Consulting
Could my experience become a consultancy business?
Consultancy is not a fallback for people who can't get hired. It's a different business: you're selling a specific outcome to someone with a budget and a problem.
For self-employment · Last reviewed 2026-09-01
Three tests
- Can you name a specific, expensive problem you have solved more than once?
- Can you name three organisations that have that problem right now?
- Do you know someone at any of them?
Three yeses means you have a viable start. Two means it's a project to develop. Fewer means freelance delivery of a single service is probably the better first step.
Where the first client comes from
Almost always someone who has already seen your work: a former employer, a client, a supplier, a colleague who moved. Websites and branding come later.
The honest risks
- Income is irregular, especially in the first year
- You will spend significant time selling, not delivering
- You carry tax, insurance and admin yourself
- Utilisation, not day rate, determines what you earn
Business structure, tax and insurance requirements differ by country and situation. Get professional advice before registering a business or signing contracts.
Common questions
- Can I do this alongside applying for jobs?
- Yes, and it's usually the sensible way to test it. One paid piece of work tells you more than any amount of planning.
- What should I charge?
- Start from what the outcome is worth to the client and what comparable specialists charge in your sector — not from your old salary divided by working days.
Not sure which part applies to you?
The assessment scores your position and tells you what to fix first.
Take the assessmentRelated tools
- Consultancy Readiness AssessmentIn build
- Freelance Readiness AssessmentIn build
- Self-Employment AssessmentIn build