How to Start a Consulting Business—4 Tips From a Seasoned Pro
Sidelined from her job as a corporate marketing executive, Amy Shoenthal set her ambitions on creating a successful consulting business. Here, she shares the essential steps she took to get started.
Source: George Milton
When Amy Shoenthal returned to her role as a marketing executive after 12 weeks of maternity leave, she faced an identity crisis. She was ready to throw herself back into a job she loved—but found her workplace wasn’t so receptive. “I saw the writing on the wall… opportunities that were once available to me sort of shriveled away,” Shoenthal says. Eager for ways to demonstrate her skill and expertise, she flexed her college journalism degree and began freelance writing.
“What happens when you sideline an ambitious woman? She’s going to direct her ambitions elsewhere, and that’s exactly what I did,” says Shoenthal. She began regularly contributing to ForbesWomen, highlighting the stories of leaders and change-makers. This was the work that ultimately inspired her forthcoming book, The Setback Cycle, which weaves together research, profiles, and interviews with women who have faced tremendous career setbacks—and emerged from the experiences stronger than ever.
What happens when you sideline an ambitious woman? She’s going to direct her ambitions elsewhere, and that’s exactly what I did.
While continuing full-time work at her firm, Shoenthal began slowly and intentionally building a side hustle—a small business as a marketing consultant. To make the task manageable, she set herself monthly goals, such as building a website and creating business documents. So when Shoenthal was later laid-off from her full-time job, she had systems in place to pursue her next chapter.
“I spent 20 years working at agencies full time, but I always freelanced on the side,” Shoenthal says. “That made my transition when I was laid off from my full-time job more palatable… I had built an entire network, platform, and community outside of that job.”
Now with her first book on the way, a little one at home, and a booming consulting business, Shoenthal shares the essential steps she took to start out on the consulting track.
4 Steps to Take When Starting a Consulting Business From the Ground Up
1. Build a Website
“I kept it password-protected for a long time because I felt like I shouldn’t broadcast it. Creating the website gave me the exercise of having to write out what I do—whatever I did at my firm and on the side. I had to go through the exercise of writing out what my capabilities were, what I was offering in terms of my services. So building a website forces you to create your narrative around what you’re doing.”
Useful Tools
Squarespace: Easily build a professional-looking website using one of the platform’s nearly endless templates. The company offers additional support for things like search engine optimization (SEO) and client invoicing.
Wix: User-friendly is the name of the game with Wix, which offers nearly 1,000 customizable website templates. Built into the platform, users also have access to SEO tools.
2. Form an LLC
“You want to keep your finances and everything separate from your personal accounts, and you want to be able to invoice as your [limited liability corporation] LLC, instead of you as a person and w9 [contractor]. Forming your LLC is time consuming, so build in time for that. I decided to make myself reach one goal every month in the years I was building this [business].
I decided to make myself reach one goal every month in the years I was building this [business]… It’s these little things that made me feel like I was building momentum and moving forward.
Forming an LLC took me one month, and then I opened up a business bank account and a business credit card. I started transferring those recurring monthly bills—like my Squarespace subscriptions and project management software—to my business account. It’s these little things that made me feel like I was building momentum and moving forward.”
Useful Tools
LegalZoom: Offers a free plan (+ the cost of state filing fees) to create an official limited liability corporation. If you need additional guidance, purchase a plan that offers access to an attorney within your state.
ZenBusiness: Includes a free plan (+ state filing fees) to set up your LLC and ensure state compliance. More comprehensive plans are available for purchase, and include options for things like business document templates and domain name registration.
3. Create an Invoicing Process
“Once I built the website, formed an LLC, opened the bank account, opened the business credit card, and started shifting my business expenses to that credit card, I created an invoicing process.
I think this is an important step because it feels overwhelming. Google has a lot of great templates for creating an invoicing system. They have good trackers, for example.”
Useful Tools
Invoiced, by Google Workspace: Subscription service that allows companies of any size to invoice, accept online payments, and track payments.
Invoicely: Software that includes invoicing, tracking, and online payment options. Invoicely offers a free plan, as well as more robust options that include offerings such as branding, financial tracking, and reporting.
4. Create Templates
“One of the biggest things I had to do was write that first proposal for a new client. Once I had that, I had a template to use going forward. I also had to design my deck template and design my company’s logo. I hired a freelance graphic designer who did that for me. It’s important to note that some of these steps cost money, and I invested the money in doing these things when I had a salary.”
Useful Tools
Bidsketch: Proposal creation software that includes templates, analytics, and electronic signatures.
PandaDoc: Software that allows small business owners to create, send, and sign easy-to-customize proposals.
Freelancing Females: Robust directory of women freelancers for hire, specializing in graphic design, photography, writing, and more.
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