How to Start a Consulting Business
First client in 30 days, six-figure run rate in year one.
Consulting is the lightest business type to launch — but pricing, positioning, and pipeline decide whether it grows past your first two clients.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. Lazimkey may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we would use ourselves.
- 1
Pick one specific problem you solve
'Marketing consultant' loses to 'demand-gen for B2B SaaS Seed–Series A' every time.
- 2
Form an LLC, get an EIN
Sole prop is fine to start; LLC gives you liability protection cheaply.
- 3
Website that ranks for your niche
WebsitePositioning page, case studies, contact form. Hostinger + a WordPress theme is enough — this is not the moment for a custom build.
🟣Recommended toolHostingerSee pricing - 4
CRM from day one
CRMEvery conversation, every referral, every follow-up. HubSpot's free CRM is what most solo consultants use.
🧡Recommended toolHubSpotSee pricing - 5
Proposal + contract templates
Reusable templates for scope, deliverables, and payment terms. Bento Bidder, Notion, or a Google Docs pack — pick one and stop reinventing.
- 6
Publish 5 pieces of positioning content
One idea, published in five places (LinkedIn, newsletter, guest post, podcast, YouTube). This becomes your inbound.
- 7
SEO: rank for your exact service + niche
SEO'B2B SaaS demand-gen consultant' should be findable. Semrush shows the exact terms.
🟠Recommended toolSemrushSee pricing - 8
First client — even at half price
Trade $ for a case study. That case study wins the next 3 clients at full price.
- 9
Raise price 20% every 3 clients
The only pricing rule that matters in year one.