IT Consulting Services Small Business

Our experts will help you make sense of your company’s technology and use it to its fullest potential. If you want top-notch service at a price that won’t hurt your bottom line, we’re here for you. Now, it’s very unlikely that you’ll actually bill 40 hours a week, especially in the beginning stages of your consulting business. Plus, you need to account for sick time, vacation days, healthcare, and other overhead expenses. So, you’ll want to double, or even triple that, to get a better idea of your goal hourly rate (which would be somewhere between $77 and $115 per hour, in this example).

I’ve recently joined a specialist consultancy (small team 50+) part of an international consultancy and advisory organisation. I challenge you to take what you’ve learned here to make your consulting business better. 75.15% of consultants we polled are male, and 25.8% are female.

Average Age of a Small Business Consultant

How much you made there might contribute to going off on your own, but it can help provide a baseline of what you need to hit. Ask these questions to ensure your aspirational salary can pay your bills and be realistic. The consulting industry is growing rapidly and there are loads of small business consultants and small niche firms that work fast and can work directly with growing businesses.

• IT consulting prices start from $125 to $175 per hour, with the project cost from $50,000 to $5 million.
• Natasha owns a no-frills, minimalist fashion boutique called Frey.
• Some of my clients allocate annual budgets and plan their consulting sessions accordingly.
• But, as you can see, it takes an experienced consultant to make it work.
• You set an hourly rate, track your hours, and then bill your client by the hour.

It’s not just the time you put into consulting—it’s the results of the consulting. Smaller businesses still try to uncover the most profitable and repeatable channels that generate revenue – think of business development and lead generation. What works for a 20-person tech shop won’t for Target or Walmart. Niche industry expertise can be truly invaluable when choosing a business consultant to partner up with. The project type of consulting engagement is usually non-recurring, while the service type is recurring.

What percentage of Small Business Consultants are black?

The most common foreign language among small business consultants is Spanish at 52.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 10.8% and Portuguese is the third-most popular at 5.1%. The most common ethnicity among small business consultants is White, which makes up 70.7% of all small business consultants. Comparatively, there are 9.3% of the Asian ethnicity and 8.9% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. 41.0% of small business consultants are women and 59.0% of small business consultants are men.

• Make sure you do your research to find a reputable IT company like ours, who will be there when you need us most.
• Due to high friction around moving data from one data system to another, switching tools is extremely costly in terms of time and money.
• Some businesses primarily use their IT systems for payroll, accounting, and company documents.
• We aren’t just out to make a quick buck, we want to be part of your team, making sure that your business is running at its peak efficiency.

IT consulting rates depend on the experience and stack of technologies consultants work with. Small Business Consultants offer their particular knowledge and experience to either business owners or to the company leadership. For instance a small business will often hire an IT Consultant to audit their IT systems. In return the consultant will provide security and performance recommendations and improvements. Some people get a bit squeamish at the idea of telling a client their hourly rate. In these cases, it can be easier to give someone a project rate. Setting your rates can be one of the most difficult parts of running a consulting business.

Is Negotiating Fees Reasonable?

These costs are different for everyone, depending on tax status and type of business. You have the expertise or a skillset that your clients need. Your value is long-term financial gain, removing annoying roadblocks, revealing business-changing insights, creating ongoing traffic, and more.

The mid-market fee range is populated with three large types of consulting firms. Global Functional Specialists– such as Hay Group, Mercer and Willis Towers Watson or FTI Consulting and Navigant – typically have a revenue per consultant between $300,000 and $400,000 per year. The Big Four– Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG – compete in the same range yet in some services areas also offer lower fees. The market rate is the average price or range of pricing that clients generally pay for your service.

How Much Should I Pay a Business Consultant?

It’s natural to dislike the process of setting your consulting rates, but you shouldn’t have to give up money or sleep because of it. With a bit of know-how and practice, you can become confident in your value as a consultant and ensure your pricing reflects that.

• Ask these questions to ensure your aspirational salary can pay your bills and be realistic.
• That said, some consultants are only available for retainer arrangements – given the fact there is the initial investment in exploring the business and its needs, a long-term commitment may be necessary.
• The mid-market fee range is populated with three large types of consulting firms.
• The best option you have is to pay based on the value that the consultant brings your business, not just the time he spares or the materials he gives you.
• 42.02% use contractors, but don’t employ anyone full-time.

Consulting fees and pricing can be structured in several ways. But like in most businesses offering services, the number one challenge is pricing their offers. Harrison, fees can certainly be different based on where you live. There are consultants living in countries considered less developed who are still able to charge and earn significant rates – especially if your clientele is global. 48.67% of consultants lowered their fees to win clients in the past, but don’t do it anymore.

Thing to Know About IT Consulting Rates

Moreover, in case of larger contracts , buying a bulk of hours at a lower rate may be an option as well. My in-depth expertise in this field combined with my speaking background at WordCamps can be a lot more valuable for businesses who don’t understand the space. Several hours of my time would tap into over a decade of my work almost full-time in this environment, and this can literally save months in R&D for a business navigating the space. You can take advantage of this kind of deal once you have tested a consultant after a month or two, or once you have already covered the entire scope of the project. That said, some consultants are only available for retainer arrangements – given the fact there is the initial investment in exploring the business and its needs, a long-term commitment may be necessary. Some examples of consultants who render services on a recurring basis are the legal consultants, IT consultants, and even financial consultants. You pay a retainer fee in advance to ensure that your consultant will be available anytime you need advisory or assistance.

The solution to this potential problem lies in the reputation and reviews from its clients. Every company in this industry will have an online presence, and you can find reviews and comments about your services with a quick Google search. Be wary of any consultant without any online mentions or presence. We’ve worked with over 50 companies in a variety of industries, and we’ve been able to provide solutions that are both effective and affordable. When you hire us, you can rest assured knowing you’re working with one of North America’s leading IT consulting firms. Some clients are more often asking for custom billing plans to help them quantify their return on investment. If you’re feeling frustrated by all the options, we’ll also walk you through common fee structures and how to get started with calculating your own rates.

F. Industry Expertise

These can all enhance or detract from your overall value. This will take some time and some tweaking before you find the sweet spot in pricing. You may find that your price is scaring off potential clients. This either means that you are charging too much or that you haven’t identified your ideal customer yet.