20 consulting business ideas that you can start today

Ready to start a consulting business? Here are the top 20 consulting niches to kick start your journey.

Want to turn what you know into an online business? Consulting is one of the easiest ways to package your skills as an offer. 

Consulting is another kind of info product – but instead of a course or ebook, you’re selling your expertise directly.

(And don’t let the word consultant scare you off. It’s just another way of saying expert, coach, or guide.)

What I’m saying is, you don’t need a PhD or decades of experience. If you know more than the people you’re helping, you’re already qualified to consult.

The trick is picking a niche. Go too broad and you’ll blend into the crowd. The consultants landing high-paying clients are the ones solving specific problems for specific audiences.

In this guide, we’ll show you 20 consulting niches that anyone can start today.

Why choose to sell a consulting offer?

Consulting is one of the simplest ways to turn your knowledge into income.

You don’t need to create a digital course, and you get to decide exactly how you structure your offer. 

Wanna give high-touch, one-on-one sessions? Run group calls? Or offer light guidance with minimal access? Cool. It's up to you. 

Consulting is all about leveraging your expertise and experience, not selling a product.

That said, you can bundle things alongside your consulting to maximise revenue. 

Templates, guides, or mini-courses make perfect add-ons, and platforms like 

Whop makes it easy to sell and manage these digital products alongside your consulting offers. Cash money.

Top 5 trending consulting niches in 2025

Before we get into the whole list of consulting niches, here’s a snapshot of five of the most in-demand, showing earning potential, ideal clients, difficulty, and popularity.

20 consulting business niches

Business & career consulting niches

1. Social media

No business can get away without a social media presence – but a lot of business owners don’t have the time or skills to run their socials themselves, meaning there’s a massive demand for social media consultants.

Meet Leroy. He teaches creators how to grow and monetize their YouTube accounts, saying:

"I've helped creators get 500+ million views in the last 12 months — long form only. It's probably closer to a billion, but that's neither here nor there."
- Leroy ter Break, Creators United

As a social media consultant, you focus on strategy (helping clients choose platforms, tools, and strategies), without getting buried in the daily grind of posting, scheduling, and community management.

2. Content strategy

With so much content online, pumping out posts and hoping for the best is a losing game.

Constantly shifting algorithms make it hard for businesses to know what to post and when, which is why many turn to content consultants for direction. 

To stand out in this niche, focus on a specialty, like Gen Z marketing, crafting hooks that go viral, or helping brands create messaging that speaks directly to their audience.

3. Online course creation consulting

Online courses are one of the most popular ways to sell knowledge, but creating a course that’s engaging, well-structured, and actually sells is harder than it looks (especially for newbies). 

That’s where consultants come in. You can guide creators on course design, content flow, pricing, and marketing strategies, helping them avoid costly mistakes. 

If you know the ins and outs of building and selling online courses, businesses and solopreneurs are willing to pay for your expertise.

4. Personal branding

Everyone wants a seat at the creator economy table, and that means building a personal brand. 

It’s one of the fastest ways to move from employee to entrepreneur, and consulting in this space is super lucrative.

Personal brand consulting isn't just for professionals and job seekers – content creators, brand owners, and anyone looking to boost credibility and grow a loyal audience is a possible client, too. 

Basically, you'll be helping clients establish thought leadership on social media, refine their brand voice, and maximise monetization opportunities. 

This niche is all about guiding people to create a unique, authentic online presence that stands out.

5. Startup consulting

If you have experience in the startup world, I’ve got some good news for you: you’re able to tap into one of the most high-paying consulting niches. 

Investors are eager to fund innovative businesses, but many founders lack the strategy needed to stand out and secure backing. 

Startup consultants fill that gap.

Former founders, C-level executives, or seasoned employees with firsthand experience in successful startups can all guide clients on business planning, fundraising, product development, and market positioning. 

6. Small business consulting

FYI: Around 20% of small businesses in the US fail within their first year. And by year 5? That number creeps closer to 50%. 

If you’ve run a business yourself or worked closely with one during its growth and struggles, you can market yourself as a consultant who helps businesses succeed. 

The key to charging high rates is specialization.

