customers are a critical asset to a small business. Work at building loyalty through effective communication and programs that reward repeat business.”

A discount after a certain number of visits might be the perfect incentive to keep a customer coming back, but be sure you are incorporating sales, promotions and rewards programs into your overall marketing  plan. Consider in advance your resources and cash flow if you plan to offer flash sales, discount programs or seasonal events or specials so you don’t get overwhelmed.

If you’re looking for individualized support in creating your marketing plan, contact SCORE for free business mentoring . Touright Bicycle Shop owners David and Susan Sperstad in Little Falls, Minn. explain why they sought the expertise of a mentor: “We knew experience is the best teacher, so we couldn’t go wrong in reaching out to a SCORE mentor who had successfully run a small business,” said David.

Interested in more information on marketing strategies and best practices? SCORE is hosting a webinar, How To Create A Marketing Plan For Your Small Business, on May 30 at 1 PM ET. Registration is free and available here .

About SCORE:

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 17 million entrepreneurs start, grow or successfully exit a business. SCORE's 10,000 volunteers provide free, expert mentoring, resources and education in all 50 U.S. states and territories. Visit SCORE at www.score.org .

Funded [in part] through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

202-968-6428

[email protected]

Looking for a small business expert or owner for an upcoming media story? Email  [email protected]  to request an interview source. 

Copyright © 2024 SCORE Association, SCORE.org

Funded, in part, through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

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Marketing loyalty coordinator, learn more about marketing consultant jobs, how much does a marketing consultant earn in moscow, id.

The average marketing consultant in Moscow, ID earns between $42,000 and $120,000 annually. This compares to the national average marketing consultant range of $44,000 to $112,000.

Average Marketing Consultant Salary In Moscow, ID

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