The management consulting industry exists to provide independent advice to businesses, government, and not-for-profits. It helps organisations improve performance, compliance, and long-term viability through structured strategy, operations, and governance support. In Australia, the sector has expanded as businesses face increasing complexity and regulatory pressure.
Key Takeaways
The management consulting industry is made up of firms that advise on strategy, operations, governance, and performance
It includes global players, boutique specialists, legal-business hybrids, and independent consultants
In Australia, demand is growing due to regulatory, operational and workforce challenges
Management consultants support businesses at any stage – start-up, growth, restructure, or transition
Blaze Business & Legal provides legal-integrated management consulting tailored for SMEs and professional services
Introduction
Management consulting is a commercial services sector focused on helping organisations solve problems, design systems, and make better decisions. While it often focuses on strategy, the modern consulting industry now includes compliance, legal risk, staffing, operations, and governance.
In Australia, the consulting industry plays a major role in both the private and public sectors. The industry is broad, but this article breaks it down into specific categories, players, delivery models, and challenges. It also shows where Blaze fits into the picture.
What is the Management Consulting Industry?
The management consulting industry includes companies that provide structured advice and services to help businesses run better. This might involve reviewing operations, advising on compliance, streamlining costs, or guiding strategy.
Firms may specialise in certain industries, business sizes, or functions. At its core, the industry is about problem-solving, risk management, and commercial insight.
What Services Are Included in Management Consulting?
Core services include:
Business strategy development
Risk and compliance advisory
Operational improvement
Organisational design
Financial forecasting and restructuring
Governance, board and leadership support
Technology implementation
Legal-business integration (in firms like Blaze)
Each firm will deliver a different combination based on expertise and market focus.
Who Are the Players in the Industry?
The management consulting industry includes:
Multinational Firms – McKinsey, Bain, BCG
Accounting Firm Consultants – Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG
Mid-Tier Australian Firms – Nous, BDO, Grant Thornton
Legal-Commercial Firms – Blaze Business & Legal
Independent Consultants – Freelancers or former executives
Each category has a role depending on the size and stage of the business.
The Size of the Management Consulting Industry in Australia
Australia’s consulting sector has seen rapid growth over the past decade. Rising complexity in business operations and law has driven demand. The industry services both public and private clients, though private sector consulting has grown steadily in professional services, construction, healthcare, and technology.
It’s estimated the sector exceeds $10 billion annually, and includes thousands of small consulting businesses serving mid-market clients.
How the Industry Operates
Management consulting firms typically operate on:
Project basis – Scoped work with defined start and end
Retainer models – Ongoing access for general advisory or implementation
Fixed deliverables – Such as a governance plan, process audit, or restructure roadmap
Fractional roles – Acting as part-time COO, CFO, or legal-commercial advisor
Clients can select engagements that match their needs and budget.
Why Businesses Use Management Consultants
Businesses seek out management consultants to:
Access skills they don’t have in-house
Gain independent insight
Solve a defined problem
Get support through change or transition
Improve compliance or operational maturity
De-risk upcoming business decisions
Blaze Business & Legal works with businesses that are growing, stuck, or preparing for sale or restructure, plus many more.
Challenges Within the Industry
Despite its benefits, the industry faces challenges:
Over-promising – Firms sometimes make claims that aren’t achievable in practice
Generic advice – Larger firms may use templated recommendations
Cost-to-benefit – Smaller businesses may not get sufficient ROI from broad-brush consulting
No legal capability – Most consultants do not integrate legal insight, which leaves gaps in advice
Blaze Business & Legal was created to address these gaps in the SME and professional services sector.
What’s Driving Industry Growth?
Several trends are driving demand:
Increasing regulation across tax, privacy, employment, and directors’ duties
Growth in professional services firms requiring better internal structures
Post-COVID restructuring and process redesign
Digitisation and automation pressures
Need for better contract, HR, and operational systems
Firms that don’t adapt are increasingly at risk – and many seek help before things fall apart.
What Kind of Businesses Use Consulting Services?
The management consulting industry serves a wide variety of businesses:
Start-ups – Seeking scale, funding readiness, or structure
SMEs – Needing systems, contracts, process and compliance
Mature firms – Needing strategic clarity or succession planning
Distressed businesses – Looking to turn around operations without triggering insolvency
Blaze Business & Legal helps owners identify risks early and protect business value.
