How to hire a small business consultant

How to hire a small business consultant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step small business consultant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a small business consultant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new small business consultant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The small business consultant hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A small business consultant's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, small business consultants from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of small business consultants.

   Type of Small Business Consultant	Description	Hourly rate
   Small Business Consultant	Management analysts, often called management consultants, propose ways to improve the efficiency of an organization. They advise managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced costs and increased revenues.	$16-31
   Business Developer	A business developer specializes in conducting in-depth business analysis and crafting various strategies that would not just help a business grow, but also strengthen client base and brand awareness. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around identifying areas in need of improvement... Show more	$31-75
   Business Sales Representative	A business sales representative's role is to develop strategies in identifying leads and opportunities to secure sales. Their responsibilities revolve around reaching out to clients to offer products and services, discussing the pricing and specifications of products, processing payments, and gathering necessary client information... Show more	$14-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Business Clients
   • Outbound Calls
   • Strong Computer
   • Financial Statements
   • Business Development
   • Business Solutions
   • Product Offerings
   • Payroll
   • Sales Objectives
   • Sales Presentations
   • Human Resources
   • ADP
   • Product Knowledge

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage client information using SalesForce CRM software.
   • Construct and manage business Facebook page and keep current with appealing promotions and coupons.
   • Manage training and presentation collateral on SharePoint system, resulting in recycling of documentation for consistent messaging across enterprise.
   • Update and maintain various SalesForce and SharePoint accounts for clients.
   • Display clothing and merchandise in windows, advertisements, and/or fashion shows.
   • Decrease sales data - CRM integration/updating from hours to minutes for Siemens AG.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your small business consultant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A small business consultant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, small business consultants' average salary in maine is 51% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level small business consultants 48% less than senior-level small business consultants.
   • Certifications. A small business consultant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a small business consultant's salary.

   Average small business consultant salary

   $47,982yearly

   $23.07 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level small business consultant salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a small business consultant job description

   A small business consultant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a small business consultant job description:

   Small business consultant job description example

   At Bank of America, we handle the finances of over 67 million client relationships every day, including helping them save, borrow and invest for today and for their future. We stand by our clients each and every day giving them the power to realize their personal and business financial goals and help make their financial lives better. If you join our team, we'll count on you to care for, advise and guide our small business clients when they need us most - whether they're just starting out, expanding or managing the day-to-day. We're looking for people with passion and drive to provide comprehensive financial solutions to our small business clients. You'll be empowered to deliver the full spectrum of business and personal financial solutions to meet our client's needs and help make their financial lives better.
   
   As part of the Bank of America team, Small Business Consultants have access to industry-leading products and services, award-winning platforms and client education - all designed to meet the unique life priorities of our clients. Small Business Consultants partner closely with financial center employees as part of one team that delivers exceptional client care - your role will be to acquire and deepen small business relationships through face-to- face meetings. You'll actively connect with our clients through outbound telephone calls and execute consistent follow-up routines to meet their needs. The Small Business Consultant role is a great step toward a rewarding and successful career. At this stage, you'll start building the relationships that can shape your career, and be exposed to the products, platforms, and tools needed to serve clients.
   
   From day one, you'll receive training from our award-winning Academy at Bank of America, including hands-on practice, personalized coaching and dedicated support throughout your on-boarding experience. With demonstrated success, you'll have the opportunity to advance into leadership roles such as a Small Business Banker Manager, or advance into other client professional roles- with unlimited opportunity to grow throughout the company.
   We'll help you
   
   * Get training and one-on-one coaching from managers who are invested in your success. You'll enroll in The Academy to develop as a consultant.
   * Build a quality external network of business relationships within your small business banking community.
   * Leverage the power of our company by working closely with internal and external partners to take advantage of the full capabilities of the bank.
   * Provide small business related guidance to financial center associates through huddles and team meetings.
   * Effectively balance sales performance, operational risk and client relationship care.
   
   As a consultant, you can look forward to
   
   * Unlimited potential for financial growth and incentive awards for meeting goals.
   * Growing your network to eventually grow your business. Leverage our relationships with one out of two U.S. households. You'll interact with banking clients and small business owners alike. You will also tap into a range of experts, from lending officers to financial solutions advisors.
   * Robust marketing support to reach wider audiences with greater appeal.
   * Ongoing professional development to deepen your skills and optimize your talent as the industry evolves and changes.
   
   We're a culture that
   
   * Believes in responsible growth and has a proven dedication to supporting the communities we serve.
   * Provides continuous training and developmental opportunities to help people achieve their goals, whatever their background or experience.
   * Believes diversity makes us stronger, so we can reflect, connect to and meet the diverse needs of our clients and customers around the world.
   * Is committed to advancing our tools, technology and ways of working. We always put our clients first to meet their evolving needs.
   
   Required skills:
   
   * Has demonstrated experience and proven success with business to business sales, or small business banking.
   * Has strong communication skills with the ability to effectively influence clients.
   * Has effective customer service skills with ability to manage the full client end-to-end experience and problem resolution.
   * Has a proven sales track record.
   * Is able to build productive partnerships and working relationships.
   * Is experienced with outbound phone sales.
   
   Desired skills:
   
   * Experience with financial information, spreadsheets and financial skills.
   * Experience with inperson customer service and sales.
   * Experience working with small business clients.
   * Experience meeting or exceeding goals.
   * A working knowledge of small business products and services.
   * Bilingual skills.
   
   Shift:
   
   1st shift (United States of America)
   
   Hours Per Week:
   
   40

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find small business consultants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your small business consultant job on Zippia to find and recruit small business consultant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit small business consultants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new small business consultant

   Once you've selected the best small business consultant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new small business consultant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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