Business Consultant Services: What They Are and How to Use Them

Business consultant services overview

A business consultant is usually brought in to help with a clearly defined challenge. That challenge might be slow growth, rising costs, unclear priorities, a stalled transformation, or a need to respond to external pressure such as regulation or new competitors.

Business consultant services combine three elements:

• Clear problem definition and simple framing of the main question.
• Fact based analysis that explains what is happening and why.
• Practical plans that leaders and managers can execute and track.

NMS Consulting describes this approach in its articles What Are Business Consulting Services and Why Use Business Consulting Services, which explain how business consulting supports management teams during growth and periods of stress.

Service types business consultants offer

Business consultant services are often grouped by topic, but it is also useful to think about the style of support. Several patterns appear frequently.

Advisory and diagnostic services

Advisory services focus on clarifying issues, options, and trade offs. Diagnostics provide short, structured reviews of performance, processes, or markets. NMS Consulting sets out examples in its Business Consulting Services Guide 2025: Assessments, which covers assessments, roadmaps, and operating model work.

Project based improvement and growth work

Here, business consultant services help design and deliver specific changes, such as margin improvement in a division or growth in a product line. Examples include revenue growth projects described in Business Consulting Services for Growth and the wider growth focus in Business Consulting Services for Measurable Growth.

Digital and technology consulting

Business consultants with digital and technology skills link plans for growth or efficiency with systems, data, and automation. This type of work is described in NMS Consulting’s Digital and Technology Consulting Services, which covers digital strategy, data and analytics, and technology change.

Change and performance improvement programs

Some business consultant services focus less on a single project and more on improving performance across many processes or units. NMS Consulting’s Performance Improvement and Change Management pages outline how consultants and client teams work together over time to improve results.

How business consultant services help different organizations

Business consultant services look different in a small business, a mid sized company, and a global group. The underlying idea is the same, but the questions and constraints change.

• Smaller businesses.
  Often need help with practical steps such as pricing, cost control, and basic reporting. Projects are usually short, with direct involvement from owners and general managers.
• Mid sized companies.
  May use business consultants for market entry, restructuring of functions, or digital projects that their teams have not handled before.
• Larger organizations.
  Tend to engage business consultants on complex programs that cut across units and countries, including strategy refreshes, transformation, and acquisitions.

NMS Consulting’s Core Consulting Services page shows how different service lines are combined for various client sizes and sectors.

Scoping business consultant work

The way a company frames business consultant services at the start has a large effect on value. A simple scoping exercise helps both sides understand what is needed.

1. Clarify the main question.
   Capture the problem in one or two sentences. For example, “We need to raise gross margin in our European business” or “We need a three year plan for digital investment.”
2. Describe current state and limits.
   Summarize what has already been tried, which data is available, and any limits on timing or budget.
3. Define outcomes.
   List a small set of outcomes such as a decision, a plan, or a target improvement in a metric.
4. List key stakeholders.
   Note who has to be involved for the project to succeed, including managers and functions.
5. Agree how you will work together.
   Decide how often to meet, who will provide data, and how to handle issues that appear.

NMS Consulting’s business consulting material shows examples of well defined scopes and how they translate into project plans, especially in its guides on assessments, roadmaps, and operating model design.

Delivery models and fee approaches

Business consultant services can be delivered in several ways. The right mix depends on the question, timescale, and how much internal capacity is available.

• Short diagnostic projects.
  Time boxed reviews that run for a few weeks and lead to clear findings and options.
• End to end projects.
  Consulting support from diagnosis through to design and delivery for a defined topic.
• Retainers and on demand support.
  Ongoing access to consultants for a fixed number of days per month, often used by leadership teams that want regular external challenge.

Fee models usually follow these delivery choices. Fixed fees are common for clearly scoped projects. Time based fees are used where tasks may change during the project. Some clients combine both, with a fixed fee for core work and a time based element for optional tasks.

Working effectively with business consultants

Business consultant services work best when internal teams stay closely involved. Several habits make a difference.

• Active sponsorship.
  A senior leader should act as sponsor, meet the consulting team regularly, and help clear obstacles.
• Open access to data and people.
  Consultants can move faster when they have timely access to data, systems, and staff who know how work is done.
• Joint problem solving.
  Workshops and working sessions that mix internal and external people often produce better answers than work done in isolation.
• Quick decisions.
  When options are presented, decisions should be made promptly or the questions to be answered should be clear.
• Plan for handover.
  From the start, decide how knowledge will be transferred and who will own ongoing tasks once the project ends.

Common mistakes when using business consultant services

Organizations sometimes repeat the same mistakes when they buy business consultant services. Recognizing these patterns early can save time and cost.

• Starting work before agreeing what success looks like.
• Assigning a sponsor who lacks authority or time to lead the project.
• Hiding internal disagreements and expecting consultants to fix them without open discussion.
• Focusing on reports rather than on decisions and actions.
• Ending projects without handover, training, or owners for next steps.

NMS Consulting’s business consulting guides highlight these issues and show how clear outcomes, simple governance, and change support can reduce the risk of disappointment.

How NMS Consulting provides business consultant services

NMS Consulting is a global management consulting and strategic advisory firm. Its business consultant services cover strategy, business transformation, performance improvement, digital and technology, change management, risk, real estate, and related areas. These are grouped on the Core Consulting Services page.

Business consultant services at NMS Consulting are built around a few simple principles:

• Define clear questions and outcomes before detailed work begins.
• Use evidence, benchmarks, and client experience to shape realistic options.
• Form mixed teams of consultants and client staff so capabilities grow during the project.
• Combine analysis with practical delivery support, including project and change management.
• Track results against agreed measures such as revenue, margin, cost, and risk.

Related material includes What Are Business Consulting Services, Why Use Business Consulting Services, and Business Consulting Services for Measurable Growth, which show how business consultant services are applied in different settings.

FAQ on business consultant services

Are business consultant services only for large companies?

No. Smaller and mid sized organizations also use business consultant services, often on focused projects with tight scopes and budgets. The scale of the project should match the size and needs of the client.

Do business consultants always work on site?

Many projects now combine on site work with remote work. Discovery and workshops may be in person, while analysis and some meetings are handled remotely to save time and cost.

How long do business consultant projects last?

Duration varies. Short assessments may take a few weeks, while larger programs can run for several months. Breaking long efforts into phases with clear checkpoints helps maintain focus.

Can business consultant services include implementation support?

Yes. Many organizations expect consultants to support delivery, not only design. This can include setting up routines, coaching managers, and helping teams solve problems as they carry out plans.

How should we measure success from business consultant services?

Success is best judged by the quality of decisions, the changes that actually take place, and the effect on key metrics. A small number of clear measures agreed at the start is usually more useful than long lists of targets.