Top 10 Startup Consultants to Supercharge Your Business in 2024

The startup journey is exhilarating, but it can also feel like you're constantly on a tightrope. This year is shaping up to be a transformative time for young businesses, but with great opportunity comes fierce competition. In the US alone, an estimated 70,966 startups were launched.

The secret weapon to propel your startup past the hurdles and towards explosive growth? A top-notch consultant.

Here, we've brought the top 10 startup consultants together. From scaling strategies to funding insights, they'll equip you with the tools and expertise to turn your innovative idea into an industry leader.

Our top picks of the best startup consultants to hire

1. Albert M. - Best overall

2. Kate W. - Best for tech startups

3. Jake M. - Best for eCommerce startups

4. Josh B. - Best for establishing startup brands

5. Robbie M. - Best for customer engagement

6. Jack N. - Best for managing high-ROI campaigns

7. Daniel J. - Best for growth marketing

8. Yoav B. - Best for increasing SEO

9. Doron D. - Best for user acquisition

10. Carissa S. - Best for maximizing social media advertising

What is a startup consultant?

A startup consultant is an outside professional who coaches and mentors startup companies, especially if they're at the beginning of their business journey.

Startup business consultants are typically freelance contractors. This means that you don't hire them permanently. Instead, they stay with you as long as needed and then move on to another project.

A startup business consultant helps you save time, frustration, and money by offering key advice and training, helping you with your business plan, and helping you set the right goals with the right path to reaching them.

Startup business consultants play a key role in separating successful startups from the ones that go under. The fact that only 25% of new businesses survive for 15 or more years shows the importance of hiring a highly experienced freelance consultant.

What does a startup consultant do?

Market research

Market research is the foundational step of starting and operating a business. It's even more important for startup founders because it helps them carve out a piece of the market for themselves.

If you're just starting out with your business, it's a great idea to hire a professional to help you with market research. A startup consultant can help you with the following aspects of market research:

• Analyzing and researching industry trends
• Analyzing your market segment
• Analyzing your competitors' strengths and weaknesses
• Researching your target audience's expectations
• Formulating strategies with your marketing and sales teams

Hiring a competent consultant takes a huge load off your back and ensures everything's done right. This will help you stand out from competitors and establish your brand as unique.

Roadmap development

No business can thrive without a clearly defined strategy. That's why it's crucial for a startup to have a well-defined roadmap.

An experienced startup business consultant is the right person for this task. They can review your plans and objectives (if you have any) and give recommendations based on that. If you have no clearly defined plans, they can provide suggestions and help you define your goals.

For example, if your immediate goal is to spread the word about your business, your consultant may suggest you post more Instagram ads at a specific time of day. This means they've identified when your target audience is online and most likely to see the ads, and they're optimizing your marketing strategy to meet your goals.

Financial modeling

82% of startups that fail do so because of financial problems. Avoiding financial problems is just as important as formulating the right strategy and having clear-cut plans. That's why investing in a skilled consultant can save you money down the line.

A consultant can take a close look at your financial plan and available resources. This allows them to see how and when you can invest the money, as well as see if you're spending money unnecessarily.

Having somebody go through your financial plans ensures that your resources are going where needed and that your costs remain manageable. This increases your chances of avoiding financial crises and failing because of them.

Process and project management

As a new business owner, you probably lack practical experience in management and streamlining processes. That's where a consultant comes in handy.

Startup business consultants typically have lots of experience running a company, so they can give you advice and guidelines on what you need to do to manage your company successfully. While you probably want to be as independent as possible, it's always a good idea to have an experienced advisor to guide you through the world of management while you're still learning your chops.

Process and project management are of utmost importance for your business venture. Running a tight ship ensures that everything goes according to plan and that the utilization of your resources is optimized, so there's no wasting.

Even if you have a top-notch plan, it's not worth much if you don't manage the day-to-day running of your company properly. That's why hiring an experienced consultant is a must if you're uncertain about your management skills.

Coaching and mentoring

Your consultant always acts like your startup mentor, especially if this is your first time running a business. They won't simply tell you what to do if you want to succeed. Everything they do at your startup will be a learning opportunity for you, so they'll have the role of coach and mentor by default.

However, a consultant can also be a great boost to your company's morale. They can share stories of business success from their previous experience, motivating everyone on your team.

A good consultant is someone you can always look to when times are tough. They shouldn't focus exclusively on running the business. They should also provide support and show a genuine interest in your business and projects.

Why hire a consultant for your startup?

A startup owner must typically handle many different roles that usually require a team of people to handle. It's also not very likely that you have a lot of experience if you're starting out, which can add to the stress of running a business. So, hiring a consultant might be a necessary step.

An unbiased outside perspective

After investing so much effort, time, and money, it can be difficult to have an objective perspective on your business. That's where an outsider's perspective becomes really important.

A consultant doesn't have the same kind of emotional investment as you. Moving from project to project allows them to have an unbiased perspective when working with a client. This allows them to have a clearer insight into what's happening at your company and figure out what steps you need to take.

If your startup is family-run, a third-party perspective might be even more important. It can get quite emotional in such an operation, and this may cloud everyone's perspective to the point where you find it very difficult to accept your consultant's advice. It's important not to let your emotions get the better of you and make you refuse the consultant's tips and insight.

