You’ve built experience. You’ve earned trust. You’re ready to go out on your own.

If you’re wondering how to start a solo advisory business, you’re not alone. More and more experienced professionals are stepping away from traditional roles and launching their own high-trust, low-overhead advisory firms.

Whether you’re a former operator, consultant, executive, or founder, you already have what most people are still working toward—credibility and real-world insight. Now, it’s about turning that into a focused business that gives you freedom, fulfillment, and meaningful income.

At Merge, we work with professionals who want to launch fast, grow smart, and keep control. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you build your solo advisory business—and why the Merge license might be the best way to do it.

Step 1: Define Your Niche and Value Proposition

Before you launch, get crystal clear on what you offer and who it’s for. Generic advisory doesn’t sell—specialized guidance does.

Ask yourself:

  • Who do I help? (e.g. founders, operators, agencies, SaaS companies, healthcare orgs)

  • What specific problems do I solve?

  • What outcomes can I deliver?

  • Why should someone choose me over another advisor?

Your clarity becomes your advantage. The sharper your focus, the easier it is to attract the right clients.

💡 Merge Tip: Many successful solo advisors build around founder support, growth strategy, or exit readiness. If you’ve built or scaled a business, that perspective is incredibly valuable.

Step 2: Choose a Business Model That Scales

There are a few popular ways to structure an advisory business:

  • Project-based work: Flat-fee engagements for specific deliverables

  • Retainers: Ongoing monthly advisory for support and strategy

  • Success-based income: Tied to milestones like exits, funding, or growth targets

  • Equity models: Fractional executive roles or revenue-sharing agreements

Better yet, combine models to create flexibility and long-term upside.

💡 Merge Tip: With the Merge license, you can offer valuation services, retainer support, and earn success fees on closed M&A deals—all under one roof.

Step 3: Set Up the Right Infrastructure (Without Overbuilding)

One of the perks of going solo is staying lean. You don’t need a big team or fancy office. But you do need systems that help you look polished and stay organized.

At minimum, you’ll want:

  • A simple website or landing page

  • A scheduling tool (like Calendly)

  • CRM or pipeline tracker

  • Legal contracts (NDA, service agreement, etc.)

  • A way to invoice and receive payments

💡 Merge Tip: The Merge license includes ready-made templates, a custom CRM, legal docs, and branded prospectus designs so you don’t have to build from scratch.

Step 4: Launch with a Warm Outreach Strategy

Your best early clients probably aren’t strangers. They’re in your network—former colleagues, clients, founders you’ve worked with, or peers in your industry.

Start by:

  • Sending personal emails to 25–50 contacts

  • Posting consistently on LinkedIn to share your expertise

  • Offering free strategy sessions or exit readiness reviews

  • Asking for referrals from people who trust you

The goal isn’t to sell—it’s to spark conversations.

💡 Merge Tip: Merge licensees get access to proven outreach templates and content strategies to help you generate warm leads quickly.

Step 5: Offer Immediate Value to Build Trust

Founders and operators don’t hire advisors for vague ideas—they want clarity, insight, and action.

Whether you’re supporting growth or helping with a sale, lead with value:

  • Provide a short audit or roadmap

  • Deliver a business valuation

  • Share a case study or relevant framework

  • Guide them through a “what’s next” conversation

💡 Merge Tip: With our proprietary valuation tools and deal templates, you can offer founders a structured process that builds trust fast.

Step 6: Build a Sustainable Pipeline

Consistency wins. You don’t need thousands of leads—just the right handful at the right time.

Once your solo advisory business is up and running, continue building your pipeline through:

  • Referrals and partnerships (e.g. CPAs, attorneys, consultants)

  • Monthly email updates or insights

  • Speaking or writing within your niche

  • Co-brokering or collaborating with other advisors

💡 Merge Tip: The Merge platform includes access to our Slack community, buyer database, and shared deal flow—so you’re never building alone.

Step 7: Don’t Do It All From Scratch

You’re already capable. You’ve got the experience. But that doesn’t mean you have to reinvent every system or process.

The Merge license gives you everything you need to launch and run your own M&A-focused advisory business:

✅ Custom CRM and pipeline tracking
✅ Valuation model and templates
✅ Legal docs and process checklists
✅ Outreach scripts and prospectus frameworks
✅ Access to 100K+ vetted buyers
✅ Training, strategy sessions, and Slack community
✅ You keep 75%+ of revenue and own your brand

💡 Merge Tip: Whether you want to go all-in or keep things part-time, Merge gives you the structure to build something meaningful—without spinning your wheels.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to work for yourself, create real value, and stay in control of your time and income, a solo advisory business is one of the smartest paths you can take.

It’s lean. It’s flexible. And when paired with the right platform, it scales.

Now you know how to start a solo advisory business—the only thing left is choosing the support system that helps you do it faster and better.

👉 Learn more about becoming a Merge licensee
👉 Book a call to see if it’s a fit