5 filters to choose the right consulting idea

Filter 1 — Founder–Idea Fit

This doesn’t mean you can only do something you already know perfectly.

Entrepreneurs constantly learn new things.

But expanding from your existing expertise allows you to move much faster.

Ask yourself:

• Do I understand the problem?
• Have I lived inside this industry?
• Do I know the language buyers use?

Without fit you must learn:

• the industry
• the problem
• the tools
• the buyers
• and how to sell

With fit you already understand much of that—and momentum comes faster.

Filter 2 — Difficulty Level

Every consulting opportunity has a different level of complexity.

Factors that influence difficulty include:

• Sales cycle length
• Regulatory requirements
• Client sophistication
• Certifications or credentials

In my first company, we built relatively simple marketing websites.

Later we pursued more complex builds—portals, e-commerce systems, database-driven platforms.

One project reached $16,500 but we underestimated the complexity and ended up losing money.

Filter 3 — Speed to First Dollar

For new founders, this filter is critical.

You need revenue—not just for survival, but for validation.

Early revenue proves that people are willing to pay for what you’re offering.

Some consulting opportunities allow for faster revenue:

• Marketing consulting for small businesses
• Process improvement for mid-sized companies

Others take much longer:

• Large digital transformation projects
• Government consulting

Early in your journey, speed often matters more than scale.

Filter 4 — Market Demand

The main question is:

Are people already paying to solve this problem?

You can validate demand by applying my 10+5 rule (speak with 10 potential buyers and research 5 competitors) and looking at:

• LinkedIn job postings and “Skills on the rise” reports
• Consulting firms already offering similar services
• Discussions in industry forums

What you’re looking for is simple:

A real problem—and buyers willing to pay to solve it.

Filter 5 — Access to Buyers

Even a great idea fails if you can’t reach clients.

Ask yourself:

• Do I know people in this industry?
• Do I have past clients or colleagues I can reach out to?
• Do I have access to referral or distribution channels?

For most founders, the first clients come from their network.

Keep in mind that the goal isn’t to find the best idea in the world.

The goal is to find the best idea for you.