Tips on Selecting a Consultant

• Do your research ahead of time so you know what you want a consultant to bring to the process (e.g., advise on an ad hoc basis, train, carry out a project such as a strategic plan).
• The best way to select a consultant is through referrals - ask other agencies who they have used, alternatively, when you have a specific project you think would benefit from outside help (e.g., strategic planning, technology use) you can put out a CFP for consultants - one advantage of this is that you will see a wide range of approaches, and can pick from the proposals the model that would work best for you.
• Do your research ahead of time so you know what you want a consultant to bring to the process (e.g., advise on an ad hoc basis, train, carry out a project such as a strategic plan).
• The best way to select a consultant is through referrals - ask other agencies who they have used, alternatively, when you have a specific project you think would benefit from outside help (e.g., strategic planning, technology use) you can put out a CFP for consultants - one advantage of this is that you will see a wide range of approaches, and can pick from the proposals the model that would work best for you.
• If you are in a community with a university or college with an MBA or BA in commerce program you may want to contact them to determine if recent business graduates or business students are looking for opportunities to provide pro-bono or lower cost consulting services.  These people have focused their studies on effective models for doing business and often have the skills, knowledge and abilities to do this work in a professional, objective way.