How to Start a Customer Service Consulting Business

Customer service can make or break a business. When a customer calls in with a question, problem, or concern, the way they're treated often determined whether they will remain a customer or buy from a competitor. Service also determines how well a customer's problem is addressed and, ultimately, whether the business does a good job solving it.This is why a customer service consulting business is so valuable. It helps businesses and firms improve their customer service by doing customer surveys, offering customer service training lessons, examining the workflow of customer service processes, or trying to develop an improved culture of service.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

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Start a customer service consulting business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Customer Service Consulting Business
  2. Form your Customer Service Consulting Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Customer Service Consulting Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Customer Service Consulting Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Customer Service Consulting Business
  7. Get Customer Service Consulting Business Insurance
  8. Define your Customer Service Consulting Business Brand
  9. Create your Customer Service Consulting Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your customer service consulting business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

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:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

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 Customer Service Consulting Business 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:

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

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What are the costs involved in opening a customer service consulting business?

Costs involved in starting an agency are minimal. You can start with less than $1,000. You will need a CRM system for managing your clients, a computer, and a phone.

What are the ongoing expenses for a customer service consulting business?

Ongoing expenses for a customer service consulting business are minimal. Basically, you have to cover rent and utilities and costs for whatever customer relationship management software you use.

Who is the target market?

Target market are successful businesses that have hit a sticking point in revenues and profit and need help improving customer relationships so they can break through to the next level.

How does a customer service consulting business make money?

Customer service consulting companies make money by charging clients fees for consultation services.

How much can you charge customers?

Most customer service consultants can charge clients between $100/hr and $300/hr for services. The exact charge depends on your experience in the industry and your name recognition. The more successful you are, the more you can charge.

How much profit can a customer service consulting business make?

Profitability is high. Most consulting companies can make a 20% profit margin if they hire assistants to help them with their consulting business. If you're working alone, your margin is higher, but your total income may be less. Average consultant income ranges between $60,000 per year and $150,000 per year.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Make your business more profitable by partnering with non-competing firms to offer ancillary services. For example, a company may need more than just customer service help. They may need a coordinated marketing and customer service overhaul. If you can provide that to them, then you stand to make more money by consolidating both services into one.

You can also try increasing your fees over time as you gain experience.

Finally, consider creating tiered service levels, where you hire assistants to perform routine consulting jobs based on a service template you design. These lower-cost services could add substantially to your base income.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your customer service consulting business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they're a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business's debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business's liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your customer service consulting business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We've negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

Note: If you're interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

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!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

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.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

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.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

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.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a customer service consulting business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

For information about local 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.

Certificate of Occupancy

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.