(Newswire.net — September 25, 2017) — You’ve heard of other businesses hiring consultants, but have never needed one in the past. Now you’re at a critical juncture where you feel as if a consultant may be the smartest solution. Is it the right time to start searching for one?
Here’s Why You Should Hire a Consultant
You probably have some pre-existing idea about consultants – and it could be a positive or negative perception. For the next couple of minutes, try to ignore those thoughts and take a look at five of the top reasons why successful businesses are so fond of bringing consultants on board.
1. Specific Expertise
Sometimes businesses encounter very specific challenges that call for people who have a very specific skillset or knowledge base. If nobody within your company currently has the resources to accomplish the task before you, then you have to bring in someone from the outside. There’s no sense in hiring a full-time employee just to handle a simple problem, which is why consultants are often preferred.
Software is the perfect example. If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars purchasing and deploying software, it only makes sense to hire a consultant who specializes in the platform. Take ImageNow, as an example. There are consultants that specifically focus on the ImageNow platform and provide temporary and long-term solutions for businesses that want to maximize the value of their investment.
2. Cost-Effective
Consultants are almost always cost-effective. Unlike an employee, you don’t usually have to provide an office, equipment, training, and benefits. You simply pay them for their time and that’s it. You don’t even have to pay your portion of the FICA taxes, which can save thousands more per year.
Consultants aren’t always cheaper, but they will be 9 out of 10 times. This resource from Toptal provides a pretty good cost analysis. The key is to be aware of all the hidden costs and run a realistic estimate before making a decision.
3. Outside Perspective
Whether you realize it or not, you and every one of your employees are blinded by certain factors. It’s impossible to be totally objective when you have money, power, and/or prestige at play. There’s also the presence of groupthink, where everyone in the organization naturally starts to think alike over time.
Hiring a consultant brings in an outside, objective perspective. The consultant has no ties to the company and hasn’t been indoctrinated by corporate policies and principles. This infusion of new energy is often refreshing.
4. Scalability
Consultants are awesome because they come with no strings attached. Whereas it takes time, money, and cause to hire or fire an employee, consultants can be on-boarded and released with very little effort at all. This makes them ideal in situations where your business frequently scales up and down – such as with seasonal shifts in the market.
5. Dirty Work
Sometimes there are just things nobody in your company wants to do. Outsourcing this work to a consultant can save you time and energy, while also allowing you to focus on the things you enjoy. Knowing you have this option in your back pocket can give you hope and confidence when times get tough.
Very Little to Lose
At the end of the day, hiring a consulting firm is generally a low-risk, high-reward move. If it doesn’t work out, you have no obligations beyond the short-term contract you’ve signed. If it does work, then you’ve found yourself a cost-effective option that requires very little additional investment. Think it over and start looking for an experienced and skilled consultant who you believe can add value to your business.