28 Profitable Consulting Business Ideas (+How to start one)

Are you looking to start a consulting business but aren’t sure what to specialize in? 

If so, you’re in the right place. 

In this post, you’ll learn: 

• The 28 top consulting business ideas
• How to grow a consulting business that helps you achieve more freedom and flexibility
• And more!

Let’s jump in! 

Quick insights:   

• Consultants are in high demand, and the consulting industry is growing 
• To succeed as a consultant, choose a profitable niche that suits your existing skills
• If you don’t have a degree, that’s OK —  in many cases, experience and/or a certification is more than enough

Top 28 profitable consulting business ideas you can start 

The consulting world is vast, and it’s expanding rapidly. 

These days, you find consultants in pretty much any field.  

That said, their responsibilities vary widely, and some consulting businesses are more profitable than others. 

So, let’s take a look at the best consulting business ideas – that way, you can choose the one that most fits your skills and goals. 

1. Management consulting 

As a management consultant, you provide expert advice to organizations and businesses to help them identify and solve various issues.  

The most common areas include:

• Marketing
• Business management
• Employee productivity
• The supply chain
• Strategy development 

Management consulting is a BIG industry. In fact, it’s valued at around $1 trillion dollars globally. 

In many cases, management consultants are expected to have at least a bachelor’s degree and several years of industry experience. 

However, this depends on what types of clients you work with. 

And if you want to get certified (which isn’t always necessary – but might be required by some clients), the internationally recognized Certified Management Consultant (CMC) certification might be a good option.

📚Read more here. 

2. Strategy consulting 

Strategy consultants work with senior management to improve a company’s strategic direction. 

As a strategy consultant, you might offer guidance on things like:

• Budgeting
• Production strategies
• Risk management
• Hiring opportunities 
• Market analysis
• Sustainability

So, what’s required for this consulting business idea? 

Typically, strategy consultants should have an in-depth understanding of financial concepts and business dynamics. 

You might need a degree in business administration, finance, or a related field. Again, this depends on who you choose to work with. 

Learn much more about the job here. 

3. Marketing consulting 

As a marketing consultant, you work with businesses to assess and improve their marketing strategies. 

You’ll focus on one or several types of marketing, such as:

• SEO
• Google ads
• Or content marketing 

Now, as a marketing consultant, you can help big companies with large marketing budgets or smaller businesses that can’t afford their own marketing teams (or both!). 

👉For example, one of my first online businesses was working with small businesses to develop their digital advertising strategies. Because of that, I was able to build that business to six figures in just four months. 

Here’s how:

But keep in mind that to become a marketing consultant, you need real-world experience with communication, marketing, and media. 

Take the next steps here.

4. Financial consulting 

Financial consultants help their clients manage personal or organizational finances. 

They work with individuals, businesses, or both on things like:

• Estate planning
• Retirement planning
• Tax strategies 
• Insurance
• And much more

For example, my former student Paridhi helps her clients manage, invest, and grow their money. 

Typically, financial consultants have experience with financial analysis and risk management, as well as a degree in economics, accounting, or finance. 

Many also hold MBAs and certifications like Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC). 

But remember: Certifications often aren’t worth the price. I discuss why right here. 

5. HR consulting 

Human resources (HR) consultants oversee HR programs, identify workplace issues, and help teams optimize. 

As an HR consultant, you could work on aspects of HR like:

• Compensation and benefits
• Employee management
• Work culture
• Organizational change 

For example, my former student Carol Parker Walsh offers services to corporations that want to improve their culture. While she isn’t an HR consultant, she helps with the same types of problems. 

As a HR consultant, you should first and foremost have experience in what you’re coaching on. Some skills you might need include communication, problem-solving, and business planning. 

Learn more in this post.

6. Cybersecurity consulting 

Cybersecurity consultants fulfill an extremely important role for their clients: Protecting networks and digital assets. 

Their tasks typically include:

• Evaluating security 
• Responding to cyberattacks
• Assessing risk
• Designing security measures and protocols

And demand for cybersecurity consultants has skyrocketed in recent years. The unemployment rate for the sector is 0%. 

That said, this role requires a range of technical skills like programming, cryptography, and familiarity with IT infrastructures. Some cybersecurity consultants have  bachelor’s or master’s degrees in cybersecurity. But those aren’t necessary if you have the experience and have participated in e cybersecurity bootcamps. 

Discover more about cybersecurity consulting here.

