Avoid Building a Business the Wrong Way

Raphael Triemer is a business consultant who helps software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies transition from startup to scale up in the right way. That means guiding them to build all of the post-test structure and processes that will enable them to focus on winning new customers and growing their businesses.

After working in the SaaS world for more than two decades, he launched his consulting business in March of 2023. He soon learned that consulting is a very different discipline, so he decided early on that he wanted to build his business properly by getting expert help. In particular, he says, “I wanted to learn how to approach customers. Even though I was in sales for a long time, doing it for myself was really different. I knew I needed some coaching.”

Learn the Right Structure

Within a few short months of launching his consulting business, he started looking for help. As he put it, “I did a Google search for the phrase ‘how to make consulting successful,’ and it led me right to the Consulting Success website. I read all the references, all the proof points, and I thought, ‘This sounds good. Let’s give it a try.’”

He soon got involved with Consulting Success and began learning even more than he’d expected to learn about building and growing a thriving consulting business. There were two things, in particular, that he learned that made a huge impact. First, he says, “I learned to identify my target market and the value I have to offer them.” Second, he learned how to get away from charging an hourly rate and move to value-based fees and strategic offers.

As Raphael says, “I’m now working independent from the clock, so I have a lot more freedom to build my tools, write my book, and explore what I’m doing.”

Higher Fees, Faster Growth

When Raphael first created his customer proposal, he estimated the value of what he would deliver at $5,000 a month per client. That’s how much he thought he could charge customers. However, as he put it, “With the help of my [Consulting Success] coach and feedback in the group forum, I realized the true value of what I have to offer, and I was able to increase that fee successfully to $7,000 a month per client.” That’s a 40% increase and equal to an extra $24,000 per client each year.

At that higher rate, with just one deal, he was able to offset his entire investment in our Clarity Coaching program. He now has three full-time clients, with a fourth going through discovery. He’s building a solid pipeline and experiencing growth.

For anyone who is thinking about, or attempting to launch, their own consulting business, this is what Raphael has to say: “The question you need to ask yourself is, ‘Do I want to try to learn everything the hard way, go through all of the pain of making mistakes, and maybe have a successful business after years of hard work, or do I want to invest in myself, get a coach on my side, do it the right way from the beginning, and get my business growing within a few months?”