Archetype 5 of 6
The First-Gen Consultant
You already work with clients. You don't have a system. Cash flow is anxiety.
For: independent consultants 1–3 years in, ₹4–15L revenue, no formal business backbone.
"I made ₹8L last year. I love the work. I have no idea what next month looks like. I haven't filed GST properly. I'm scared to raise prices. I'm scared to take a vacation."
Signs this is you
- You have 2–5 clients and one of them is 60% of your revenue.
- You quote inconsistently — same scope, different prices, no logic.
- You haven't taken more than 4 days off in a year.
- Your CA hasn't been replaced even though they confuse you every quarter.
The honest truth
You're not under-skilled. You're under-systemised. The fix is boring: niche statement, rate card, proposal template, GST workflow, monthly review. The boring stuff is what doubles your revenue.
Your 90-day plan
- 1Week 1: Audit last 12 months — revenue by client, hours per client, real hourly rate. Cry a little.
- 2Weeks 2–4: Niche statement. Rate card with anchor. Standard proposal template (no more custom-quoting from scratch).
- 3Weeks 5–8: Fire the lowest-paying client. Raise rates 50% on the rest. Replace fired client at the new rate.
- 4Weeks 9–12: Build the monthly business review ritual. CA conversation. Udyam + clean GST filings.
Your three-tier rate card
Starter (legacy)
₹25–40k / project
Clients you grandfathered in
Standard (current)
₹75k–1.5L / project
Indian market for 2-year practitioner
Premium (anchor)
₹2.5L+ / retainer
Where you're heading — set price first, deliver later
The biggest pitfall
Being available 24×7 to every client because each one feels like the last one. Boundaries don't lose you clients — they get you better ones.
Ready to do this?
The 12-week batch takes you through the full 90-day plan with Captain on every session.