Do you ever wonder why companies hire consultants? Why not just handle the task internally, or turn to another company within the same industry? Why pay for an outside opinion when internal employees could probably do it cheaper and faster?

The answer is simple. Sometimes the best way to solve a problem is to take a step back from it. Businesses are often too close to problems to see them clearly. They can get caught up in their day-to-day operations, but that approach may not be the right one for long-term success. This is where consultants can help out businesses of every size.

1- Objectively solve problems

When a business hires a consultant to help solve a problem or improve an aspect of operations, they have someone who is going to be 100 percent objective in their analysis. They aren’t going to be as invested as internal employees might be because they’re not as committed to the long-term viability of the company. Without that personal connection, consultants are more likely to remain professional and level-headed when looking at information from all angles. That’s important because it allows them to think outside the box and consider ideas a business may never have considered on its own. For example, a consultant might suggest implementing new technologies or adjusting human resource procedures before a company considers those options itself.

2- Expertise to avoid pitfalls

Many consultants span multiple industries, so if your business is having trouble getting off the ground or can’t seem to break through in its current industry, you don’t have to worry about turning to someone who has no idea what you’re going through. Instead, you can turn to a consultant who has seen it all before and knows the ropes.

3- Extension of their network ties

In addition to being subject matter experts themselves, many consultants have close ties with other people in their field. Why is this important? Because they can connect your business with those potentially valuable outside contacts too. In fact, that’s often how consultants get their start! They take on a project for one company and manage to gain important contact as a result. For these reasons and more, companies continue turning to consultants every day and will probably continue doing so well into the future!

4- Extra horsepower

Consultants bring experience that is hard to get on your own when you’re in business. When you hire an outside consultant with specific knowledge and experience, then you can benefit from a new perspective on a problem. Maybe there is a problem that none of your employees have been able to solve, so the only way to fix it would be to start from scratch and develop a brand new approach. Maybe the solutions that are being proposed by your employees are too outlandish or outside of the box, but they just can’t figure out how to break it down so that everyone understands what they’re saying. In these cases, a consultant can help by brainstorming with you. 

Sometimes it can be difficult to make a decision that requires change. Consultants have experience making those types of changes and they know from experience that the most important thing is being able to show others why they need to change. Most consultants use a structured framework, such as strategy deployment or balanced scorecards, which makes it easier for everyone involved to understand the reasoning behind their advice.

5- Fresh eye to your business

Sometimes businesses get too close to the problems that they’re trying to solve. They may be so busy with everyday operations and tasks that they aren’t able to sit back and look at their company as a whole. A consultant can do this for them by stepping in and taking an objective look at the business as a whole before diving into more specific areas where there might be trouble. Also, sometimes people only see what they want to see and fail to spot problems or issues that need to be addressed as the root cause. An outside consultant, however, has no ties within the company and won’t hesitate when it comes time for tough decisions about how best to attack those root causes.

6- Return on Investment

Remember that hiring a consultant doesn’t have to break the bank. They’re affordable for just about any type of business, and there are lots of them with all types of specialties, so you can work with someone who’s familiar with your specific industry or issue. Not many employees can say that!

When times are tough, businesses can’t afford to make costly mistakes. Why hire an expert only to leave them in the dark when they could ask for their help on your terms? That’s one of the biggest benefits of hiring consultants; you can get all that knowledge and wisdom for a fraction of what it would cost if you were paying that person as an employee.

7- Win new business 

Many businesses are using consultants to help them win new business. Why? Because they can show off what sets them apart from the competition by speaking knowledgeably about how they’ve helped other companies in the past, increasing their credibility, and proving that you’ll be in good hands if you choose to hire them. By being able to demonstrate ROI in advancing your own operation, consultants have a leg up when it comes to winning over clients.

Hiring consultants is just one way that large corporations are working to increase their operational efficiency, but sometimes consulting engagements are relatively short-term or not that sophisticated. For example, let’s say that there is an area of your business where things are continually slowing down due to staffing changes, but you don’t want to hire another full-time team member. Why not instead hire a temporary consultant who can help push things along until it’s time for that person to move on? Some companies will even use consultants internally as part of their own employees’ training!