What Is an Online Business Consultant and How to Become One

An online business consultant works with organizations to improve their business operations, develop financial and marketing strategies, and increase efficiency and profitability. Your responsibilities in this virtual position vary depending on the needs of each client. Your duties may involve communicating online with an organization to assess its needs and making a strategy to meet those demands. You use your computer to perform data analysis, email or video conference with management to discuss your findings, research the market and competition, and then draft a plan for business development. Some consultants focus on a specific area, such as marketing strategy, accounting, human resources, or management.

If you want to become an online business consultant, you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in your area of expertise or a general business subject, such as business administration. Consulting firms that hire online business consultants prefer qualifications like an MBA or accreditation as a Certified Management Consultant (CMC). Since your responsibilities include interacting online, you need the skills to be able to communicate concisely via video conference, phone, and email. If you have previous job experience as a consultant, you can take an exam and earn a professional certification from an organization like IMC USA, which also offers memberships for professional consultants.