7. Legal consulting 

Legal consulting is another role that’s always in demand. 

Think about it: All sorts of individuals and companies need legal support, analysis, and guidance. 

As a legal consultant, you fulfill similar duties to a lawyer, but exclusively outside of the courtroom. 

You could specialize in almost any field: 

• Finance
• Foreign affairs
• Real estate, business
• And so on 

For example, my friend Lisa Fraley is a legal coach who primarily works with online entrepreneurs, coaches, and business owners. 

However, for this role, you need a law degree and experience in your field of specialization. Many legal consultants also need to pass the bar exam (or should even if not required). 

📚Read more in this guide.

8. Healthcare consulting 

Healthcare consultants typically work with healthcare-related organizations to optimize their processes and profitability while maintaining a high level of patient care.

Most healthcare consultants work for hospitals and other medical facilities.

The most common tasks for healthcare consultants include:

• Formulating a strategic vision 
• Developing marketing initiatives 
• Integrating technology and healthcare systems 
• Providing solutions for improved patient satisfaction 

Of course, healthcare is another very stable industry, and employment in healthcare-related jobs is expected to keep growing. In fact, 1 in 4 jobs created in 2023 were in healthcare. 

More good news?

You don’t need a certification or license to be a healthcare consultant. Even so, many consultants do have a degree in healthcare administration or something similar. 

Ready to become a healthcare consultant? Check out this guide.

9. Business consulting 

If you’ve got a knack for all things business, business consulting could be an ideal job for you. 

Business consultants help business owners with all sorts of things, like:

• Establishing a new business
• Training employees
• Expanding into new markets
• Mergers
• Reorganization 

In most cases, the business consulting process follows three stages:

1. Discovery: In this stage, the consultant learns as much as possible about the business 
2. Evaluation: Here, the task is to identify the specific necessary change 
3. Implementation: Now, it’s time to implement the restructuring plan and monitor its progress 

You don’t need a degree – what matters is your experience.

When I started my private business coaching company, I was able to apply about 10 years of experience building successful businesses – everything from a tutoring business to a tech startup. 

And today, I help people start and grow their own online businesses. 

I discuss how you can do the same in this post. 

10. Social media consulting 

Social media consultants help businesses grow their online presence through effective social media strategies. 

Responsibilities may include:

• Overseeing social media accounts
• Developing and sharing content 
• Collaborating with others to maintain brand consistency

And luckily, you don’t need a degree to be a social media consultant. Nonetheless, you’ll probably need experience with content creation, design, and copywriting (depending on what you specialize in). 

Internet entrepreneur Ippei Kanehara describes the 11-step process to become a social media consultant in this post. 

11. Event consulting 

Making sure an event goes off without a hitch can be TOUGH, right?

That’s where event consultants come in and take charge. 

But event consulting can be stressful. In fact, it’s often listed as one of the most stressful jobs. 

That said, if you’ve got the right skills, it’s also highly fulfilling, lucrative, and scalable. Those skills include: 

• Managing a team
• Scheduling
• And budgeting 

Furthermore, an event planning business is one of the best remote business ideas. 

12. SEO consulting 

An SEO consultant is a digital marketing specialist whose focus is search engine optimization (SEO). 

Basically, SEO consultants help clients develop an SEO strategy that’ll improve their search rankings, increase organic traffic to their websites, and ultimately help them grow their business.

For example, the marketing agency I co-own, Zalstrom, offers SEO consulting services. 

Typically, our work involves these phases:

1. Audit
2. Strategy and suggestions
3. Implementation
4. Monitoring results
5. Readjusting the strategy 

In terms of qualifications for SEO consulting, no degree is necessary, but experience is key. While I personally don’t have experience in SEO, Zalstrom’s co-founder has years of experience.

Ideally, you can show case studies of businesses you’ve helped. 

It’s also important that you can explain the value of the work you do. 

To learn more about SEO consulting, check out this post.

13. Environmental consulting 

Environmental consultants work with companies to find a balance between reducing negative environmental impacts and remaining profitable and efficient. 

Environmental consultants use:

• Technical and analytical skills 
• Scientific knowledge
• Communication and collaboration

To become an environmental consultant, you’ll likely need a bachelor’s degree in a science-related field. 

Furthermore, an advanced degree or certification can help you stand out from the competition. 

Read on here.

14. PR consulting 

As a PR consultant, you help clients communicate effectively with target audiences, stakeholders, and the media.  

