SECTION 1
Admin: Getting Your House in Order
Before you win your first project, you need to be ready to operate as a real business. That starts with structure and credibility. Setting up the right infrastructure early ensures you’re ready to go when opportunity knocks – and reduces friction once you’re delivering work.
Legal Entity Setup
- Decide on your business structure (LLC, Corporation, or Sole Proprietor, depending on your location).
- Apply for a business tax ID (EIN) and register your business if required.
- Consider liability insurance or professional services insurance.
- See more tips here.
Pro Tip: In the U.S., forming an LLC is often the simplest and most flexible choice. It protects your personal assets without the complexity of a full corporation. Depending on your location, an S-corp can make sense for consultants earning above $150K per year (consult your accountant or tax advisor).
Business Banking & Invoicing
- Open a dedicated business checking account to keep finances clean.
- Choose simple invoicing tools like QuickBooks, Wave, or even a polished Excel template.
- Standardize your invoice format with net payment terms and tax IDs.
- See more tips here.
Contracts & Proposals
- Draft a reusable Master Services Agreement (MSA) and NDA.
- Build a clean proposal template that includes scope, pricing, timing, and client responsibilities.
- Consider having a legal advisor review your base documents before you begin pitching.
Pro Tip: Label key terms clearly in your proposal. Clients appreciate clarity on scope boundaries, timelines, and what’s considered out of scope. Review more tips here.
Technology & Software
- Choose an, integrated productivity ecosystem:
→ Google Workspace for Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and Drive
→ or Microsoft 365 Business for Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneDrive
→ Zoom (some people prefer this over Teams / Meet) - Set up a branded email address (e.g., yourname@yourfirm.com).
- Create a simple folder structure for each client/project with subfolders for deliverables, proposals, invoices, etc.
Pro Tip: A basic branded setup goes a long way. A firm-branded email and PowerPoint template signals professionalism – even before the first call.
SECTION 2
Commercial: Getting to Revenue
Once your infrastructure is in place, it’s time to put yourself out there and start building toward your first project.
Define Clear Positioning
- Nail down what you do, for whom, and how it solves a problem.
- See more tips and examples here.
Pro Tip: Look at project descriptions on Catalant or other platforms. What language do clients use? Mirror that language in your positioning.
Optimize Your LinkedIn
- Update your headline to reflect your new offering as an independent consultant.
- Pin “featured” posts or links to case studies or articles that reflect your niche.
- Announce your move with a simple post. Then, follow up with 1:1 messages to key people in your network.
Build Your Catalant Profile
- Focus on client impact, not just your resume.
- Include relevant past project examples—even if they were done in a previous role.
- See more tips here.
Pro Tip: Include 3–5 well-scoped projects with outcome-driven results. These will become assets for future pitches and conversations.
Activate Platforms like Catalant
- Apply to Catalant projects early and consistently.
- See more tips here.
Pro Tip: Many clients evaluate the first few proposals they receive. Speed matters more than polish early on.
Set Initial Pricing Anchors
- Define a baseline for your fixed-fee and daily rate models.
- Be ready to defend your pricing with logic (value delivered, salary translation, or benchmarks).
- See more tips on pricing yourself here.
(Optional) Set Up a Simple Website
- A single-page site with your bio, services, and contact info is enough.
- Use this more as a validation tool than a lead driver.
Pro Tip: Link to your website in your email signature. It adds professionalism without requiring major investment.
SECTION 3
Execution: Preparing to Deliver Great Work
Winning the project is only half the battle. You also need to deliver like a pro. Exceptional delivery is what builds long-term credibility and drives referrals.
Branded Templates
- Create polished PowerPoint and Word templates with your logo, fonts, and color scheme.
- Build a folder of reusable frameworks, templates, and past work to accelerate delivery.
Pro Tip: A simple slide master and branded font scheme will save hours per project and keep your output consistent.
Set Up Data & Research Tools
- List out the tools and data you’ll need regularly and explore ways to get access.
- For ad hoc support, test freelancer platforms or specialized research partners to help with secondary data or expert outreach.
Create a Delivery Toolkit
- Standard templates for kickoff agendas, weekly updates, and final reports help ensure consistency.
- Decide upfront how you’ll present outcomes (slides, memos, models, dashboards)
Build a Bench (If Needed)
- Start identifying freelance analysts, designers, or Virtual Assistant support.
- Test them on low-stakes internal tasks before involving them in client work.
Define Your Operating Rhythm
- Block time each week for business development, admin, and delivery.
- Create recurring time slots for proposal writing and pipeline follow-up.
- Establish a cadence for client check-ins and internal reviews.
Pro Tip: Build habits that support long-term sustainability. Mondays for outreach, Fridays for finances. Rituals reduce decision fatigue and keep your business moving, regardless of project load.
SECTION 4
Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Iterate Fast
Your first 30–60 days as an independent consultant are about setting up the machine. You don’t need perfection— or a logo, a fancy website, or a perfect pitch deck— to get started. Instead, you need systems that work and room to evolve. Focus on being easy to hire, easy to work with, and ready to deliver.
Start with the essentials:
- Be contract-ready and invoice-ready
- Polish your positioning and apply to projects
- Get set to deliver professional, high-impact work from day one
Momentum builds quickly once the basics are in place. With each project you do, you’ll sharpen your systems and build the confidence that you’ve got this—because you do.
Need help setting up the basics? One of the most common questions we hear is about forming a legal entity. Keep reading our series on getting started as an independent consultant to learn more about when setting up a legal entity is the right choice.