If your consulting business is between $200K and $400K, it may look successful from the outside but feel surprisingly unstable on the inside.

In this episode, I break down why Phase 2 is one of the most challenging stages of growth and why so many consultants feel stretched thin, busy, and at the edge of their capacity.

You will also learn what needs your focus in this phase so your business can become more predictable and less dependent on you.

This episode will help you understand what is normal, what to expect, and how to move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Be sure to follow or subscribe so you do not miss the next episode in the Growing Pains series where scalable operations becomes the focus.

💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind
A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above.
Applications are open now.

🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive
Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan.

💡Private 1:1 Coaching
Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open.

🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home
https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

Most consultants start their business without a clear roadmap. They rely on referrals, hustle and hope. In this episode, I break down Phase 1 of the Scalable Consulting Firm Method: the Foundations Phase, from $0 to $200K in revenue.

Whether you're consulting full time or part time, this stage can feel intense. You're learning how to deliver client work and run a business at the same time.

I share common mistakes to avoid, what to prioritize and why keeping things simple will serve you best.

I also share what kind of coaching support is most helpful at this stage, including how to find the right program or coach to help you build a strong foundation.

P.S. I don't typically work with consultants in this phase, but I want you to have the roadmap so you know what to focus on now and when it makes sense to seek deeper support.

💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind
A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above.
Applications are open now.

🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive
Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan.

💡Private 1:1 Coaching
Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open.

🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home
https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

If you're a Nonprofit Consultant earning anywhere from your first client to $1M+, this series gives you something most consultants never receive: a real roadmap.

In this short kickoff episode, I share what the Growing Pains series is all about!

This series is perfect for newer consultants who want to know where they are headed, and just as powerful for seasoned consultants who want to identify steps they may have skipped or understand what's coming next.

❊If you haven't yet, click follow or subscribe so you do not miss an episode in the Growing Pains series.

💫Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind
A high-touch, year-long mastermind for nonprofit consultants earning $200K and above.
Applications are open now.

🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive
Decide on your scalable offer, get out of overwhelm, and leave with a clear Game Plan.

💡Private 1:1 Coaching
Natalie currently has two openings available. After these are filled, a waitlist will open.

🎙The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants Podcast Home
https://nataliemba.com/The-Biz-of-Nonprofit-Consultants-Podcast

📋 Apply to the Impact Collective Mastermind. (January 2026 start)

The Impact Collective Mastermind - details

A 12-month hybrid of mastermind and private coaching for nonprofit consultants between $200K–$1M in revenue. We focus on scaling through my Scalable Consulting Framework by refining offers, streamlining operations, hiring, and leadership growth.

90-Minute Intensives ($997)
A focused working session for consultants who want quick clarity and a plan. Many people start here before joining a longer program. We both have some pre-work before this and you leave with a gameplan!


Book a virtual chat with Natalie to learn more about Impact Collective.

NatalieMBA.com

If every 🔥fire routes back to you, your team has learned that only you can fix it.

My guest and client Amanda Silver, a leadership consultant and executive coach,shares how to rewrite that pattern through practical tools for scalable leadership, coaching and accountability.

💡We talk about what it really means to lead as your firm scales, how to delegate effectively, build a healthy culture and hold authority without losing empathy.

You'll learn:

• Why every consultant needs to develop Scalable Leadership as they grow.
• How to use the "Skill and Will Matrix" to assess and coach your team.
• The mindset shifts required to move from doer to leader.
• How to balance empathy and accountability when leading a small team.

If you are building a team of any size, this episode will help you step into leadership with more ease and purpose.

⭐️ Connect with Amanda Silver:

Webiste:AmandaSilver.com

Amanda's LinkedIn

Let's grow YOUR consulting firm together!

🔥Currently reviewing applications for our JANUARY start of the 2026 Impact Collective Mastermind Program.
***Ideal for consultants earning $300K to $1M in annual revenue.
Apply for The Impact Collective Mastermind Program: NatalieMBA.com/impact-collective

🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive
Best first step for us to work together. Investment: $997.
Let's work on your Scalable Offer, Scalable Ops or ScalableLeadership!
Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan.
Clarity Guarantee: Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours.

Visit my website: NatalieMBA.com

Scalable operations turn you from the person doing the work into the person creating the environment for great work to happen.

That is what my guest Christine Schwitzer, the founder and CEO of Holistic Grants, and member of my Impact Collective Mastermind has found.

Christine shares what it looked like to move from spreadsheets and mental checklists to real systems that give her visibility, structure, and peace of mind. We discuss how operational clarity helps her delegate with confidence, strengthens client delivery and allows her to lead her growing team with ease.

Her story is a powerful reminder that scalable operations aren't just about efficiency, they are a pathway to better leadership.

Connect with Christine Schwitzer:
Linked In
Holistic Grants Website

Previous Episode:
50: [client success] From Solo Grant Writer to Agency Owner with Christine Schwitzer

Let's grow your consulting firm together!

🔥Currently reviewing applications for our 2026 Impact Collective Mastermind Program.
***Ideal for consultants earning $300K to $1M in annual revenue.
Apply for The Impact Collective Mastermind Program: NatalieMBA.com/impact-collective

🎯Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive
Best first step for us to work together. Investment: $997.
Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan.
Clarity Guarantee: Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours.

Visit my website: NatalieMBA.com

Your scalable offer is where everything starts. It informs your operations, your team, your pricing, and your client experience.

In Episode 67, I introduced the concept of a scalable offer, and the response was overwhelming (in a good way). Clients and listeners have been rethinking how they structure their services, teams, and operations around this one idea.

In this follow-up episode, I go deeper into how to design a scalable offer that creates more freedom, profit, and impact.

I share why I no longer teach building a business around your Zone of Genius (and what to focus on instead), how to identify when you've built a "menu" instead of an offer, and what it looks like to narrow your focus even when it feels uncomfortable.

You'll also hear real examples from consultants who've done this work—from fractional fundraisers and grant consultants to strategic planners—so you can see how these shifts play out in practice.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Book a 90-Minute Intensive: NatalieMBA.com/intensive
  Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan.
  Clarity Guarantee: Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours.

• Apply for The Impact Collective Mastermind Program: NatalieMBA.com/impact-collective
  (after you apply you'll book a call with me to see if the program is a mutual fit)

Referenced episodes:

Ep 8: LaKeesha Morris-Moreau on niching to serve cities and counties

Ep 50: Christine Schweitzer on refining a scalable grant writing firm

Ep 61: Frances Roen on shifting to capital campaign strategy

Ep 63: Jennifer Hunter on specializing in strategic planning

If you're bringing in $300K or more, you've already built something successful. But what got you here won't get you to $1M—and it definitely won't get you more time, ease, or freedom.

In this episode, I walk through what a scalable consulting firm actually looks like, from the offer that fuels it to the team and leadership shifts that make growth sustainable.

You'll hear the story of two fictional consultants—Riley and Jean—and see exactly what changes when you stop being the business and start leading one.

📸See Photos from The Impact Collective Mastermind Retreat

Want help applying this to your firm:

• Book a 90 minute Intensive. NatalieMBA.com/intensive
  Decisions and a plan in one session, plus my Sales Forecast Tool and a focused Game Plan.
  ***Clarity Guarantee. Not worth the investment? Request a full refund within 24 hours.

🔗 Apply to Join the Impact💫Collective Mastermind (12-month program)

Next enrollments: January 2026| September 2026

☎️Book A Complimentary Call - Let's see if we are a fit!
For consultants who have revenue above $200K a year.

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