The Relationship Between Consulting and Compliance
Many businesses operate without adequate legal or compliance structures. The management consulting industry bridges this gap by:
Reviewing documentation
Identifying exposure points
Strengthening accountability and reporting
Clarifying director/shareholder obligations
Creating systems for HR, safety, privacy, and complaints
Our approach combines legal advice with practical tools, so businesses can implement change with confidence.
Legal-Commercial Firms Within the Industry
Most consultants avoid legal questions. But many business problems are legal in nature:
Poor contract terms
Employee misclassification
Lack of director protections
Exposure to penalties under Fair Work or Corporations Act
Blaze Business & Legal is part of a new category of legal-business firms that offer integrated support. We give our clients the best of both worlds.
How Businesses Can Engage With the Industry
Start by clarifying:
What’s broken or unclear?
What outcomes do you need?
Is this an urgent issue, or long-term change?
From there, firms like Blaze Business & Legal offer an initial pulse check or consultation. This leads to scoped work or phased advisory.
Examples of Industry Engagement Models
30-Minute Audit + Action Plan – Identifies top risks and quick wins
3-Month Consulting Project – Documents policies, maps processes, aligns staff
Ongoing Advisory – Monthly or quarterly advisory support, including compliance updates
Contracting System Overhaul – Builds sustainable contract, legal, and operational structures
The management consulting industry is evolving toward practical and fixed-fee offerings.
What to Ask Before You Engage a Consultant
Do you have experience with businesses like mine?
Do you offer fixed-fee services?
Will I get practical tools and documents, or just advice?
Can you support me legally if compliance is an issue?
What happens after the engagement ends?
The right firm should provide clarity, accountability, and documentation.
Where Blaze Business & Legal Fits
We help business owners build mature, legally compliant, commercially smart businesses.
We’re legal-commercial advisors focused on execution, not theory.
Our clients get:
Contracts that protect your business
Policies that match the law and your business model
Commercial frameworks that don’t require constant rework
Practical advice tailored to your size, risk level, and budget
And much more!
Conclusion
The management consulting industry in Australia is diverse, growing, and increasingly integrated with legal, HR, and operational functions. Businesses that engage the right partner can stabilise, grow, or prepare for sale with confidence.
Blaze Business & Legal offers practical, legal-backed consulting that helps businesses avoid risk, unlock performance, and build lasting value.
Reach out to us today for a free 30 minute Strategy Session to discuss the needs of your business and how we can help make your business journey smoother.
FAQs
1. What is the management consulting industry in Australia?
The management consulting industry in Australia includes firms that help businesses improve strategy, operations, compliance, and risk. It consists of global players, local firms, and niche advisors.
2. What services do management consulting firms offer?
Management consulting firms offer services such as operational improvement, strategy, governance, financial advisory, and compliance support. Some, like Blaze, also provide legal integration.
3. Who hires management consultants in Australia?
Australian businesses of all sizes hire management consultants – from start-ups and SMEs to corporates and government agencies. They typically engage consultants for strategy, restructuring, or compliance.
4. How big is the consulting industry in Australia?
The consulting industry in Australia is worth over $10 billion annually, with thousands of firms operating across the country. Growth continues in compliance and SME advisory.
5. What’s the difference between a management consultant and a lawyer?
A management consultant focuses on business systems and performance, while a lawyer deals with legal rights and obligations. Blaze combines both for integrated advice.
6. How is the industry changing?
The industry is shifting towards fixed-fee, execution-focused models rather than abstract advice. There’s also more demand for legal and compliance expertise.
7. Are all consultants the same?
Not all consultants offer the same services or expertise. Some focus on high-level strategy, others specialise in implementation or legal integration.
8. Is management consulting regulated in Australia?
No formal licence is required, but reputable consultants carry insurance, comply with privacy laws, and operate under clear terms.
9. Can consultants help with contracts and compliance?
Some can help with process design, but most do not offer legal advice. Blaze includes contract and compliance capability as part of all engagements.
10. What industries use consultants the most?
Common industries include healthcare, construction, professional services, education, and ecommerce – especially those with compliance burdens or scalability issues.
11. What’s the typical process of working with a consultant?
Most start with a review or discovery session, followed by a proposal, implementation plan, and delivery of outcomes over weeks or months.
12. Do consultants help small businesses?
Many consultants do help small business, and many consulting firms specialise in small business advisory. Blaze Business & Legal provides fixed-fee support for small businesses and medium businesses that need structure and resilience.
13. What makes Blaze Business & Legal different from other consultants?
Blaze Business & Legal offers commercial advice with legal insight built in, using clear frameworks and documentation to protect, improve and scale your business.
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