Best 5 Business Operation Consultants



Best 5 Business Operation Consultants
Best 5 Business Operation Consultants
TL;DR
Optimizing day-to-day operations of a business is crucial for the business success, and for achieving this, choosing the right business operation consultant is a strategically vital decision.
A business operation consultant analyzes current workflows, identifies inefficiency, and develops practical solutions to boost productivity and reduce cost.
Whether your company requires a solo operation consultant with specialization and expertise, or the operational comprehensiveness delivered by an operation consultant agency, finding the right consultant is essential for turning strategic plans to successful outcomes.
This article will guide you through the lists of top 5 solo business operation consultants (Tom Critchlow, Brad Farris, Mike Michalowicz, Josh Kaufman, Gino Wickman), along with the best 5 business operation consultant agencies (ZS Associates, Ultra Consultants, Argon & Co, The Hackett Group, Maine Pointe), explaining what they do, and how they are suitable for your business.
What Does a Business Operation Consultant Do?
Before delving into the consultants, it is important to understand what a business operation consultant does:
Conducting thorough assessments of current operations to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement
Creating practical solutions and strategic plans to optimize overall business performance
Focusing on optimizing messy workflows, utilizing tools like Business Process Model Notation (BPMN), and spotting opportunities for automation in repetitive processes
Leading the implementation of new processes, systems, and technologies, such as ERP systems, cloud software, and automation solutions, to achieve efficiency gains
Working to enhance efficiency across specific functions like supply chain optimization, procurement, manufacturing, and service delivery
Conducting cost analyses to identify waste and recommends cost-saving measures
Setting up Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the success of implemented changes, monitoring operational performance, and building an information-centered culture
Analyzing team structure and defining employee responsibilities to remove confusion, enhancing team productivity, and promoting cross-department teamwork
Designing adaptive operations that are resilient to economic or competitive challenges and quickly seizing new opportunities
Before delving into the consultants, it is important to understand what a business operation consultant does:
Conducting thorough assessments of current operations to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement
Creating practical solutions and strategic plans to optimize overall business performance
Focusing on optimizing messy workflows, utilizing tools like Business Process Model Notation (BPMN), and spotting opportunities for automation in repetitive processes
Leading the implementation of new processes, systems, and technologies, such as ERP systems, cloud software, and automation solutions, to achieve efficiency gains
Working to enhance efficiency across specific functions like supply chain optimization, procurement, manufacturing, and service delivery
Conducting cost analyses to identify waste and recommends cost-saving measures
Setting up Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the success of implemented changes, monitoring operational performance, and building an information-centered culture
Analyzing team structure and defining employee responsibilities to remove confusion, enhancing team productivity, and promoting cross-department teamwork
Designing adaptive operations that are resilient to economic or competitive challenges and quickly seizing new opportunities
Top 5 Individual Business Operation Consultants
Here are the best 5 business operation consultancy individuals:
Consultant’s Name | Expertise | Specialization | |
Digital operations and growth strategy | Advisory services focused on operational scaling for media and tech firms. Content operations, business embedding for long-term client impact. | ||
Operations for agencies and SMBs | Optimizing small business operations, process streamlining | ||
Small business operations, process streamlining | Operational structure, automating operations | ||
Operational strategy, organizational efficiency | Business systems, operations, strategic process design | ||
Business operations, EOS systems | Streamlining operations and executive processes |
|
Let’s elaborate on the individual business operation consultants, starting with:
Tom Critchlow

Credibility: Building a new $10m SEO program for a consumer marketplace, including securing board approval and hiring senior leaders to build the program
Preferred Mode of Consultation: Deeply embedded consultation, video conferencing and remote consultation, workshops and seminars, keynote speaking, online courses and cohorts, informal mentorships
Expertise: Digital operations and growth strategy
Technology Specialization: Content operations, digital strategy for media and tech firms
Experience: 20 years of experience
Why Choose Tom Critchlow
Tech and media sector businesses may choose Tom Critchlow, as he is a solo digital strategy consultant focused on growth strategy. Delivering advisory services on operational scaling, Critchlow specifically specializes on business embedding, ensuring long term client impact with the operational changes he advises on.
Brad Farris

