Choosing a growth consultant is about fit: your problem, their approach, and how you work together. Use this framework to decide.
Step 1: Clarify your problem
Before you search, define:
- What’s broken? (Funnel, attribution, messaging, no systems?)
- What does success look like? (Leads, revenue, CAC, conversion?)
- Do you need strategy, implementation, or both?
- Timeline: quick fix or longer engagement?
That determines whether you need a consultant, fractional CMO, or Strategic Growth Operator.
Step 2: Compare approaches
| Approach | What you get | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Strategy consultant | Decks, recommendations, roadmap | You have a team to execute |
| Fractional CMO | Ongoing leadership, ownership | You need a marketing lead |
| Strategic Growth Operator | Systems built, implemented, handed off | Funnel/system broken, need fix + handoff |
| Agency | Campaigns, execution, retainers | You want ongoing support |
If your issue is “broken systems and no one to build them,” a Strategic Growth Operator is usually a better fit than a strategy-only consultant.
Step 3: Check for red flags
Avoid consultants who:
- Only deliver decks and roadmaps (why that fails)
- Bias toward spec’ing over shipping
- Can’t show systems they’ve built
- Use vague pricing or scope
- Promise effort, not results
- Won’t define success metrics or guarantee
Look for: fixed or clear pricing, defined deliverables, and a guarantee tied to results.
Step 4: Ask the right questions
Before hiring, ask:
- What systems have you built (not just advised)?
- Do they build or only advise? Look for a bias to ship over spec.
- What’s your process? (Audit, build, handoff?)
- How do you measure success? What’s the guarantee?
- How do you work with our team? (Siloed, embed, lead?)
- Can I speak with a past client in a similar situation?
Step 5: Choose implementation over advice
If you’ve had consultants before and got decks with no execution, prioritize implementation. You want someone who builds, tests, and hands off working systems, not someone who leaves you with a plan and a bill.
Ready to fix your growth engine with a 90-day intensive? Book a diagnostic call. Or try free GTM tools to start.