The Full Roadmap: Exactly What You Can Build in 6 Weeks

Most people think starting a consulting business requires a polished website and a perfect logo. It doesn't.

What it actually requires is a mechanism—a reliable engine that turns your expertise into income, without burning you out in the process.

When you try to build this engine alone, you usually end up with a “Frankenstein” business: a random hourly rate you guessed at, a contract you copied from the internet, and a constant, low-level anxiety about where the next client is coming from.

On-Ramp to Freelance Consulting is designed to stop the guessing. Over six weeks, we build your business engine, piece by piece.

Here is the exact roadmap we follow.

Week 1: The Foundation (Why & Who)

We start by anchoring your business in reality. You can’t build a sustainable practice if you don’t know why you’re doing it or who it’s for.

• The Shift: Moving from “employee mindset” to “business owner.”

• The Tools: We use the Effectuation Exercise to identify the assets you already have so you can start immediately, not “someday.”

• The Outcome: A clear definition of your specific “Why” and a validated list of potential clients using the Client Brainstorm Exercise.

Week 2: The Offer (What You Sell)

This is where most consultants get stuck: “I do a little bit of everything.” This week, we narrow your focus to broaden your appeal.

• The Shift: Turning vague skills (”I’m good at strategy”) into buyable products (”I facilitate strategic planning retreats”).

• The Tools: You’ll use the Service Area Builder to draft clear, market-ready service descriptions.

• The Outcome: A defined set of services that solve expensive problems for specific people.

Week 3: The Sale (Pipeline & Pitching)

Now that you know what you sell, we figure out how to sell it—without feeling gross.

• The Shift: Learning to cultivate leads through curiosity and service, not aggressive pitching.

• The Tools: We build your Pipeline Template and use the Prospect Interview Guide to have low-pressure conversations that actually convert.

• The Outcome: A repeatable system for finding work and a Lead Cultivation Strategy that feels authentic to you.

Week 4: The Money (Rates & Negotiation)

We tackle the math. No more picking numbers out of thin air.

• The Shift: Pricing for value and sustainability, not just “time on the clock.”

• The Tools: You’ll use the Rate Setting Calculator and Budgeting Worksheet to find your “floor” and “ceiling” rates. We also practice with the Negotiation Guide so you don’t freeze up when a client asks, “How much?”

• The Outcome: A confident rate card and a budget that pays you first.

Week 5: The Operations (Systems & Sanity)

A business without systems is just a job where you are the worst boss you’ve ever had. We fix that here.

• The Shift: Building an “Ideal Week” that protects your energy.

• The Tools: We set up your Operational Plan and Client Management Scenarios to handle scope creep and boundaries before they happen.

• The Outcome: A back-office that runs smoothly so you can focus on the work you love.

Week 6: The Future (Resilience)

Consulting is seasonal. We prepare you for the ups and downs so you stay steady.

• The Shift: From reactive panic to proactive planning.

• The Tools: The Reflection & Planning Toolkit helps you map out your next 90 days.

• The Outcome: A 3-month strategic plan to keep your momentum going after the course ends.

Stop Winging It. You can spend the next year figuring this out through trial and error, or you can spend six weeks building it right.