Overview
Starting a consultancy is straightforward if you follow a clear path. This guide covers structure, branding, addresses, contracts, pricing, tax, compliance, lead gen, and ops.
1) Pick your structure
Sole trader
- Easiest to start, you = the business.
- Simpler accounting, but no limited liability.
Limited company
- Credibility, limited liability, cleaner for B2B.
- Separate legal entity, directors & shareholders, more admin.
Many consultants start as a limited company for client confidence.
2) Choose your name and brand
- Check name availability on Companies House.
- Grab domain + social handles.
- Create a clean one-page site with services, bio, and contact.
3) Address & privacy
- Use a registered office and director service address (avoid exposing your home).
- Your website and invoices should show registered office details.
With BetaOffice you get a Central London registered office + director address and AI-sorted mail.
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4) Contracts & proposals
Have a lightweight legal pack:
- Master Service Agreement (MSA) + Statement of Work (SOW)
- Scope, deliverables, acceptance, timelines
- IP ownership, confidentiality/NDA, termination
- Reasonable liability cap (e.g., fees paid in last 12 months)
5) Pricing and invoicing
Common models:
- Daily/Hourly for flexibility
- Fixed-fee for defined outcomes
- Retainer for ongoing advisory
- Value-based for strategic work
Invoicing tips
- Clear payment terms (e.g., 14 days)
- Unique invoice number + due date
- Deposits for new clients; milestone billing for large projects
6) Taxes & accounting
- Track income/expenses from day one.
- Understand VAT registration thresholds and whether Flat Rate Scheme helps.
- Consider a lightweight accountant (pays for itself quickly).
7) Compliance & data
- ICO registration if you process personal data.
- Privacy notice on your site.
- Data-processing clauses in client contracts.
8) Lead generation (fastest wins)
- Publish 2–3 case-study posts and 3–5 how-to posts.
- Post weekly on LinkedIn with a simple CTA.
- Ask every happy client for one introduction.
- Niche into an industry you know—specific beats generic.
9) Tools & ops
- Proposal + e-signature (e.g., PDF + e-sign)
- Time tracking (if hourly)
- Bookkeeping tool + receipt capture
- A mail dashboard so HMRC/Companies House items never slip
10) Go live checklist
- Company or sole-trader set up
- Registered office + director address configured
- Bank account ready
- Website + LinkedIn page live
- Contract templates loaded
- First 5 leads identified and contacted
Mini-FAQ
Do I need a business bank account on day one?
If you’re a company—yes. For sole traders, it’s strongly recommended.
What if I start as sole trader and switch later?
Totally fine—plan for migrating invoices/contracts.
Give your consultancy a credible London footprint and stress-free mail.
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