Questions to Ask your Business Plan Consultant

“How do I find a business plan consultant who understands what I’m trying to build?”

We hear these sorts of questions a lot. And it’s only fair. They want someone who gets their business model, their industry, and their goals and can translate that into a solid, investor-ready plan.

So they Google around, check portfolios, book calls. And then? Everyone claims “custom plans,” “startup expertise,” and “investor-ready insights.” It all starts to blur together.

In our consulting work at PlanGrowLab, this comes up early. Founders bring loose ideas or partial plans and expect someone to help pull them all together. That’s not a checklist job. It takes alignment.

That’s why we tell founders to flip the script: Don’t just evaluate credentials; ask the right questions. In this post, I’ll walk through those exact questions, the ones we encourage clients to ask before hiring anyone.

The importance of asking the right questions

Finding the right business plan consultant is like finding the right partner for your business journey. It's an important decision that can decide the success of your business.

On top of that, it helps you to:

Assess the candidates in the right way.

Your business plan isn’t just a document. It’s your strategy on paper. So the person writing it needs to understand more than grammar and formatting; they need to understand your business.

Let’s say you're launching a tech startup. You’ll want someone who follows funding trends, knows how to position early-stage products, and can talk about competitive moats without Googling the term.

At PlanGrowLab, we’ve reviewed dozens of plans written by generalists who clearly didn’t get the market. That’s why we always start by asking deep industry questions before we even outline the first draft. You should expect the same.

Communicate effectively

A strong consultant writes and, more importantly, listens. You will know when your first few calls will feel like a conversation rather than filling an intake form. Note whether they have thoughtful questions and are digging into your goals.

We cannot say this enough: Clear and regular communication makes or breaks the project. That’s exactly why our team makes sure you’re never left wondering where things stand. We share early drafts, explain our reasoning, and keep feedback loops tight.

Make sure if the consultant is culturally fit or not

Every business has a different culture and set of values. To ensure a good fit, you can ask questions that talk about the consultant's work ethic, approach to problem-solving, and overall personality.

For example, let's say your company values open communication and collaboration. Then you might ask the consultant about their preferred communication style and how they handle disagreements within a team. This helps you see if they'll fit in well with your team and company values.

Mitigate risks

Many of the clients we work with come to us after a bad first experience. They hired someone who looked good on paper, but the results had weak market research, copy-paste content, or a tone that didn’t reflect their business at all.

These issues don’t always show up in early calls or pitch decks. That’s why we encourage founders to dig deeper with the right questions. It’s the best way to catch mismatches early before you lose time or money.

At PlanGrowLab, we’re used to having honest conversations upfront. We’d rather walk you through our approach in detail than make promises that don’t match your expectations.

Now that we understand why asking questions is important, let us see what questions need to be asked.

Questions to ask your business plan consultant

After 100+ planning calls, we’ve noticed that founders who ask the right questions tend to find the right fit faster. Here are the questions we’d ask if we were in your shoes.

#1 What is your experience and background?

A lot of consultants talk about “years in the field.” But the real question is: have they written plans like the one you need?

For example, at PlanGrowLab, we’ve worked with SaaS founders raising pre-seed rounds, family-run restaurants applying for SBA loans, and consultants turning side hustles into full-time businesses. Each one needed a completely different structure, tone, and financial depth.

That’s what you should ask about:  What kinds of businesses they’ve worked with, what types of funding goals they’ve tackled, and what their success rate looks like.

Ask if they’ve handled plans in your industry, for your audience (banks, VCs, grant committees), and at your stage. The right background helps them write with credibility, so you don’t waste time explaining your space from scratch.

#2 Can you provide examples of your past work?

Ask to see samples that match your industry, funding goal, or business stage. If you’re a tech founder going after VC money, their restaurant business plan won't help much.

Sharing redacted excerpts is our usual norm so founders can see how we frame market opportunities, simplify financials, or position niche offerings. It gives them confidence that we’ve done this before, for businesses like theirs.

Look for signs that they’ve:

• Written plans that led to real funding or traction
• Adapted their writing for startups, growing firms, and complex models
• Worked across industries

A good consultant will walk you through what worked, why it worked, and how they’ll tailor the same approach for you.

#3 What is your approach to developing a business plan?

You want to know what your consultant thinks, right? Asking about their approach to creating a business plan gives you a peek into their strategic mind.

A serious consultant won’t jump into writing on Day 1. They’ll start by understanding your business model, goals, and funding context. Then they’ll shape the structure, gather relevant data, and turn it all into a story that makes sense to your target reader, whether that’s an investor, lender, or internal team.

Running a short discovery session first helps a lot. We’ve found that spending 30–45 minutes upfront saves hours of back-and-forth later. It gives us the context we need to build a plan that’s actually usable.

Ask how they:

• Gather and verify inputs (interviews, research, templates?)
• Decide what goes in and what stays out
• Keep you involved without overwhelming you
• Adapt the plan for banks vs. VCs vs. internal use

Good process = better outcomes. If their answer sounds vague, so will the final plan.

#4 How do you customize your services for different businesses?

