Limited Company Guide for Management Consultants

Whether you call yourself a management consultant, freelancer or contractor, this article will provide you with useful hints and tips on starting out as a management consultant and setting up your own limited company, which as any accountant will tell you is just about the most tax-efficient way of working.

A management consultant will primarily use their business skills to provide the end client with advice on issues such as value, maximising growth, business performance for their company along with change management. They can work in a variety of different service areas, including banking, marketing, IT, business strategy and financial controls.

There is no set method for becoming a management consultant, however, a business degree, MBA, commercial experience and strong communication skills are all good to have, as are keeping up to date with all the latest management trends and news.

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Finding work as a management consultant contractor

Finding work outside of agencies can be a challenge, and there is no one solution that will work. It’s very much a case of trying a combination of methods, the wider you spread your net the better chance you have.

First things first, before you even start looking for a contract and approaching companies, you will need to ensure that you have an impressive CV to showcase why you are the best person for the job.

Make sure that your details are up to date, and that the information is relevant to the contract you are looking at. Highlight your skills and use industry buzzwords.

Most importantly, check your CV for any grammatical errors and ensure it is clear and concise. We’ve compiled a list of our top tips on how to put together an impeccable CV.

Some (almost) free suggestions on how to market yourself as a contractor:

• Set up your own website – Set up your own website – This can complement your CV well if executed well. Ensure your website is rich in information about the services you offer, the areas you cover and your contact details.
• Job sites – Upload your CV onto job websites. Many jobs aren’t advertised, so recruiters search for likely candidates with the best experience and skill fit. As you can imagine, a recruiter will want to keep costs down on their side and find a suitable candidate as swiftly as possible.
• Look on specialist contractor and management consultant websites – news feeds from these types of websites are a great way of finding all the current jobs, as well as finding out how your particular industry is developing.
• Contacts – Be sure to optimise your existing contacts as well as building a base of new contacts. Potential clients are everywhere, so don’t just focus on business networking but discuss your services in a social capacity as well.

For more helpful hints and tips, visit our guide to finding work as a contractor.

All you need to start a limited company

Discover all the intricacies of contracting through a limited company with our free downloadable guide.

• Understanding legislation – what is IR35 and what could it mean for your business?
• Maximising your expenses – find out what business costs you can expense through your company.
• Making your business a success – a look at how to manage your time, market yourself and make your business a success.