How to Become an Independent Consultant: Top 6 Tips

With the rise of digital nomad visas in various countries, more and more people are finding an incentive in working for themselves and renouncing any desire to climb the corporate ladder. Stepping into roles such as independent consulting has afforded many the luxury of working remotely while traveling the world. However, deciding to step away from a 9-5 job, and starting your own business is daunting. It’s compounded by denying oneself the comforts of a steady paycheck and additional benefits such as: medical aid, a pension fund which one contributes to passively, and low interest rates on loans. While the world likes to glamourise being your own “boss” and making “boss-moves”, it’s important for one to thoroughly strategise their exit into business. I have outlined 6 tips that I found to be beneficial when I decided to pursue my business as an independent communications consultant.

1.    Identify Your Niche

It goes without saying that doing what you are most passionate about will be the anchor that holds you down when storms come in your business. Passion is the fuel that keeps you going even when the engine is running dry. It’s equally important to identify your skills and see how they correlate with your passion. Having skills that set you apart from your competitors will afford you more business opportunities and credibility. Meaning, you have to be honest with yourself about the areas in which you are lacking and make an effort towards self-development and learning. Don't forget to implement some “environmental scanning” so that you can identify industry gaps which will enable you to commercialise your skills for your benefit. It’s pointless to offer services that no one has need for.

2.    Pursue Self-Learning to Become a Skilled Consultant

While doing your environmental scanning you might realise that there are additional skills which companies are looking for in your specific industry. This is the time to gain additional skills that will position you as the expert in your field. Thankfully, there are a variety of online courses you can do at your own pace. When I recognised that I wanted to become a consultant, I started taking online courses which my previous employer was paying for as part of staff training and development. I maximised my time at that organisation, not only by acquiring more work experience, but also by getting certification for free. Explore the kinds of courses your employer is willing to pay for and sacrifice some weekends for self-learning.

3.    Identify your Value Proposition

What value are you going to add to your clients’ business? How does it stand out from the rest? You have to identify your ideal client and their frequent problems, how the skills you have will address those problems and bring about solutions that translate into their bottom-line (e.g., sales). This clear game-plan will help you stay within the parameters that will be most beneficial for the growth of your business while ensuring that you do not overstretch yourself by pursuing clients who are not in need of your services. You can use the Value Proposition Canvas by Strategyzer to enable you to identify your unique value proposition.

4.    Find a Mentor

Not everyone will applaud you for quitting your job and pursuing the precarious career of independent consulting. Surrounding yourself with voices that will speak life over your aspirations, guide you, and pour necessary wisdom into you is the raft you’ll need to survive the turbulent deep end of starting a business. Therefore, find someone in your industry who can nurture your ideas and support you. Once you have found a mentor, ask them important questions like how they got started, how long it took them to break-even, what formula they use in their finances to ensure that their business stays afloat, and what lessons they’ve learned about the industry. Talking to my mentor has given me confidence to go against the grain and ascribe value to my skills. He has been leading one of the biggest consulting firms in Africa for about 20 years, so he knows how to navigate difficult seasons such as not getting any contracts. He also knows which times of the year result in more opportunities for his firm and which show a contraction in business contracts. Don’t go at this alone. Heed this African proverb that states “If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” I’m sure you want to go far in your business. What better way to do that than with someone who has gone before you?

5.    Build Your Public Profile

Build a website showcasing your skills and the services you offer. Share this with your online network such as those on LinkedIn, and all other social media platforms. Find industry peers and network with them on LinkedIn and in person. This will eventually open doors for collaboration in the future.

6.    Search for Clients

You are not really in business until you have worked with at least one client. The value proposition you wrote earlier comes in handy here because you can now make a list of clients you want to approach. This narrows down your search to target clients within specific industries. Your ability to make a pitch, send cold emails and to sell your skills to the client will be tested. The only way to succeed is by practicing and never giving up. For my business, after making the list of clients I wanted to work with, I perused their website and social media pages and started identifying areas where their communications efforts were lacking and how my skills could add value to their organisation. By the time I made my pitch, I was clear about how I was going to resolve their problem and help their business grow.

Finally, venturing into business as an independent consultant is achievable if one puts in the effort it takes to make it happen. The business requires persistence and patience. Ultimately, we can all go into business fully equipped and ready to face any challenge that may come our way.