Nowadays business consulting is one of the fast developing sectors of business and integral part of management. Business consultant’s advice can be of great help in making company effective and fast-growing.

These professionals analyze business and provide solution packages to help companies reach their goals. Entrepreneurs hire business consultants when they need help with their business or decide to change company’s scope. Business consultants can accelerate decision making.

What is consultant’s main responsibility?

Below are the mains reasons why companies hire business consultants:

- Analysis of a specific market;

- Defining the problem;

- Help in hiring additional workers;

- Provide objectiveness;

- Delivering trainings for employers;

- The revival of business;

- Creating new business directions;

- Affecting other people by lobbying.

First step for consultant is to specify phases and schedule to learn customers’ goals. Experienced business consultants primarily secrete the major part of their time to the study of the entrepreneur and his employees. At this time the consultant meets with directors and staff, gathers information about company, analyzes financial situation and determines the situation in general.

The next step is to define the areas which need improvement and changes. Company’s strengths and weaknesses, present and potential threats are identified at this step. The problems defined by the entrepreneur or uncovered by consultant are discussed at this stage. Business consultant in turn determines business development opportunities and the ways to maximize the income and effectiveness.

Additionally, after defining opportunities and threats, the consultant prepares problems solution and effective offers.. The consultant should know the businessman’s thoughts and plans to provide the constructive criticism on them

After the plans are discussed and approved by the customer, consultant moves to the third step – execution. At this stage consultant builds up his work around actives, strengthens passives and periodically monitors achievements, making changes if necessary.

But the most important step is the choice of the consultant himself. A good consultant is a kind of "eye" of the company, who loves his job and seeks to bring it to perfection. The important step in determining the right consultant is the choice of such professional who is familiar with the business specifics and problems of this particular company.

Many people call themselves business consultants but it does not make them a good one. When looking for a professional business consultant it is very important to pay attention to his certificate, web-site and provided content. Browsing consulting web-sites pay attention to the photos, past experience and to all provided information on the site in general.

Hiring a consultant may cost a lot for a company. However after implementation of consultant’s plans and offers customers will feel professional touch by increased effectiveness of the business. Business consultant helps a company to come to success and determines its capabilities.