Turning an Overloaded Solo Consultant Into a Systemized, Scalable Business
Brief overview
A solo HR consultant was constrained by manual processes and inconsistent client onboarding. A full operational audit followed by targeted workflow implementations reduced manual work, sped onboarding, and prepared the business for scale.
Snapshot:
Industry: Human Resources & Corporate Support
Services used: Business Audit & Optimization; Systems & Workflow Setup; Resource Creation
Project length: 10 weeks (audit → implementation)
The challenge:
High administrative burden: repetitive manual tasks across onboarding, documentation, and invoicing.
Client onboarding took ~45 minutes per client, limiting capacity.
No standardized client deliverables or branded resource templates.
The founder wanted to scale but lacked the reliable operations to do so.
What AK Business Solutions Did:
Comprehensive audit (Week 1–2): Mapped every client-facing and internal process, time-stamped tasks, and identified bottlenecks.
Operations mapping & priorities (Week 3): Highlighted redundant steps and prioritized quick wins vs. larger system changes.
Client journey redesign (Week 4): Reworked onboarding flow to reduce steps and introduce automated touchpoints.
Template & resource creation (Weeks 5–6): Built branded HR templates (onboarding packet, sample policies, deliverable templates) and a client workbook.
Automation & tool implementation (Weeks 7–8): Implemented intake forms, automated scheduling, and standardized file delivery (shared drive structure + naming conventions).
Test runs & refinement (Weeks 9–10): Performed live onboarding simulations, measured time savings, and iterated SOPs.
What AK Business Solutions Delivered:
Full operations map and audit report with prioritized recommendations
Redesigned client journey and onboarding flow
Branded HR templates and client workbooks
Workflow system (task board setup + naming conventions) and automation scripts
SOPs and training guide for future hires or contractors
Outcomes:
Onboarding time reduced from 45 minutes to under 10 minutes (automated intake + templates)
60% decrease in manual administrative work (tracked by comparing pre/post task times)
Consistent, professional client experience with branded deliverables
Clear workflows that support managing multiple clients simultaneously
Business is now positioned to scale or onboard support staff with documented SOPs
Key takeaways:
A detailed audit uncovers surprisingly small changes that yield large efficiency gains.
Standardized templates + intake automation are the fastest route to scale.
Documented SOPs make delegation and hiring straightforward.
