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Step 1
Determine the level of specialization of a consulting firm before you provide any consulting fees. The key decision you need to make is whether you want a consultant that solely focuses on your business plan or provides general advisory services for your company. There are a number of agencies like Cayenne Consulting, which provide a full range of business consulting services (see Resources below).
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Step 2
Ask each prospective consultant for a copy of his client portfolio before you make a selection. The diversity and size of a consultant's portfolio indicates his ability to help edit business plans. Most consultants are glad to provide references or post a sampling of their clientèle on their websites.
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Step 3
Decide the amount of money you are willing to spend on the business consultant you select. If you only need one planning session, you should prepare to spend hundreds of dollars on consulting fees accrued over several days. You should set aside a higher amount if you anticipate working with a planning consultant on a quarterly or yearly basis.
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Step 4
Seek out information on the amount of resources a business planning consultant can mobilize on your behalf. Independent consultants may run their business out of their homes with limited resources, to keep costs low. In contrast, major firms can access research tools, new software and other technology because they reinvest their higher consulting fees.
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Step 5
Establish a timetable for the completion of business planning activities. Your consultant should be able to establish an estimate based on the size of your business and the amount of details you have available. You should select a specific date and time for delivery of a draft plan for review by your staff.
