I’ve been pouring everything I have into starting a consulting business since May. It’s supposed to help people with big ideas by giving them a clear plan and even supporting the process of making it happen. My goal is to help others chase their dreams.
I spend over 10 hours every day on this. It’s all I think about, even when I’m supposed to be sleeping. I know this is what I want to do, but getting clients has been so hard, and it’s wearing me down.
I’ve tried a lot: running ads, posting regularly on social media, building my personal brand, creating a good website with testimonials and case studies, working with both paid and free clients, doing cold outreach, and talking to everyone I know.
Still, the results are barely there. I’ve validated the service; people say they’re interested, but it doesn’t translate to sales. I’ve been reading a lot to improve, including “Coach Builder” by Donald Miller.
I quit my job to focus on this, and while it might seem like a risky move, the job was laying people off, and I couldn’t take the stress anymore. My backup plan is to learn automation and add that to my services.
If anyone here has advice, book recommendations, or tips, I’d really appreciate it. I’m feeling close to burnout, but I don’t want to give up.
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Maybe the issue is with who you’re targeting. People who need a blueprint to start a business might not be ready to act on their ideas. Without experience or a strong reputation, it’s hard to convince people to pay you.
It might help to break your service into smaller pieces and focus on one aspect where you can really show your expertise. Start with something simple to get clients more easily and build your credibility from there. Once you have some success stories, it will be easier to grow.
@Kit
I agree with the idea of pivoting a bit. You might be targeting people who don’t have the budget for your services.
Think about tweaking your idea to target a slightly different market. Test out new approaches and don’t get too attached to your original plan. It’s all part of the learning process.
Why not hire a consultant yourself to see how it’s done? If you can’t make your own business work, how can you expect to sell this service to others? Would you learn swimming from someone who can’t swim?
Harlan said: @Hollis
That’s harsh, but I had the same thought initially.
Sometimes people need to hear the hard truth. If you’re struggling to make your own business succeed, it’s going to be tough to convince others you can help them succeed.
Your biggest challenge might be proving the value of what you’re offering. If it’s a customized business plan, people might not pay for it because there’s so much free information available.
Have you thought about partnering with clients as more of a hands-on strategic consultant? You could work with them to get their business running and take an equity stake as payment.
Building a strong personal brand and getting word-of-mouth recommendations might help too. It’s tough at the start, but these things take time to build.
Do you see the issue here? What businesses have you successfully launched that qualify you to charge for consulting? If you don’t have that experience, why do you think others would pay you?
Ignore the negativity here—starting a business is hard, and it’s easy for others to criticize.
You could try running small cohort-based programs where you guide groups of 10-15 people through the basics of starting a business over a few weeks. Focus on specific types of businesses like tech startups or consulting services.
Also, think about creating a paid newsletter where you provide step-by-step guidance. Each week, send out actionable tips that help people make progress on their business ideas. This can build trust and credibility over time.