Business Starter Hub

A practical toolkit for quality professionals starting a consulting or manufacturing-service business — from first package to first clients.

Startup roadmap

  1. 1

    Pick a niche

    Choose 1–2 industries you know (e.g. auto components, pharma packaging) and 2–3 problems you solve well: supplier PPAP, 8D for customer complaints, ISO 9001 readiness.

  2. 2

    Set up the basics

    Register as a sole proprietor or LLP, open a business bank account, get GST registration once turnover requires it, and prepare a one-page profile.

  3. 3

    Package your services

    Sell fixed-scope packages with clear deliverables instead of open-ended hours (see examples below).

  4. 4

    Price with a worksheet

    Work out a day rate that covers your income, costs, taxes and idle time — then price packages from it.

  5. 5

    Win the first three clients

    Start with your network and local industrial associations; offer a short paid gap assessment as the entry product.

  6. 6

    Deliver with a system

    Use one platform for checklists, NCR/CAPA, 8D reports and audits so every client gets consistent, documented results.

  7. 7

    Ask for referrals & case studies

    After a measurable result (e.g. complaint closed with an 8D), ask for a referral and, with permission, a short case study.

Sample service packages

Quality gap assessment

2 days

  • Shop-floor and document review
  • Gap report against ISO 9001 or customer requirements
  • Prioritised 90-day action plan

Customer complaint 8D support

3 days

  • Containment within 24 hours
  • Root cause with 5 Whys / fishbone
  • Customer-ready 8D report

Digital inspection set-up

3–4 days

  • Convert paper check sheets into digital checklists
  • Train inspectors on phones/tablets
  • FPY and PPM dashboard live

ISO 9001 readiness

10–15 days

  • Process map and documented information
  • Internal audit and management review
  • Certification audit support

Pricing worksheet

Change the numbers to see a day rate that covers your income and costs. It is a starting point — check what clients in your region pay.

Suggested day rate

₹9,000

(₹80,000 + ₹15,000) ÷ 14 days × (1 + 30%) → rounded up to ₹500

Package examples at this rate:

  • Gap assessment (2 days): ₹18,000
  • 8D / CAPA coaching (3 days): ₹27,000
  • ISO 9001 readiness (12 days): ₹1,08,000

Business-plan outline

BUSINESS PLAN OUTLINE — Quality consulting / manufacturing services

1. Summary — who you help, the problem, your offer, 12-month goal
2. Market — target industries and region; number of potential clients; who buys (owner, plant head, quality head)
3. Services & packages — scope, deliverables, duration, price
4. Competition — local consultants, certification bodies' trainers; your difference
5. Marketing & sales — channels, monthly activities, conversion assumptions
6. Operations — tools, templates, subcontractors, travel
7. Finances — start-up costs, monthly costs, day rate, break-even month
8. Risks — late payments, single large client, travel time; mitigation
9. Milestones — first client, first case study, first retainer, first hire

Client proposal template

PROPOSAL — [Service name] for [Client company]
Date: [dd/mm/yyyy]        Prepared by: [Your name, company, phone, email]

1. Background
   [What the client told you: the problem, customer pressure, deadlines.]

2. Objectives
   - [e.g. Close customer complaint #123 with an accepted 8D report]
   - [e.g. Reduce internal rejection on line 2]

3. Scope of work
   - [Activity 1 — e.g. on-site containment and data collection (Day 1)]
   - [Activity 2 — root-cause workshop with the team (Day 2)]
   - [Activity 3 — corrective-action plan and 8D report (Day 3)]
   Out of scope: [anything you will not do]

4. Deliverables
   - [Report / checklist / training / dashboard]

5. Timeline
   [Start date, milestones, completion date]

6. Fees and payment terms
   Fixed fee: ₹[amount] + GST. [50%] on acceptance, balance on delivery.
   Travel outside [city] charged at actuals.

7. Client responsibilities
   [Access to shop floor, data, a coordinator, meeting rooms]

8. Acceptance
   Client: ____________________   Date: ________
   Consultant: ________________   Date: ________

Client acquisition guide

Warm network first
List 30 people from past employers, suppliers and customers. Tell them what you now offer and ask who is struggling with complaints or audits.
Industrial associations
Attend local chamber, MSME and industrial-estate meetings; offer a short talk on 8D or reducing rejection.
LinkedIn, practically
Post one short lesson per week from real work (with no client names). Comment on plant heads' and quality heads' posts.
Entry offer
A fixed-price 2-day gap assessment is easy to approve and naturally leads to a larger project.
Follow-up rhythm
Track leads in a simple sheet: contacted → meeting → proposal → won/lost. Follow up after 3, 7 and 14 days.

Deliver consistently with QCIN: checklist templates, Learning Centre and the Free / Solo plan for a single consultant.

See QCIN with your own parts and processes.

Start a free 14-day trial — no card required — or book a walkthrough with our team.

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