What does a small business consultant do?

A small business consultant diagnoses a specific business problem, designs a fix, and usually helps put it in place. The best ones change how the business runs rather than handing over advice and leaving.

How much does small business consulting cost?

It ranges widely. Hourly work runs roughly $80 to $300 depending on the specialty, projects commonly land between $5,000 and $20,000, and monthly retainers start around $1,500 and climb from there. What you pay depends on complexity, scope, and the state of your books.

When should a small business hire a consultant?

When the same problem keeps recurring, when revenue grows but profit shrinks, when the owner is the bottleneck for everything, or when a big opportunity is coming and the business is not ready.

What is the difference between consulting and coaching?

A consultant works on the business: its systems, numbers, and operations. A coach works on you: mindset, leadership, and how you spend your time. Owners often need one and hire the other.

Do consultants only give advice, or do they implement?

Both kinds exist. For most owner-led companies, implementation help returns far more than advice alone, because a plan nobody installs changes nothing. Ask any candidate directly whether they implement or only recommend.

Do you work with very small businesses?

Yes. Owner-operated companies between roughly $500k and $10M in revenue are the core of this work, including the band that has outgrown a basic bookkeeping service but is not ready for a full-time finance hire.

How is paid consulting different from free SBA or SBDC help?

Free public resources are good for early and general questions. Paid consulting earns its place when you need hands-on implementation, ongoing accountability, or specialized work that general counseling cannot go deep enough on.

How long does a consulting engagement take?

A focused project often runs one to three months. Ongoing advisory or fractional leadership is a continuing relationship measured in months and quarters. Match the length to the problem: a one-time fix is a project, a recurring need is a retainer.

No, and that is on purpose. Walden does the forward-looking financial and operations work your CPA does not, and refers every bit of tax and attest work back to them. You keep your accountant.

Consulting

How to Choose the Right Small Business Consulting Partner

Most owners hire a consultant only when something is already on fire — and too often hire the wrong one. This is the buyer's map: what consulting really is, what it costs, the ROI math, the red flags, and how to pick the right partner.

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