You might focus on specific revenue milestones (like helping a business scale from $2k to $10k per month), target certain industries, or solve particular challenges such as systemizing operations or building sales funnels. 

The more precise your expertise, the easier it is to attract clients willing to pay, especially if you can showcase results through case studies.

7. Freelance career consulting

The number of gig workers is estimated to exceed 1.6 billion by the end of this year, with a large amount (roughly 30%) of those individuals being Gen Z. 

But freelancing is hard, and it takes a little more hustle, organisation and ambition than quietly quitting and escaping to work on your laptop from a beach. 

If you’re an experienced freelancer, you can focus on helping other hustlers in your specific field, or take a broader approach by guiding them on strategies for finding quality clients, building a portfolio, and marketing themselves on platforms like LinkedIn and X. 

8. Resume and LinkedIn profile consulting

Landing a job can feel like a full-time job itself, am I right?

Lots of job seekers are willing to pay for guidance that speeds up results and boosts their chances of success. 

The market is more competitive than ever, and standing out requires more than just a neatly formatted resume.

As a consultant, you can help clients in specific industries or career stages (like recent graduates in tech, or mid-level professionals aiming for promotion), and craft resumes and LinkedIn profiles that really drive home their value.

Your own experience and credibility are key, so building a personal brand to demonstrate your expertise will help attract clients eager to pay for your guidance.

Lifestyle & personal development niches

9. Digital nomad relocation

This one is kind of similar to freelance consulting, but with a twist.

Remote work keeps growing, and so do online income opportunities – which means the digital nomad lifestyle is more popular than ever. 

But freedom often comes with unexpected challenges, and many discover that this lifestyle isn’t always as easy as it looks. 

One of the biggest hurdles is choosing the right place to live, since personal preferences, visas, accommodation, and taxes all vary widely. 

Consultants can guide others through these decisions, offering tailored advice on relocation, legal requirements, housing, and managing finances abroad. 

This niche is in demand for anyone looking to live and work remotely with fewer headaches.

Check out: Top digital nomad communities

10. Real estate investing

The real estate market today goes way beyond traditional buy-and-hold strategies. 

Rising home prices are no longer guaranteed, and there are countless new ways to make money, from short-term rentals to wholesaling and equity-sharing deals. 

As a real estate consultant, you can guide clients on systems that work in today’s market, like finding off-market properties, maximizing occupancy rates, or structuring group deals. Your expertise helps investors save time, reduce risk, and increase profits.

11. Personal finance

Everyone can benefit from practical advice to improve their finances, but traditional advisors often focus narrowly on investments and retirement. 

As a personal finance consultant, you can cover everything from daily budgets to planning for vacations or handling irregular income. 

The most successful consultants specialize in particular demographics, tailoring advice to both financial situations and lifestyle goals (like helping a tech employee manage equity or guiding a business owner through tax planning).

You could also specialise in helping online creators build upon their income streams and monetisation strategies.

Want to know where to start? Check out the best personal finance books.

12. New parent consulting

Becoming a parent is tougher in reality than it looks on paper.

New parents want to do their best and are often willing to hire consultants to help. You can focus on specific challenges like sleep training, balancing work with parenthood, or creating sustainable routines.

Combining professional knowledge with practical experience, and sharing guides or video content, helps build trust and attract clients seeking reliable, actionable support.

13. Home organization

Wanna be the next Marie Kondo? Minimalism, remote work, and conscious living have increased demand for consultants who help people optimize their living spaces. 

Busy people are often willing to pay for expert guidance to create functional, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing homes. 

You can stand out by specializing in specific areas, like home offices, and highlighting measurable benefits such as increased productivity or reduced stress. 

Targeting demographics like busy families or young, single professionals makes it easier to attract clients who value your expertise.

Health & wellness consulting niches

14. Fitness and nutrition consulting

Health and wellness will always be a profitable niche, but the flood of information can overwhelm many people. 

Fitness and nutrition consultants help clients cut through the noise and get clear, personalized guidance without committing to full-time personal training. 

