Posted By:
Rieva
on
04-01-2009
We all could use a little guidance from a consultant about now. But, for most of us, the cost of hiring a business consultant is far beyond our reach. However, help may be available for small-business owners from an under-utilized resource: college students.
Local colleges and universities often offer consulting by students for free. At many schools, consulting is related to the school's specialty; for instance, an agricultural college might specialize in helping food manufacturers, while a school that specializes in IT would help technology companies. Projects can range from small ones (like developing packaging for a new product) to large ones (like giving a company’s business plan an overhaul). Don't worry, though, the students are overseen by professors, many of whom have business experience.
In order to be a good "fit" for student consultants, your business should be beyond the startup stage and have a challenging project to offer. Visit nearby schools' Web sites to see what types of services they offer, or call the business school or other program you're interested in.
Although students have offered business consulting for years, the trend has grown as the demand for entrepreneurship education has increased. Entrepreneurship students want the real-life experience that comes from working with entrepreneurs. At the same time, small businesses in a tough economy need help for less money. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.
You can read more about student consultants in this Los Angeles Times article.
Have you ever used student consultants on a project? I'd be interested to hear your experiences.
Rieva Lesonsky