Cost reduction and time-saving

While hiring an expert consultant isn't cheap, it saves you money in the long run. A consultant can identify where you're wasting resources and where you can allocate them to get a better ROI. They can also tell you when to save money for later and help you create a realistic budget for your projects.

Working with an expert contractor is also cheaper than hiring a full-time employee. With a contractor, you can simply ask for help when needed and pay them per project, which is usually cheaper than paying somebody a monthly salary.

A consultant can also help you save time. They can quickly and easily identify your weak points and what you need to do to address them and speed up your processes. Having somebody experienced who can give you solutions to your problems means you don't have to spend your time thinking of solutions. You can instead focus on other aspects of running a business, more in line with your expertise.

Customized business plan for your startup

While in the development phase, your business is vulnerable and needs expert guidance. Strategy development is one of the crucial tasks for success and utilizing a cookie-cutter strategy can't get you far. That's why you need an expert who can quickly learn about your business, analyze your goals, and formulate an effective business strategy based on that.

A detailed analysis of your plans and goals allows your consultant to create a customized business plan. No strategy is one-size-fits-all and a good consultant must understand that and strive to create a unique plan for each client.

Valuable resources and connections

The most important resource that a consultant brings to your company is their knowledge and experience. They also have valuable connections with figures in different fields, which is always important in business.

Your consultant might help you find potential business partners and establish good relationships with others in your field. They can also connect you to people in other fields, which might help you with future projects.

Things you should be looking for when hiring a startup consultant

Hiring a consultant is an important task. If you're wandering into that territory for the first time, it can get quite confusing, and you might not make the right decision. So, let's examine the most important traits you should look for when searching for a consultant.

Industry-specific experience

While it's essential to have an experienced third-party advisor, it's even more important that they have experience in the right field. If you get a consultant with lots of general experience but minimal experience in your industry, they might not be of much help.

Every industry has its quirks and intricacies, so it's important to look for a consultant with experience in your niche. Such a consultant is much more likely to give you valuable advice, identify growth opportunities, and formulate an action plan that works.

They will also be much better acquainted with potential problems you may encounter. This allows them to quickly think of a range of solutions to prevent damage and ensure your processes are not interrupted.

Proven track record

A proven track record showcases your potential consultant's previous successes and strong points. It also allows you to see if they have the right experience and are a good match for you and your business idea.

When interviewing a potential consultant, always ask for details on successful companies they've worked with and ask for references. Learning what their previous clients have had to say about their work tells you a lot about who they are and whether or not they're suitable and reliable.

Personalized solutions

A good consultant analyzes each problem and situation in great detail and provides unique solutions. While they must draw on their experience and knowledge, they should never be a one-trick pony and rehash the same idea.

Your consultant must investigate your initial business idea and develop a personalized strategy. If the consultant you're interviewing or working with doesn't have original ideas, you might want to opt for somebody else.

Strong communication skills

A good consultant must also be a good communicator. They constantly need to keep in touch with you and share their ideas in a straightforward way.

Good communication skills are particularly important when you consider their coaching and mentoring role. A good coach and mentor must share their advice and lessons in a clear and understandable way you can easily memorize and use in the future.

Your consultant may also provide you with useful business connections, so good communication is key to establishing and maintaining them.

How much does a startup consultant cost?

On average, small business consultants charge $75 an hour. The lowest rates are around $45 an hour, while the higher rates are typically around $150. However, the rates can vary depending on how experienced, renowned, and successful a consultant is, so you might pay much more than $150 an hour if you're hiring a premium consultant.

How to hire the perfect consultant for your startup

There are a few things to keep in mind if you want to find the right consultant for your startup. Let's take a look at what you need to pay attention to when looking for a consultant.

1. Decide on your goals

Define your goals as clearly as possible and decide what you want to achieve. Sometimes, it can be difficult to have a crystal-clear picture of your goals, but having at least a general idea makes it much easier to find a consultant. Not to mention that this makes it much easier for them to do their job.

2. Create a job description

When writing a job description, you must define your project scope, talent needs, and budget. Potential applicants must know what you're looking for so they can judge if your offer matches their skill set. A convoluted description with a lack of vital information won't get you far.

Describe exactly what you need help with. Different clients have different needs and expectations, and knowing what you need helps consultants decide if they can and want to work with you.

It is also important to mention preferred qualifications and education. You should also mention your work environment and conditions.

3. Hire with Mayple

If you want to avoid the hassle and difficulties of browsing job boards and freelance platforms, you should try working with Mayple. We can connect you to various startup consultants specialized in different lines of business and help you find the perfect one for your niche and needs. With Mayple, you can sit back and let us do all the heavy lifting for you.

Sign up now and find a consultant who can help you build your business from scratch.

Time to start upping your business

The startup world thrives on innovation and calculated risks. But sometimes, the smartest move is to leverage the expertise of those who've been there before. Investing in a top consultant isn't just about growth—it's about acquiring the knowledge and confidence to navigate the dynamic business landscape with a competitive edge.

Think of it like this: successful mountain climbers don't embark on Everest without a seasoned guide. A top consultant is your guide in the startup world, helping you avoid hidden crevasses, identify the most efficient routes to your goals, and, ultimately, reach the summit of success.