You have a looming problem in your business and you don’t have the time or expertise to solve it. Maybe you're not keeping up on chasing down past due invoices or you’d like to spend more time developing the talent on your team. But the demands of your growing business are too much for your current team to support. Things are either falling through the cracks or busting at the seams, and you are having a hard time deciding which issue needs your attention the most.  

It’s time to invest in some professional help. It’s time to let someone #GetItHandled^® for you. But where do you start? 

Because let’s face it: consulting gets a bad rap.

The consulting industry generates about $250 billion globally yet many people are unclear about what consultants actually deliver or if they deliver at all. Simply put, a consultant brings you expertise and advice that enable you to make better decisions. They help you identify root causes, build stronger project plans, and design solutions within the framework of your business. But there are some things you should know to make sure you are getting the most from your investment.

When I worked as a consultant in the 2000s, about a quarter of my time was spent traveling while others in my company spent anywhere from 20% to 80% traveling for work. While it’s hard to replace the benefits of building a face-to-face relationship (or belly-to-belly as a good friend of mine likes to say), the upsides of hiring a remote consulting team outweigh the lack of in-person meetings. Technology makes it easy to connect face-to-face (albeit online), share feedback and information asynchronously (we love Loom and Trello for this), and keep project costs low for you (thanks to lower overhead and no travel expenses).

As you search for a consulting firm to assist you this year, consider these three reasons why a remote team might be the best option for your business (along with three questions business leaders often ask me when exploring remote consulting).

1. Remote consultants can save you time and money.

Hiring a remote consultant can save your company time and money. Consultants provide targeted solutions often more quickly than if you tackled the project yourself, allowing your team to focus on more critical and revenue-generating tasks. Why? Because you have a dedicated project manager to keep everyone on track and subject matter experts (SMEs) to research the problem, implement solutions, and troubleshoot along the way.

Remote consultants are also great for staff augmentation or fractional work. They allow you to keep operations and initiatives moving forward as you design or hire your next role without the cost of a bad hire or leaving the work undone as you recruit. Don’t have a plan for effectively onboarding team members? Your remote consultancy can help you build that system too, along with recruiting and hiring for your vacant positions.

2. Remote consultants personalize the solutions to fit your business needs.

One reason remote consultancy is so effective is the highly personalized service you get throughout the engagement. Your team takes time upfront to understand your business goals, values, and existing infrastructure to tailor their solutions. Let’s face it, technology is great and there seems to be a platform for everything these days. But it’s not enough to pay for the subscription and turn it on; you need to integrate and customize it to fit within your business’s systems and processes. Consultants help you do that.

Another benefit of working with a remote team is increased flexibility. No restrictions on location mean you have greater flexibility with scheduling, allowing for meetings and work outside of standard business hours to accommodate your team and the project. That is one reason LVL-Up clients love working with our team of Foreign Service and Military spouses. As professionals who move every few years thanks to our orders, we have become experts in flexibility, adaptability, ingenuity, and collaboration. We quickly get up to speed on the environment around us (be it Nigeria or your business) and dive right in to help you assess, plan, and problem-solve.

3. Remote consultants increase your access to talent.

Large companies have leveraged international talent for decades. The globalization of work means that small businesses and entrepreneurs now have access to this workforce as well. Platforms such as Upwork allow you to hire top-tier talent from all over the world and find a consultant whose skills and experience align with what you need right now.

Why does this matter? Because eliminating the need to have consultants on-site means you multiply your consulting options. Whether you need assistance with marketing, IT, finance, or human resources, there’s a consultant who specializes in solving your problem. And expanding your talent pool means you can leverage diversity of thought and experience, which means better solutions and better service for your end users.

This is not just my anecdotal experience; studies show that diversity within consulting teams can significantly enhance business outcomes. According to Harvard Business Review, more diverse companies report 19% higher revenue than their counterparts. Additionally, businesses in the top quartile for racial, ethnic, and gender diversity have a 25% greater likelihood of being more profitable than the national median for their respective industries. This underscores the value of engaging consultants from varied backgrounds, as they bring unique perspectives and innovative solutions that can lead to greater success and profitability for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Remote Consultant

Never worked with a remote consultant before? Or had a bad experience with one in the past? It can be overwhelming to get started. People may say that “business isn’t personal” but they don’t know small business owners. Business is very personal to you, and I know you don’t take this decision lightly. That is why I took a little time to answer the most popular questions that business leaders ask me as they are consider investing in a remote consultant.

How do I find the right remote consultant for my company?

Here are a few steps to help you get started:

• Write out your budget, timeline, and description of the problem you need to solve.
• Search for companies that align with those needs. 
• Seek recommendations from friends, family, and colleagues who have worked with consultants before. 
• Search through your own network to see if any of your connections have moved into consulting since you last spoke. 

When evaluating potential consultants, thoroughly review their previous work, client testimonials, and case studies to ensure they have the necessary experience and expertise. Keep track of people or companies you like as you go along.

For small projects, websites such as Upwork, Freelancer, and LinkedIn offer extensive collections of consultants who have reviews and ratings from previous projects. This transparency makes it easier to find a consultant with a documented track record who meets your criteria. For specific project needs or areas of expertise, search through specialized job platforms such as Behance for graphic design projects and eFinancialCareers for finance projects. If you want the laser-focus of a specialist but the support of a project manager and team, consider hiring a consulting firm like LVL-Up Strategies. We offer a project manager, SMEs, and coordinators to not only provide you with strategic planning to solve your problem but also the people you need to complete the work. 

After you narrow down your list, interview the remote consultants you like best to determine fit. 

• Think about applicable certifications, experience, and values. 
• Ask them to send you a proposal for your project. 
• Watch out for red flags (late to meetings, disorganization, poor communication) throughout the vetting process but also note the green flags (personalizations, detailed summaries, strong systems). 

How do I know if I should hire this remote consultant?

Schedule time to meet with all of your top candidates. Most consultants (including LVL-Up) offer a free discovery call or consultation to decide if it’s a good partnership and learn more about what it would be like to work together. Take advantage of this to see if you like their vibe and approach. Verify credentials by asking for references and confirming the consultant’s past successes. A reputable consultant will readily provide the information you need. 

Another way I advise clients to test out remote consultants is by offering them a paid trial. Assign a project or set of tasks at an agreed-upon rate and see how they do. Was the work at the level you expected for the rate? How was their communications and adherence to deadlines? Many consultants actually enjoy a paid trial like this because it also allows them to vet you. From there, you can decide if you want to engage them for your larger project or if you need to continue down your list of consulting candidates.

Once you have chosen the best consultant for your project, ensure you have a strong onboarding and management plan to optimize the relationship, your results, and the return on your investment.

How can I build trust with my remote consulting team?

Clear communication is key to any successful working relationship. Here are tips that can help build trust and improve outcomes: 

• Establish clear communications from the start by setting expectations, defining project goals, and maintaining regular check-ins. Discuss them in a call and verify that they understand and agree to the terms.
• Use formal agreements to outline the scope of work, timelines, financial commitment, and deliverables. You and the consultant should sign and date the agreements.
• Ask about the consultant’s processes, such as onboarding and billing, to ensure their approach is thoughtful and intentional. 

Get Started with a Remote Consultant

Remote consulting has many upsides compared to traditional consulting, from global expertise to cost savings and personalized services. Whether you’re looking to innovate, streamline, or scale, the right remote consultant can be a valuable partner in your journey to success. Still unsure if remote consulting is the best fit for your company? Schedule a free discovery call and we can discuss your business needs and next steps.