A consultant is “an expert in a particular field who works as an advisor either to a company or to another individual.” This sounds pretty vague, but it has been popular in the past two decade or so, and you probably have a good idea what a consultant is.

Businesses certainly understand what consultants are. In 1997 it is said the U.S. businesses spent just over $12 billion on consulting. According to Anna Flowers, spokesperson for the Association of Professional Consultants in Irvine, California, the association has recently noticed an increase in calls for information from people who want to get into the business. “The market is opening up for (the consulting-for-businesses) arena,” Flowers says.

More people are getting into the consulting field because technology has made it easier to do so. Technology has helped even more consultants to be successful as it is making it easier for others to get started.

A consultant’s job is to consult. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s that simple. There’s no magic formula or secret that makes one consultant more successful than another one.

But what separates a good consultant from a bad consultant is a passion and drive for excellence. A good consultant should be knowledgeable about the subject he or she is consulting in. This makes all the difference.

You see, in this day and age, anyone can be a consultant. All you need to discover is what your particular gift is. For example, are you very comfortable working around computers. Do you keep up with the latest software and hardware information, which seems to be changing almost daily. And are you able to take that knowledge you have gained and turn it into a resource that someone would be willing to pay money for. Then you would have no trouble working as a computer consultant.

Or are you an expert in the fund-raising field. Maybe you have worked for nonprofit agencies in the field of fund-raising, marketing, public relations or sales, and over the years you have discovered how to raise money. Some people have decades of fund-raising successes while working for nonprofit organisations, so why not turn it into lucrative consulting business, I can tell you that fund-raising consulting is indeed a growing industry all over the world, especially in Nigeria.

Things to consider before you become a consultant

What certifications and special licensing will I need? Depending on your profession, you may need special certification or a special license before you can begin operating as a consultant. For example, fund-raising consultants don't need special certification, although in the U.S.A. you can become certified through the National Society of Fund Raising Executives and in some of their states, you may need to register as a professional fund-raising consultant before starting your business.

Am I qualified to become a consultant? Before you hang out your signboard or shingle and hope that clients begin beating your door down to hire you, make sure you have the qualifications necessary to get the job done. If you want to be a computer consultant, for example, make sure you are up to date in the knowledge department with all the trends and changes in the computer industry. Am I organised enough to become a consultant? Do I like to plan my day? Am I an expert when it comes to time management? You should have answered “yes” to all three of those questions above, plus do I like to network? Networking is critical to the success of any type of consultancy today. Begin building your network of contacts immediately. Have I set long-term and short-term goals. And do they allow for me to become a consultant. If your goals do not match up with the time and energy it takes to open and successfully build a consulting business, then reconsider before making any move in this direction.

Although you can be a consultant in just about any field these days, the current top 20 consulting businesses include:

Accounting: Accounting is something that every business needs, no matter how large or small. Accounting consultants can help a business with all of its financial needs.

Advertising: This type of consultant is normally hired by a business to develop a good strategic advertising campaign.

Auditing: From consultants who audit utility bills for small businesses to consultants who handle major work for telecommunications firms, auditing consultants are enjoying the fruits of their labour.

Business: Know how to help a business turn a profit? If you have a good business sense, then you’ll do well as a business consultant. After computer consulting, people in this field are the next most sought after.

Business writing: Everyone knows that most business people have trouble when it comes to writing a report or even a simple memo. Then enters the business writing consultancy, and everyone is happy.

Career counseling: With more and more people finding themselves victims of a corporate downsizing, career counselors will always be in demand. Career counselors guide their clients into a profession or job that will help them be both happy and productive as an employee.

Communications: Communications consultants specialise in helping employees in both large and small businesses better communicate with each other, which ultimately makes the business more efficient and operate smoothly.

Computer consulting: From software to hardware, and everything in between, if you know computers, your biggest problem will be not having enough hours in the day to meet your clients’ demands.

Editorial services: From producing newsletters to corporate annual reports, consultants who are experts in the editorial field will always be appreciated.

Executive search/headhunter firms: While this is not for everyone, there are people who enjoy finding talent for employers.

Gardening: In the past decade the demand for gardening consultants has blossomed into a million dollar business. Not only are businesses hiring gardening consultants; so are people who are too busy to take care of their gardens at home.

Grantsmanship: Once you learn how to write a grant proposal, you can name your price.

Human resources: As long as businesses have people problems (and they always will), consultants in this field will enjoy a never-ending supply of corporate clients, both large and small. (People-problem prevention programs could include teaching employees to get along with others, respect and even violence prevention in the workplace.)

Insurance: Everyone needs insurance, and everyone needs an insurance consultant to help them find the best plan and pricing for them.

Marketing: Can you help a business write a marketing plan or do you have ideas that you feel will help promote a business? If so, why not try your hand as a marketing consultant.

Payroll management: Everyone needs to get paid. By using your knowledge and expertise in payroll management, you can provide this service to many businesses, both large and small.

Public relations: Getting good press coverage for any organisation is a real art. When an organisation finds a good PR consultant, they hang on to them for life.

Publishing: If you are interested in the publishing field, then learn everything you can and you, too, can be a publishing consultant. A publishing consultant usually helps new ventures when they are ready to launch a new newspaper, magazine, newsletter and even websites and electronic newsletters.

Taxes: With the right marketing and business plan (and a sincere interest in taxes), your career as a tax consultant can be very lucrative. A tax consultant advises businesses on the legal methods to pay the least amount of tax possible.

Writing services: Anything related to the written word will always be in demand. Find your specialty in the writing field, and the sky will be the limit.

We would continue with this article next week as we discuss further the subject of how to take advantage of the opportunities in the consultancy industry. Send me an SMS/WhatsApp message or Call for more details and training opportunities.

•Lawrence Nwaodu is a small business expert and enterprise consultant, trained in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, with an MBA in Entrepreneurship from The Management School, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, and MSc in Finance and Financial Management Services from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Netherlands. Mr. Nwaodu is the Lead Consultant at IDEAS Exchange Consulting, Lagos. He can be reached via nwaodu.lawrence@hotmail.co.uk (07066375847).

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