Every business is unique, right?  You've got your own goals and challenges. You don't want a one-size-fits-all business plan. In fact, you need one that reflects your vision and makes sense for where you are now and where you're headed.

So, when you ask this question you figure out if the consultant is flexible and can change their approach to your situation.  It shows if they're genuinely interested in adapting to your business model, industry, and goals instead of handing you a generic framework

You'll also get a feel for their experience. A seasoned consultant like the ones on our team can walk you through how they’ve adjusted plans for early-stage SaaS startups, family-run franchises, or even high-growth manufacturing companies.

#5 What are your fees and payment terms?

By discussing both fees and payment terms upfront, you gain clarity on the consultant's rates and payment structure. Later on, you can compare these rates in the market. This way, you can budget effectively and avoid any financial surprises down the line.

Consultants usually charge in a few different ways:

• Hourly rate
• Daily rate
• Monthly retainer
• Project-based rate

The cost can also change depending on whether the consultant works from your office or remotely. Some people prefer having a consultant on-site.

Having someone in the office can save time and money. You can easily give them tasks or ask questions, which frees you up to focus on other important parts of your business.

At PlanGrowLab, we outline our pricing only after understanding the full scope of your project. This way, you get a detailed proposal with clear deliverables and timelines that match your goals.

#6 What is the expected timeline for completing the business plan?

Knowing the timeline upfront helps you stay on track.

Asking about the timeline also gives you a feel for the consultant's workload and how organized they are. A realistic timeline shows they know what they're doing and can handle the project.

Basically, it's about setting clear expectations. You want to be on the same page about when the plan will be finished. So there are no surprises or delays later on.

#7 How will you communicate and provide updates?

You're investing time, money, and a whole lot of hope into this plan. So, you want to know what's going on, every step of the way.

Asking about communication and updates is knowing about the journey ahead. You want to know:

• How often will they check in with you? Will it be weekly emails, phone calls, or something else?
• What kind of updates will they provide? Will they share drafts, outlines, or just give you a general idea of their progress?
• How will they handle feedback and revisions? Is there a formal process, or can you just give them comments as you go?
• What tools or platforms will they use to collaborate? Will you have access to a shared workspace or project management tool?

Knowing all this before makes a big difference. It sets expectations and helps you feel comfortable that you're not going to be left in the dark, wondering what's happening with your precious business plan.

Plus, it shows how organized and professional the consultant is. Clear communication is a sign of good project management. Plus, it shows they respect your time and investment.

We typically assign a dedicated point of contact and use shared project dashboards to make feedback, revisions, and status updates smooth and transparent.

Tips for selecting the right business plan consultant

Feeling overwhelmed by all the choices for business plan consultants? It's totally normal to feel that way. You're about to spend a good chunk of money, and there are so many options out there. To find the right fit, here’s what we recommend:

Experience and expertise

First things first, check out what industries the consultant has worked in before. Do they have experience in your field? That's a big plus. As it means they'll be familiar with the specific challenges and opportunities you face. We've seen how much smoother things go when the consultant already knows your market’s common hurdles and funding norms.

Also, look into their track record. Have they helped other businesses in your industry succeed? Have they created strategic plans that are similar to what you need? Check out their portfolio for examples of their work.

At PlanGrowLab, for instance, we’ve helped clients across industries, contributing to over $1.2B in capital raised. That kind of experience you want.

Check their qualifications

Before you make any final decisions, check whether the consultant has the right background for the job. Usually, a solid education is a good start. If your selected consultant has degrees in business, finance, or any other relevant fields, they're good to go.

On top of that, check if they have any additional training or certifications. Are they part of any professional organizations? These are good signs they're dedicated to staying up-to-date and keeping their skills sharp.

That’s something we’re intentional about at PlanGrowLab. Everyone on our consulting team goes through regular peer reviews, market refreshers, and industry-specific updates. It keeps our work sharp and ensures we’re not giving clients advice that’s outdated or too generic.

Check reviews

Before you hire any consultant, check their reputation. You can do this by asking for reviews and testimonials. Doing so will help you understand their past work, their approach, and their overall reliability.

You can also look for online reviews to know their work and client experiences.

Test their knowledge

It's not just about experience. You want a consultant who's sharp and up-to-date.

So, ask them some industry-specific questions like:

• How do you stay on top of industry trends?
• Explain a complex business concept and how it would apply to my company.
• What are the key metrics for my business, and how will you track them?

Pay attention to how they answer. You want detailed, thoughtful responses that show they're not just winging it.

We’ve had to explain everything from AI-driven unit economics to niche market expansion models. That’s how we’ve helped add over $19M in business value across our client base. Insight like that only comes from hands-on work with businesses that expect outcomes.

Summing it up

Hope you found this article helpful and have all the questions you need to ask when hiring a business plan consultant.

Choosing the right consultant is crucial, but with so many firms claiming to be the best, it can be challenging to make the right choice.

PlanGrowLab can be your guiding force to help you get your business up and running. We provide a range of planning services to meet your requirements, including business plan consulting, review, writing, financial forecasting, pitch deck creation, and more.

Have more questions? Book a free consultation with one of our advisors and discuss your business plan in detail.