You don't need a business mentor to start consulting. Many nonprofit consultants, from fundraising consultants to fractional CFOs, land their first clients on their own. But a mentor can help at any stage once you're committed to consulting as your career. Some people hire one before they have clients, because they want to do it right and skip the trial and error. Others wait until they've landed clients and want to grow faster. Here's how to tell if you're ready, how one-on-one support compares with other options, and what to ask before you hire someone.
When I hired my first business coach
I hired my first business coach about two years into running my business. I already had clients, but I'd hit the limit of what I could figure out on my own. I chose a coach I liked and trusted. He was direct, and he had built the kind of business I wanted to build.
The problem was that it was a group program. At one point, about 1,200 people were in it, and the main support was a weekly Zoom call, so getting feedback was hard. The members were at different stages and served different kinds of customers, so a lot of the advice didn't fit my business. For example, selling through Instagram messages with no sales calls doesn't work when your buyer is a nonprofit leader deciding on a service that costs thousands of dollars.
I've hired many coaches since. Some were worth every penny, and some were a complete dud. What I learned is that the right support depends on what your business needs and how specific the advice has to be.
Types of support for nonprofit consultants
Self-paced courses and resources
Best for: consultants who are confident they can do it themselves and want a framework to follow.
You go at your own pace, and it costs the least. The tradeoff is that no one checks your work or helps you apply it to your situation.
Group programs and communities
Best for: consultants who want ongoing learning, accountability, and peers who understand nonprofit consulting.
Look for a group built around your kind of business, so the advice fits. The tradeoff is that the more people in the group, the less personal feedback you get. If this is what you need, the Relatable Nonprofit Community offers bi-weekly live trainings and peer support for nonprofit consultants.
One-on-one business coaching and mentorship
Best for: consultants who are committed to consulting as a career and want help applying what they learn to their own business.
That might mean reviewing a proposal, working through your pricing, sharpening an offer, or preparing for a sales call. It costs the most, but the advice is built for your situation, and you usually move faster.
Mentor or coach: What's the difference?
People often use the words interchangeably. A coach usually helps you think through decisions and stay accountable. A mentor has built what you're building and shares what worked. The best one-on-one support often does both.
Signs you're ready for a business mentor
- You've decided consulting is your career, whether or not you have clients yet.
- You keep getting stuck on the same problem, like pricing, finding clients, or closing sales.
- You want feedback on real decisions in your business, not more general advice.
- You're ready to put time and money back into your business to grow it.
Not everyone wants a mentor, and that's OK. But if you believe in learning and improving as you go, the right support can save you a lot of trial and error.
What to ask before you hire a mentor or coach
- Have they built the kind of business you want, and do they understand nonprofit consulting?
- What does support include? How often do you meet, can you ask questions between calls, and will you get feedback on your specific situation?
- How long does it last, and what does it cost?
- Can you hear from people like you who have worked with them?
About the author
Catalina "Cat" Parker is the founder of Relatable Nonprofit. She has a master's in nonprofit management from Columbia, her business has generated nearly $1 million in revenue, and she has worked with 170+ nonprofit consultants. Read her story.
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