Hiring an independent consultant can be a game changer for your business. A qualified outsider can provide insight and expertise that puts a young company on the track to success. But to get results that will radically improve your business, you need to choose the right person.You should apply the same vigorous vetting process to consultants as you do for full-time hires. If your consultant doesnt have the industry experience or a proven track record to deliver what you need, you could actually be draining vital resources and impeding your companys growth.Choosing the right consultant starts with matchingher experience level with the needs of your company. You and your consultant should be on the same page about what the project entails and the skills needed so you can work toward a shared goal.Your consultant needs sufficient experience. But steer away froman overqualified expert who isnt aligned with the needs of your company. Before scheduling interviews, write out the job to be done so you can articulate this clearly and make sure the candidatewould be a good fit forthe task.Once youre ready to start interviewing, vet the candidate's skill in these six areasto be sure you're bringing the right person on board:Related:Evaluate New Vendors That Will Help the Business Expand1. Experience.If a potential consultant has not worked on similar projects in the past, this should be a deal breaker in the hiring decision.Assess the candidates credentials, how long shes been working in the field and her particular skills. If you hire someone without adequate experience, youre gambling your companys future.2. Work samples.Although a candidate might have previous experience in a similar role, you need to do due diligence and ask for proof.Have apotential hire provide concrete examples of successful projects and campaigns so you can judge the caliber of her work. Hard evidence is the best way to gauge someones ability to produce great work for your company.Related:Hiring a Consultant? Shun the 24-Hour Turnaround and Other Hype.3. References.A consultants reputation can say a lot about her ability to execute tasks andlevel of professionalism. Talk with her past clients about their experiencesand judge how willing theyd be willing serve as aprofessional reference.The positive or negative feedback you receive will answer some of the questions you might have about a consultant before she starts working for you. Try hard to find off-list references. No one on a provided list is likely to say a bad word.4. Work habits.Theres a good chance your consultant willwork remotely. So you need to understand her work habits and set expectations in orderfor the relationship to succeed. Find out how much management the consultant expects or needs and be prepared to step back or become more involved as required.5. Flexibility.Your original mandate will probably change throughout the course of aproject, so hire someone who can adapt and pivot with ease.While you cant know for sure how a candidate will handle a particular change, try to gain an appreciation of her personality and willingness to deviate from an initial plan. But if you require your consultant to be flexible, you must be, too.6. Price.Resist the urge to go for the cheapest hire, especially if youre trying to get your business off the ground. Funds may be tight, but you want this project executed correctly. Odds are that you dont have the money to hire a second consultant to clean up the first ones mess, so dont skimp on a crucial hire. Your money and reputation are on the line, after all.Your team has the biggest influence on your companys success, and consultants are part of it, even if only for the length of a brief contract. You want the best talent working for you. Make sure your consultants fit the bill.Often, foundersare worried about how they price their product compared to their competitors.They will find out what everyone else is charging andprice their product towardsthe bottom end of the price range.Their reasons for doing this is they want to be competitive and ensure their price isnt a hurdle forpotential customers.Yet, I caution that pricing low is a strategy they should implement. Let me explain why.Related:Why Customers Become More Loyal After Flirting With Other BrandsSomeone can always be cheaperWhen dealing with the price of a good or service, new companies need to understand that there can always be a cheaper option. Regardless of how cheap they go, their more established competitors can choose to price their good or service lower than the new company.The competitors have established brands, usually more cash on hand, and are often willing to lose a little money in the short term to price out the competition.Dont get into a pricing war with your competitors. Instead, offer something better than them.Related:The 4 Types of Competitors That Brands Must BattlePeople are willing to pay for qualityWe know were not the cheapest option in the market, but we make up for that by providing our clients with once in a lifetime experiences and providing them with the best guides and programs," saysMike Brcic, the founder of Sacred Rides, a mountain bike tour company based out of Toronto that wasrecently ranked the mountain bike tour operator by bothNational Geographic Adventure and Outside Magazine.Hes very aware that theyre not the lowest-priced option in their spacebut also understands that his customers are ready to pay for an amazing experience and because of that, his company has grown aggressively for the past few years.Make more money selling one itemthan selling one hundredSimilarly, Rob Alday, the co-founder of Abode, a luxury property management company that specializes in high-end ski lodge rentals, decided to eschew the low end of the market to focus on lower volume and higher margins.Our rentals are not for everyone, and Im alright with that," says Alday. "This just means that were better able to focus on our core audience and this makes our marketing efforts easier and keeps our customer service requirements at a minimum.Alday, like many other entrepreneurs in the luxury market have avoided pricing wars altogether and instead focus on a small segment of the market.This helps with marketing, infrastructure, growth, and overhead costs.Plus, he never has to nitpick over a dollar here or a dollar there when looking at his competitors.So, the next time youre considering how to price your product or service, instead of sweating the pennies, look at how you can charge MORE by offering a better quality experience for your customer.Youll be shocked at how much less stress is involved with pricing up instead of pricing down.Many entrepreneurs struggle to stay in business amidintense competition.Here are seven suggestions for increasing your chances of sustaininga successful business:Related:5 Things Entrepreneurs Caught in Comparisons Should Remember1. Keep abreast of the competition.Don't assume anything about the competition such aswhether it's stronger or weaker than your company. Remember there's always something to learn about a rival.Do your homework and find ways to deliver a superior product. The more you know about your competition, the better your chances for being successful. 2. Know your product inside and out.Many business owners think they know everything about their product lines.Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Yet a business owner should know all the advantages and disadvantages of his or her product and how it compares withthe competition.Todays marketplace is continuously evolving and so continuously improve your product lines. 3. Communication is key.Be in touch with your employees on a daily basis. All staffers should be on the same wavelength and trying to reach the same goals.The last thing you want is for employees topursuedifferent paths. This leads to wasted time and effort. Talk with members of your team daily to be sure all staffers are doing what they should.Related:5 Psychological Strategies for Building a Winning Team Culture4. Take care of employees.Treat stafferswith respect and dont be cheap. The key asuccessful business is having good workers devoted toworking for you.Dissatisfied workers can sabotage your business efforts and cause a loss in productivity. A company with areputationfor taking care of its workers canremain successful in todays competitive environment.5. Strive to be better.Dont settle for being just average whenit comes to your business. Regardless of how successful you may be, find ways to improve company operations. Continue to find ways to be more productive and efficient when managing employees and attaining business objectives.6. Stay withinbudget.Dont spend money you don't have. Many businesses easily go into debt from not watching expenses. Keepa budget.7. Dont be greedy.Some successful businesspeople become greedy and end up losing everything. Monitor your successes and take things one step at a time. Follow your business objectives and dont assume that success will continue to last.Do everything in moderation when managing your company through good times and bad. Yes,things will happen that willtake everyone by surprise. Be flexible and when unexpected eventshappen, learn to deal with them immediately. Dont put off things that you can do today and never underestimate your competition.