Consulting Collectives are the Future of Independent Work

Consulting Collective (noun): when 3-6 independent consultants or freelancers band together to operate as a unified business entity, without actually forming a traditional company.

You're not employees, you're not co-founders.

You're strategic partners who share clients, resources, and revenue on specific projects while maintaining your independence on others.

Like the Avengers, but for client work.

Why they’re popping off everywhere right now:

The solo consultant life is lonely and limiting. You can only take on so much work, you have no backup when you're sick or on vacation, and big clients often want teams, not individuals.

But going back to a traditional agency or corporate job means giving up your autonomy, flexibility, and probably a pay cut.

Consulting collectives are the clever middle ground no one’s talking about.

How they actually work:
Each person maintains their own client relationships and projects (your bread and butter).

But when a bigger opportunity comes along-- something that needs diverse expertise or more hands-- the collective bids on it together.

You split the revenue based on contribution, share the workload, and deliver something none of you could have done alone.

The Upsides:

• Bid on enterprise-level clients who won't hire solo consultants

• Share resources like software subscriptions, admin support, or office space

• Cross-refer clients when someone needs skills outside your zone

• Split marketing costs and amplify each other's reach

• Maintain full autonomy on your own projects

• Keep your own rates and client relationships

The Downsides:

• Requires extreme trust + clear agreements upfront

• Revenue splits can get messy if contributions aren’t defined

• You need compatible working styles and values

• Harder to scale than a traditional agency model

• Client confusion if positioning isn't crystal clear

How to Start One:

1. Start small. Find 1-2 people you've worked with before and trust completely.

2. Run one pilot project together before you formalize anything.

3. Create a simple operating agreement covering: how you split revenue, how decisions get made, what happens if someone wants out, and how you handle client conflicts.

4. Use a shared project management tool (like Notion) and a joint bank account (or PayPal) for collective projects.

5. Test it for 6 months before you make it official.

The Bottom Line:

Consulting collectives aren't for everyone, but they might be the future of independent work for those who want the freedom of self-employment with the stability of a team.

If you're tired of turning down big opportunities because you're just one person, or if you're craving collaboration without ommitting to a co-founder or traditional employment, this could be your move.

Just make sure you're building it with the right people!

Love the newsletter but want more? Did you know I put together an entire course called Pivot with Purpose? Think of it like a supercharged version of all the best content from this newsletter, tailored to help you nail your career goals.