Credibility: Executive leadership coach at Anchor Advisors
Preferred Mode of Consultation: One-to-one executive coaching, video conference, webinars and podcasts, seminars and workshops, keynote speaking
Expertise: Optimizing small businesses operating systems
Technology Specialization: Operations for Agencies and Small-to-Midsize Businesses (SMBs)
Experience: 35 years of experience
Why Choose Brad Farris
For small to midsize businesses suffering from bottlenecks, Brad Farris is appropriate. His solo consultancy specializes in optimization of small business systems and existing team structures. He addresses crucial organizational challenges like team structure and system optimization, addressing them with efficiency and scaling.
Mike Michalowicz

Credibility: Author of Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself
Preferred Mode of Consultation: Monthly live Q&A, live and virtual keynote speaking
Expertise: Small business operations, process streamlining and automation
Technology Specialization: Process streamlining and automating operations
Experience: Around 30 years of experience
Why Choose Mike Michalowicz
Companies seeking for immediate streamlining and automation should go for Mike. Advising companies individually on implementation of operational structure focused on process streamlining, Mike’s core expertise lies within automating operations helping businesses reduce manual work, and aligning resources to grow revenues faster.
Josh Kaufman

Credibility: Author of Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
Preferred Mode of Consultation: 90 minutes phone conversation
Expertise: Operational strategy and organizational efficiency
Technology Specialization: Business systems and strategic process design
Experience: Over 20 years of experience
Why Choose Josh Kaufman
Josh Kaufman is apt for businesses seeking strategic process improvements. Providing individual consultation focused on operational strategy and organizational efficiency, he also delivers expert guidance on improving business systems and strategic process design, which ensures that operations are sound strategically.
Gino Wickman

Credibility: Author of Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
Preferred Mode of Consultation: Workshops and keynotes speaking, live Q&A sessions, a 90-minute-meeting by a global network of certified implementers he trained
Expertise: Entrepreneurial operating system
Technology Specialization: Implementing EOS operation framework
Experience: 30 years of experience
Why Choose Gino Wickman
Ideal as an operational consultant for businesses seeking a complete repeatable organizational management structure, Gino Wickman brings in a competent and recognizable system on the table. Working individually with companies for implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System framework, he helps streamline the operational and executive processes effectively.
Here are the best 5 business operation consultancy individuals:
Consultant’s Name | Expertise | Specialization | |
Digital operations and growth strategy | Advisory services focused on operational scaling for media and tech firms. Content operations, business embedding for long-term client impact. | ||
Operations for agencies and SMBs | Optimizing small business operations, process streamlining | ||
Small business operations, process streamlining | Operational structure, automating operations | ||
Operational strategy, organizational efficiency | Business systems, operations, strategic process design | ||
Business operations, EOS systems | Streamlining operations and executive processes |
|
Let’s elaborate on the individual business operation consultants, starting with:
Tom Critchlow

Credibility: Building a new $10m SEO program for a consumer marketplace, including securing board approval and hiring senior leaders to build the program
Preferred Mode of Consultation: Deeply embedded consultation, video conferencing and remote consultation, workshops and seminars, keynote speaking, online courses and cohorts, informal mentorships
Expertise: Digital operations and growth strategy
Technology Specialization: Content operations, digital strategy for media and tech firms
Experience: 20 years of experience
Why Choose Tom Critchlow
Tech and media sector businesses may choose Tom Critchlow, as he is a solo digital strategy consultant focused on growth strategy. Delivering advisory services on operational scaling, Critchlow specifically specializes on business embedding, ensuring long term client impact with the operational changes he advises on.
Brad Farris

Credibility: Executive leadership coach at Anchor Advisors
Preferred Mode of Consultation: One-to-one executive coaching, video conference, webinars and podcasts, seminars and workshops, keynote speaking
Expertise: Optimizing small businesses operating systems
Technology Specialization: Operations for Agencies and Small-to-Midsize Businesses (SMBs)
Experience: 35 years of experience
Why Choose Brad Farris
For small to midsize businesses suffering from bottlenecks, Brad Farris is appropriate. His solo consultancy specializes in optimization of small business systems and existing team structures. He addresses crucial organizational challenges like team structure and system optimization, addressing them with efficiency and scaling.
Mike Michalowicz

