How to start a consultancy teaching small teams how to use project management tools effectively?
This is a high-value consultancy because you're addressing a core business need: productivity. Small teams often have the tools but lack the methodology to use them effectively.1. Specialize and Certify: Choose Your Tools: You can't be an expert in everything. Start by specializing in 2-3 popular tools. Asana, Trello, and Monday.com are excellent choices for small teams. Jira is more for tech teams but is also in high demand. Get Certified: Most of these platforms offer official certification programs. Being a "Certified Asana Pro" or "Monday.com Expert" adds immense credibility and gives you access to advanced features and support.2. Develop a Consultancy Framework:Don't just teach buttons and menus. Your service should be: Assessment First: Start with a free discovery call to understand the team's current workflow, pain points, and goals. Customization: Show them how to configure the tool for their specific needs. For example, setting up a project board for a marketing agency will be different from one for a software developer. Process Over Tool: Emphasize that the tool is just an enabler. Teach them project management fundamentals like Agile, Scrum, or Kanban within the context of the tool. Ongoing Support: Offer retainer packages for ongoing support, or follow-up sessions after a month to check in and optimize.3. Marketing and Sales: Content Marketing: This is your most powerful tool. Create short "how-to" videos on LinkedIn and YouTube. Write blog posts solving common problems ("5 Asana Automations to Save Your Team 10 Hours a Week"). Network on LinkedIn: Connect with founders, team leaders, and HR managers in startups and SMEs. Engage in conversations about productivity. Freemium Model: Offer a free 30-minute "Tool Audit" webinar for small businesses. This showcases your expertise and generates leads.4. Delivery Models: One-on-One Team Training: Conduct interactive workshops for the entire team.* Recorded Courses: Create a generic course on Udemy or your own website for a lower-ticket entry point.* "Train the Trainer":** Train a champion within the company who can then train others.Your value proposition is clear: you help teams stop drowning in chaos and start delivering projects on time. Focus on the ROI you provide—time saved, clarity gained, and projects delivered successfully.
As someone who's been doing this for three years, I can tell you that the technical part is only 20% of the job. The other 80% is psychology and change management.Small teams, especially those not in tech, are often terrified of new software. They see it as more work, not less. Your first job is to be a translator and a coach, not just a trainer.I never start with the tool. I start by having them map out their current process on a whiteboard—where do tasks come from, who does what, how do they know it's done? It's usually a mess. Then I say, "Okay, now let's see how we can make this smoother with [Tool]." This makes the tool a solution to their problem, not something you're forcing on them.The biggest resistance is from management. They buy the tool expecting magic, but don't give the team time to learn it. I always insist on a "champion" in the team—someone excited about it—and I work closely with them. I also provide managers with a simple dashboard so they can see progress without micromanaging.My pricing is project-based, not hourly. I offer a "Get Started" package that includes the initial assessment, 2 training sessions, and 30 days of email support. This works better than an hourly rate because the client knows the total cost upfront.The most satisfying part is the "aha" moment, usually in the second session, when someone realizes they can finally see all their tasks in one place and that nagging feeling of forgetting something just... disappears. That's what you're really selling: peace of mind.