You can work in-person, online, or provide programming. As trainer Danni says:

"You can offer face to face, online, just programming— there's a whole bunch of different needs to meet, which opens up opportunities for a lot of different business styles and cash flows."
- Danni, Personal Trainer at Jetts Australia

The trick? Focusing on results, sustainable systems, and habits that clients can actually maintain.

You could even complement your consulting by selling fitness programs online.

15. Event and retreat planning

Anyone else’s feed just constant Bali health retreats and online wellness masterclasses? 

Health and wellness events now span both in-person and virtual formats, creating demand for consultants who can guide businesses and individuals through planning and logistics. 

Consultants in this field often work with high-ticket, niche-specific clients, so experience and reputation are crucial. Consulting in this field typically means you are dealing with individuals selling high-ticket offers, so by nature, it’s highly paid.

Start by building up a personal brand and reaching out to health and wellness creators running retreats, gatherings, and online events.

16. Sustainability consulting for homes

Rising environmental awareness (and energy costs) have made sustainability consulting a pretty popular niche. 

Homeowners seek guidance on going green while saving money. Consultants can focus on energy efficiency, smart home technology, or sustainable consumer habits. 

The most successful consultants align genuine environmental intentions with measurable results, building trust with clients who value both financial and moral ROI.

17. Pet training consulting

Pet ownership isn’t all fun and games; it takes work.

Many high-achieving owners want well-behaved pets, but lack the know-how or time to become a trainer themselves. 

Training consultants can work in-person or remotely, offering flexibility and additional income potential. 

Specializing in specific breeds or behavioral issues helps attract high-paying clients. 

Marketing through videos and testimonials is essential, and building long-term relationships sets you apart from broader, less specialized competitors.

Tech & innovation niches

18. AI integration

AI is becoming essential for individuals and businesses, but many find it overwhelming. 

Consultants in AI integration help clients implement AI tools into workflows to boost productivity and profitability. 

Formal certifications aren’t required; demonstrable experience and practical know-how are enough. 

We spoke to a creator who sells prompt packs, which are a perfect offering for a consultant helping businesses work with AI more efficiently:

"You can literally use an app to create AI prompts that help your clients achieve their results faster, and you can sell it to them for maybe around $20. Now, if 250 people buy them? That's an additional $5K per month to your business."
- Seller of AI prompts on Whop

By guiding clients through AI adoption, consultants provide immediate value while positioning themselves in a fast-growing, high-demand field.

19. AI-powered content creation

Content is king, and AI has dramatically increased what’s possible. However, there’s a big difference between engaging AI content and plain slop. 

Consultants in AI content creation help businesses leverage these tools efficiently, either by offering services directly or teaching clients how to use them. 

Again, you don't need to know everything about AI – just more than your clients.

Take it from this online tech coach:

"College kids are making a huge amount of money, showing older generations how to use AI and social media. This is a pain point where you can solve and get paid, and you don't need to be an expert at it. You only need to be a couple of steps ahead."
- Tech coach

Combining AI skills with a strong understanding of brand voice and marketing best practices allows consultants to generate real results, not just views.

20. Ecommerce consulting

Almost every business today is online – or planning to be.

Ecommerce consultants provide expertise to store owners on setting up, optimizing, or scaling their operations. 

Again, specialization is key: consultants may focus on conversion rate optimization, marketing strategy, or sourcing better inventory. Basically, whatever you've successfully done yourself.

Demonstrating measurable ROI helps justify premium rates, making this a high-demand niche for experienced online business operators.

Picking the right consulting niche

Not all consulting niches are created equal. The most profitable ones usually share these traits:

Your real expertise

Consultants get hired for hands-on experience, not theory. Pick a niche where you’ve delivered real results. Don’t oversell what you can’t do — it kills your credibility fast. If you don’t have the experience yet, start freelancing to build skills, income, and reputation before moving into higher-paying consulting work.

Growing demand (without heavy competition)

The biggest wins are often in emerging markets where expertise is scarce. Think AI consulting or new forms of content marketing like UGC. In these spaces, even newer consultants can stand out if they can prove results.

Clear ROI for clients

Clients will only pay premium rates if they see a clear return. That’s why the best niches make it easy to measure ROI — more revenue, lower costs, faster growth. Back this up with case studies and metrics that prove the payoff, like increased sales or streamlined operations.