Credibility: Author of Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself
Preferred Mode of Consultation: Monthly live Q&A, live and virtual keynote speaking
Expertise: Small business operations, process streamlining and automation
Technology Specialization: Process streamlining and automating operations
Experience: Around 30 years of experience
Why Choose Mike Michalowicz
Companies seeking for immediate streamlining and automation should go for Mike. Advising companies individually on implementation of operational structure focused on process streamlining, Mike’s core expertise lies within automating operations helping businesses reduce manual work, and aligning resources to grow revenues faster.
Josh Kaufman

Credibility: Author of Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business
Preferred Mode of Consultation: 90 minutes phone conversation
Expertise: Operational strategy and organizational efficiency
Technology Specialization: Business systems and strategic process design
Experience: Over 20 years of experience
Why Choose Josh Kaufman
Josh Kaufman is apt for businesses seeking strategic process improvements. Providing individual consultation focused on operational strategy and organizational efficiency, he also delivers expert guidance on improving business systems and strategic process design, which ensures that operations are sound strategically.
Gino Wickman

Credibility: Author of Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
Preferred Mode of Consultation: Workshops and keynotes speaking, live Q&A sessions, a 90-minute-meeting by a global network of certified implementers he trained
Expertise: Entrepreneurial operating system
Technology Specialization: Implementing EOS operation framework
Experience: 30 years of experience
Why Choose Gino Wickman
Ideal as an operational consultant for businesses seeking a complete repeatable organizational management structure, Gino Wickman brings in a competent and recognizable system on the table. Working individually with companies for implementation of the Entrepreneurial Operating System framework, he helps streamline the operational and executive processes effectively.
Conclusion
The featured business operation consultants consist of both highly specialized individual experts and competent agencies. They are the powerful driving force behind organizational changes, focusing relentlessly on measurable results. The experts, individuals and agencies, deliver crucial benefits by streamlining operations, building scalable systems that support growth, and providing objective, specialized expertise that internal teams may lack. Choosing the right expert, aligning functional improvements with strategic goals, is crucial for reducing costs, enhancing overall efficiency, and securing a long-term competitive edge.
The featured business operation consultants consist of both highly specialized individual experts and competent agencies. They are the powerful driving force behind organizational changes, focusing relentlessly on measurable results. The experts, individuals and agencies, deliver crucial benefits by streamlining operations, building scalable systems that support growth, and providing objective, specialized expertise that internal teams may lack. Choosing the right expert, aligning functional improvements with strategic goals, is crucial for reducing costs, enhancing overall efficiency, and securing a long-term competitive edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a business operation consultant?
An expert who analyzes, improves and streamlines a company’s internal processes, daily functions boosting efficiency, cutting cost, and increasing profitability.
What is the role of a business operation consultant?
Analyzing a company’s internal processes, identifying inefficiencies, implementing strategies to boost performance and profitability.
What skills are needed to be a business operation consultant?
A blend of hard skills like data analysis, process optimization, technical proficiency, along with soft skills like analytical reasoning, problem solving, exceptional communication, leadership and adaptability.
How much does it cost to hire a business operation consultant?
Hiring a business operation consultant may cost from $45 to $500 per hour for individuals; the average can be around $75 to $150 per hour for small businesses, project fees ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 for larger firms.
What is a business operation consultant?
An expert who analyzes, improves and streamlines a company’s internal processes, daily functions boosting efficiency, cutting cost, and increasing profitability.
What is the role of a business operation consultant?
Analyzing a company’s internal processes, identifying inefficiencies, implementing strategies to boost performance and profitability.
What skills are needed to be a business operation consultant?
A blend of hard skills like data analysis, process optimization, technical proficiency, along with soft skills like analytical reasoning, problem solving, exceptional communication, leadership and adaptability.
How much does it cost to hire a business operation consultant?
Hiring a business operation consultant may cost from $45 to $500 per hour for individuals; the average can be around $75 to $150 per hour for small businesses, project fees ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 for larger firms.

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Noshin Nisa
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