How can small and mid-size consulting firms compete with the scale of resources large firms can bring to bear across clients?
- Mat Jones
- Jan 25
- 1 min read
Growth strategy and due diligence projects normally require multiple junior resources grinding out weeks of secondary and primary market and competitive landscape research. This is of low direct value to the client, but without this sort of work, the senior consultants can’t produce the insights and options the client is paying for.
This model creates a difficult situation for independent consultants and small firms: despite having decades of experience, one can’t easily compete for multiple complex growth strategy projects. The research effort alone required an army of junior analysts that small firms couldn't justify hiring.
Until now.
As I shared in previous posts, AI has compressed weeks of research into hours. But here's the real game-changer: it's completely restructured project economics.
Let's break it down:
Traditional Research Phase (4-6 Weeks):
1 Junior Consultants (full-time)
1 Mid-level Manager (full-time)
$50k-$100k+, depending on the firm
AI-Enabled (1-2 Weeks):
1 Senior Consultant
AI Research Platform
$20k or less
This shift opens up entirely new market segments:
Mid-market companies that previously couldn't afford strategy support
Growth-stage companies needing rapid market validation
PE firms requiring quick-turn market assessments.
Companies that need strategy support but not a full 12-week engagement
Small firms and independents can now deliver the same depth of analysis as large firms, but with the agility and senior-level attention that big firms can't match.
The playing field isn't just level - it's tilted in favor of expertise over headcount.
What's your take? How will this shift change the consulting landscape?
