Local on-site business consultant

Local owner-managed businesses such as shops, manufacturers, care providers and trades firms, plus councils and local charities.

Day or half-day rates, fixed-price projects such as a business review, or a monthly retainer including regular site visits. Travel time is worth factoring into your pricing.

• Specialist expertise a local business will pay for
• Confident face-to-face communication
• Practical problem solving
• Building relationships and trust

• Professional indemnity and public liability insurance; check what clients and your specialism require
• Confidentiality: you will see sensitive business information, so use a written agreement
• Check the rules for data protection and whether you need to register with the ICO
• Travel time and costs can eat into your earnings if your area is too wide
• Regulated advice, such as financial or legal advice, may need authorisation; check before offering it
• Local work can mean relying on a few clients, so keep looking for new ones

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on your insurance, equipment, website and travel needs. Travel time and costs can eat into earnings if your area is too wide, so keep your patch manageable.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on your specialism, day rate and how many clients you work with. Local work can mean relying on a few clients, so keep looking for new ones.

Check which professional indemnity and public liability cover clients and your specialism require, and use a written confidentiality agreement. Also check data protection rules and whether you need to register with the ICO, and whether regulated advice needs authorisation.