Solving real, urgent problems

Don’t waste time convincing clients they have a problem. Focus on issues they already know are costing them money or time. For example, an ecommerce store that’s losing to AI-powered competitors doesn’t need convincing — they need you to fix it.

Clients who can pay (and need it now)

Not every audience can support consulting rates. Budget-conscious individuals might go DIY or hire cheap freelancers. The best clients are high-growth businesses with disposable income and urgency. A startup turning a profit will happily pay $10,000+ for growth consulting, while a beginner dropshipper is more likely to buy a low-cost course. Go where the money and urgency already are.

Tips for starting your consulting business the right way

Once you’ve nailed your target market and chosen a niche, it’s time to set up your consulting business for profit and long-term growth. Here’s how to do it right:

Build authority with content

Being great at what you do isn’t enough. In 2025, the consultants who win are the ones who can prove their expertise. Pick the platform where your ideal clients hang out — LinkedIn, Twitter (X), YouTube, wherever — and post helpful, niche-specific content. Over time, you’ll build authority, trust, and a steady stream of inbound leads.

Get crystal clear on your offer

Vague packages like “business strategy” or “growth consulting” won’t cut it. Clients want specifics. Instead, frame your service as a clear solution with measurable outcomes — e.g. “increase ecommerce conversions by 20% in 60 days.” And don’t forget pricing clarity. Decide upfront if you’re billing hourly, on retainer, or per package, and make sure it works for you and your client.

Price by value, not hours

Hourly rates are fine for beginners, but scaling consultants charge based on deliverables and results. Instead of $250/hour for social media advice, package it as $2,000 for a strategy, posting schedule, and ROI report. The client sees the value, you escape the time-for-money trap, and everybody wins. Case studies will be your best friend here — use them to prove ROI and justify higher pricing.

Create repeatable systems

Stop reinventing the wheel with every new client. Document your consulting process and build templates for discovery calls, onboarding, proposals, and reporting. Systems give you consistent results and make it easier to scale without doubling your workload.

Productize your expertise

Want to make money while you sleep? Turn your best client work into digital products. Templates, toolkits, and frameworks can be sold as standalone products while also streamlining your client workflow.

From there, you can level up with a high-ticket course or a private paid community on Whop. This is how top consultants go from trading time for money to building scalable, passive income streams.

Cash in with your knowledge on Whop

Ready to turn your expertise into real income? With Whop, it's easy to package what you know and sell it as consulting, templates, courses, communities — or all of the above in one streamlined storefront.

Your whop is your online hub where you can launch one-time offers or build recurring revenue with subscriptions and memberships. It’s free to set up, easy to scale, and built to keep your profit margins high.

And you won’t be building in a vacuum. Whop’s marketplace has already generated over $1.5 billion for creators — giving you instant exposure to millions of potential customers who are ready to buy.

Create your whop today and cash in with consulting.

Consulting business FAQs

What are the most profitable consulting niches in 2025?

Some of the most in-demand consulting niches right now include social media, content strategy, AI integration, personal branding, startup consulting, and ecommerce. These niches combine high demand with clear ROI, making them profitable for consultants who can prove results.

Do I need experience to start a consulting business?

Yes, clients pay for proven expertise. If you don’t have hands-on results yet, start by freelancing to build case studies and credibility. Once you have real wins under your belt, you can move into higher-paying consulting work.

How much money can consultants make?

Consulting income varies by niche, pricing model, and client base. Many consultants earn between $50,000 and $300,000 a year, while top specialists in high-demand industries like AI or finance can make $500,000+ annually.

What’s the best way to price consulting services?

Instead of charging by the hour, focus on value-based pricing. Package your services around deliverables and measurable outcomes, such as increasing conversions or cutting costs. Clients are more willing to pay premium rates when they see a clear ROI.

How can I scale my consulting business?

To grow beyond trading time for money, create repeatable systems and productize your expertise. Turn your best frameworks into digital products, courses, or paid communities. Platforms like Whop make it easy to sell consulting packages and build recurring revenue streams.