Your clients might be nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, or individuals. 

And your tasks might include:

• Drafting press releases
• Developing PR strategies  
• Managing PR crisis 
• Planning PR campaigns 

To be successful in this position, you should be an excellent communicator with experience in: 

• Writing
• Digital marketing
• Relationship-building
• Problem-solving
• Public speaking  

A formal education isn’t necessary for this role, but a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and practical experience will give you an advantage over others.  

Learn more about getting started as a PR consultant here. 

15. Sales consulting 

Sales consultants are responsible for helping businesses or individuals increase sales. 

As a sales consultant, you build trusting, transparent relationships with clients.

You also take on tasks like: 

• Preparing presentations
• Monitoring market trends
• Generating leads 
• Tracking sales performance  

To become a sales consultant, you don’t need a specific degree. But you will need plenty of experience and a can-do attitude. 

Those who thrive in this field are typically outgoing, ambitious, and goal-oriented — just like my student Sanae Floyd, who worked as a sales consultant before she successfully switched to sales coaching. 

Listen to her incredible story in this video: 

Interested in learning more about sales consulting? Head over here.

16. IT consulting 

IT consultants help their clients with technology-related projects – anything from cybersecurity to software performance or data analytics. 

A major plus for IT consultants is that almost every business uses technology  — and they often need help with it. 

So, if you’ve got technical expertise, attention to detail, and critical thinking skills, this could be a great money maker for you. 

You don’t need a degree, but I recommend looking into these certifications:

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• SANS GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)  

Find more info about IT consulting on this page.

17. Career consulting 

As a career consultant, you help others achieve their career goals.

You work with job seekers or professionals on things like:

• Goal setting
• Skill improvement
• Finding the right job
• Resumes and cover letters

Career consultants often target their services to a group of people or an industry. 

For example, another student of mine, Anna Cosic, coaches women looking to land leadership positions. 

If you’d like to pursue a similar path, check out this guide on how to become a career coach. 

18. Operations consulting 

If you’re big on the link between efficiency and profitability, think about becoming an operations consultant. 

Operations consultants analyze their clients’ business goals and propose strategies to maximize the value of their supply chains.

Specific tasks could include:

• Analyzing business processes and identifying inefficiencies 
• Recommending restructuring projects
• Identifying areas for cost reduction 
• Supporting operational improvement projects 

Clients generally look for consultants who have at least a bachelor’s degree in a field like business administration, management science, or information technology. 

👉Want to stand out against the competition? 

Consider taking the Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence exam. 

Read more about operations consulting here.

19. College consulting

Getting into college can be a real challenge, and SO many applicants are eager for help. 

In fact, according to Forbes, about 50% to 70% of all students seek out professional help with college admissions. 

That’s where college consultants come in. They work with students to:

• Research school choices
• Develop a competitive application 
• Identify financial aid opportunities

If you’ve got a proven method and experience in the field, you don’t need a specific degree. 

Nonetheless, I recommend targeting a particular group, as my student Mara Freilich did. 

Mara’s a lawyer who quit her corporate job. Now, she coaches prospective law students on how to get into their dream schools. 

Learn more about college consulting here.

20. Travel consulting

To put it simply, a travel consultant helps people travel. 

Tasks might include: 

• Researching destinations
• Making reservations
• And setting up itineraries 

For this position, you need sales, communication, and planning skills. A degree in tourism or hospitality is a plus, but it’s not necessary. However, personal experience with travel is. 

Learn more here.

21. Real estate consulting

As a real estate consultant, you offer advice to clients looking to purchase, sell, or invest in real estate. 

You research markets, meet with experts, and assess the viability of potential real estate developments. 

Some of the top skills needed for this job include:

• Familiarity with the real estate market
• Networking
• Communication
• Sales acumen

Those are all skills my student Ryan Chaw brings to the company he founded, Newbie Real Estate Investing. As a real estate investment coach, Ryan has helped plenty of people become property owners.

If you’re interested in pursuing something similar, check out this post I made about real estate coaching. 

22. Paid advertising consulting

Paid advertising consultants execute effective paid ad campaigns that take advantage of the latest advertising practices. 

Typically, they analyze a client’s existing ad campaigns and engagement metrics. Then, they propose strategies to improve the campaigns or launch new ones. 

