Here's how you can launch a successful consulting business in the social impact sector.

I think there are different ways of finding a niche. Broadly, as a coach I help founders and entrepreneurs identify and push through their limiting beliefs, as opposed to focusing on a specific industry or sector. This allows me to work with diverse clients, irrespective of their business model. A more narrow sectoral focus can be a good strategy, but multiple factors can influence success with such an approach.

Pick a social impact area you know well, like education or healthcare. Offer your services to help clients solve their problems.

I have noticed a trend in recent years that there are many agencies / consultancies professing to be social impact "experts". This doesn't necessarily mean they are practitioners, but that they are good project managers, data analysts, comms specialists etc. Be clear on what value you bring and how that set you apart from others.

Build a brand that catches people's attention and aligns with your mission and values. Choose a memorable name and design a logo that stands out. Make a website and marketing materials that showcase what you believe in and aim for, so your audience can connect with you right away.

Be better, faster, or cheaper. Execution is everything. Once you have discovered your niche and found something that people are willing to pay for, focus on delivering the best possible value for money to your clients.

Consultants fall or excel by service delivery. Your delivery is your brand, everything you do in consulting comes down to only one thing, can you deliver what you promised. This is why you market, this is why you exist, this is the core of your business model.

Give your clients great service and high-quality work every time. This helps you build long-term relationships. Happy clients are more likely to recommend you to others and come back for more business.

Your business model, and by that I mean your costing and billing model is what makes or break a consultant. We have very long sales cycles - from meeting the prospective client, to crafting the proposal, winning the tender, doing the work and delivering the work can take a long time. Be sure to consider that in your pricing. For this reason you need to have a pipeline - prospective clients, clients in proposal stage, clients in contractual stage and clients in delivery stage. In essence, selling whilst delivering client assignments is tough because you are focused on delivering on assignments. Marketing and sales funnels will help to ensure constant work.

7. Collaborative Partnerships Focus on building collaborative partnerships with other organisations and consultants in the social sector. This could involve formal alliances with complementary service providers, informal project support, or joining forces with academic institutions for research and development. Such partnerships can enhance your service offerings, expand your reach, and provide a multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving that can better serve complex social issues. The right partnership generates energy that keeps the focus on the best possible outcomes.

Connect with people and groups who share your interests to build a community around your work. This can lead to collaborations, partnerships, and new opportunities for growth and learning.