Strong brand will help your Business stand out from Competitors

You have found the perfect business idea, and now you are ready to take the next step. There is more to starting a business than just registering it with the state. We have put together this simple guide to starting your financial consulting firm. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly, and legally compliant.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?
• What will you name your business?
• What are the costs involved in opening a financial consulting firm?

The costs of opening this business are somewhat deceptive. Once you have the appropriate license, there is virtually no cost to opening this business: many financial planners start out working from home and meet clients at their place of work, their homes, or other venues. On the other hand, a four-year degree is mandatory for most certifications, and that has an average cost of $40,000 for the degree alone (for in-state, public colleges). If your college coursework was not already Board-certified, then you may spend between $1,000 and $4,000 to take additional classes for a certification like the CFP, and an additional $595 to take the exam. Because of its importance, many people opt to take review classes or buy review materials, and this cost can range from $400 to $1400. After passing, you need to work full-time in a relevant field before you can meet the experience requirement of the CFP. Thus, while the costs of opening the actual consulting business is almost nothing, the education and certification required can easily be $90,000 or more, and there is the significant time investment working for someone else before you can work for yourself.

What are the ongoing expenses for a financial consulting firm?

If you work from home, then your ongoing expenses for this position are virtually non-existent. Most of your actual financial planning is conducted via the computer that you already have, and you do not need to pay for expensive overhead or utilities. Your most regular fees will be the gasoline cost of meeting with clients and the cost of meetings such as business lunches, both of which are potential tax write-offs for you.

Who is the target market?

Younger clients, such as those who are completing college degrees and/or coming into their inheritances, may be curious about financial planning for the first time. They are more likely to be open-minded about the advice you give and, if they like the results you deliver, may actually become lifelong clients.

How does a financial consulting firm make money?

Two ways that financial consultants make money are to take a percentage of the sales charge (basically, a commission) made by the client when they invest and to receive a “trail” from some of the operating expenses of an investment such as a mutual fund. Other consultants are paid by certain fees they charge clients, and some consultants become fee-only advisors.

How much can you charge customers?

How much you charge clients depends on your payment model. If you are being paid via fees, then it is reasonable to charge them between .75% to 2% of the collective assets that you manage. Commission costs have a greater range, ranging from 1% to 8.5%. With both fees and commissions, you typically charge lower percentages for higher amounts on transactions. It should be noted that many clients, firms, and consultants have become wary of commission-based models, as there is always the possibility of an advisor encouraging and investment that is good in the short term for the advisor but not in the long term for the client.

How much profit can a financial consulting firm make?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the median pay of this job is over $90,000 a year. Your actual profit may be higher or lower based on your payment model and number of clients.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Make sure that you are reading relevant trade publications and other sources that let you keep your finger on the pulse of industry changes. Make sure that you show genuine interest in the lives of your clients whenever you speak—this makes their time with you feel more like a valued relationship. Finally, always volunteer with professional organizations when you have the time—it's great networking, great PR, and a great learning opportunity.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Financial Consulting Firm Name Generator If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more. When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.
• It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business. In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

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You can acquire your EIN for free through the IRS website, via fax, or by mail. If you would like to learn more about EINs and how they can benefit your LLC, read our article, What is an EIN?. Learn how to get an EIN in our What is an EIN guide or find your existing EIN using our EIN lookup guide.

Small Business Taxes

Depending on which business structure you choose, you might have different options for how your business will be taxed. For example, some LLCs could benefit from being taxed as an S corporation (S corp).

You can learn more about small business taxes in these guides:

• LLC Taxes
• Sole Proprietorship vs LLC
• LLC vs Corporation
• LLC vs S Corp
• How to Start an S Corp

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection. When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil. Additionally, learning how to build business credit can help you get credit cards and other financing in your business's name (instead of yours), better interest rates, higher lines of credit, and more.

Open a business bank account

• This separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• It also makes accounting and tax filing easier.
• The Truic Flame Logo

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank, credit union, business-loan friendly banks, one with many brick-and-mortar locations, and more.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down. State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a financial consulting firm. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits. Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Services Contract

Financial consulting firms should require clients to sign a services agreement before starting a new project.  This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, service level expectations, and intellectual property ownership. Here is an example of one such services agreement: (try to make this industry/business specific)

Certificate of Occupancy

A financial consulting firm can be run out of an office. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• If you plan to lease a location:
• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a financial consulting firm.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.  If you plan to purchase or build a location:
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your financial consulting firm will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss. There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business. Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors. If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

How to promote & market a financial consulting firm and how to keep customers coming back

Now that you know how to meet clients, how do you get their business and keep them? One way is to speak their language. Most clients don't want you to throw tons of jargon and special terms at them. They want to know key terms and facts, and they want them explained in an accessible way. Don't forget to leverage networking—communities are built on connections, and the simple fact that so-and-so is your colleague or close friend may make a client feel instantly more connected with you. 

This is a job where you are mostly rooted in your own local community, so it is wise to advertise via certain traditional means such as newspapers and radio, especially when you are first getting started. Increasingly, though, clients are finding their advisors online, which makes it important that you have clean and professional-looking accounts on things like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You should also have a professional-looking website. 

Courtesy: business consultancy services in Australia