Additional tasks might include:

• Writing ad copy
• Reviewing market data
• Identifying advertising needs

Paid advertising was part of my first business I mentioned earlier, so I know a lot about starting out in this field. And I can tell you that experience is essential. 

I personally had learned paid advertising at my 9-5. We worked with big clients like Volkswagen – I took that experience and applied it to small businesses. 

Want to learn more about advertising consulting? Head to this post.

23. Risk management consulting 

Risk management consultants help various organizations identify, assess, and mitigate potential threats. 

You can specialize in a certain type of risk, such as: 

• Financial
• Environmental
• Or cybersecurity

And your clients might include small businesses, large companies, individuals, or even government agencies.  

But keep in mind that clients usually prefer a consultant with a degree in risk management or something similar. 

That said, a certification – like RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional – might suffice for some consultants with extensive real-world experience. 

Ready for the next steps? This guide will help. 

24. Brand consulting

Brand consultants work with individuals or businesses to develop or improve their brand.

Typically, tasks for brand consultants include: 

• Conducting market research 
• Developing buyer personas 
• Performing brand analyses

Check out this video for some tips you can use for your brand or to help others with theirs: 

There are no set requirements for this job, but you should have extensive knowledge of design, marketing, and data analysis. 

Take my own designer, Laura. She helps small business owners stand out with their brands online. 

For more, check out my guide to brand coaching here. 

25. Fitness consulting 

Fitness consultants use their expertise to help individuals improve their health and overall fitness. 

Fitness consultants can specialize in an area like: 

• Nutrition
• Weight loss
• Stress management
• Or wellness 

But their overall goal is usually the same: Helping clients establish positive, healthy life habits.

And although many fitness consultants work in person, online fitness coaching can be just as effective. 

I look at all the reasons why in this post. 

26. Productivity consulting 

If you’re an expert at… 

• Time management
• Overcoming procrastination
• And achieving goals

…consider becoming a productivity consultant. 

In this role, you help clients make efficient use of their time and resources.

For example, my friends at Lifehack Method, Carey and Demir, help executives and entrepreneurs improve their productivity so that they can build truly meaningful and fulfilling lives: 

Learn more about productivity consulting here. 

27. Style consulting 

As a style consultant, you use your fashion expertise to help clients develop their personal or professional image. 

Style consultants often work with celebrities, influencers, and entrepreneurs. 

Some of the day-to-day tasks might include:

• Recommending outfits, colors, and fabrics 
• Assisting clients with shopping 
• Networking with fashion experts 

A strong sense of style is certainly a requirement for this job. A degree in fashion design or merchandising is an added bonus. 

Ready to launch your style consulting career? Read this post.

28. Parenting consulting 

New parents tend to need LOTS of help, whether it’s with… 

• Sleep issues
• Eating habits
• Temper tantrums
• Or potty training 

So, if you’ve got the experience of raising a child yourself, you’re already well on your way toward becoming a parenting consultant. 

You could also gain experience by helping friends or family with their kids.  

💡Interested in learning more? 

Check out this post I made about parenting coaching. 

Frequently asked questions

What type of consulting is most profitable? 

Now that we’ve discussed so many great consulting business ideas, you’re probably wondering how much consultants can make.

Here’s the thing: The most profitable consulting business is different for everyone. 

You’ve got to find a profitable niche that works for you. So, focus on your skillset, and make sure there’s demand for your offer.

That said, I’ve found most profitable consulting niches include: 

• Management consulting 
• Financial consulting
• Marketing consulting 
• IT consulting 

Consultants in these fields tend to make at least six figures. 

How do you start a consulting business? 

Starting a consulting business can be daunting, especially if you’re still working a 9-5 at the same time. But don’t let that stop you! 

If you focus on the steps that matter, you’ll be helping your first clients in no time. 

Here’s the game plan:

1. Find your niche 
2. Research your market
3. Create and price your offer
4. Set up your business
5. Establish your brand
6. Find clients
7. Deliver results

For a full breakdown of each step, check out this guide I made.

Next steps 

There you have it! 

Now you’ve got dozens of consulting business ideas to choose from. And once you’ve made up your mind, it’s time to grow your business. 

However, building a business can be overwhelming…and lonely. 

That’s why I put together a roadmap to help you start yours faster. 

I cover everything you need to know in my FREE step-by-step guide.

Read more:

How to Become a Successful Consultant

Coaching vs Consulting: Key Differences & Similarities

How to Turn Your Passion Into a Profitable Business