How to Start a Consulting Business After a Layoff: Taylor’s Six-Figure Comeback

“Was it my fault?”

That’s the question Taylor couldn’t shake after her layoff.

She had been a senior leader in corporate comms, known for managing multi-million-dollar campaigns, leading DEI strategy, and building strong client partnerships. But when the role disappeared, so did the external validation—and her internal clarity.

“I kept asking myself—did I do something wrong?”

She didn’t want another job.

She wanted autonomy. Clarity. Impact. She wanted to lead again—on her terms.

And that's exactly what we did while she worked with me in my coaching program, Freedom.

How To Start A Consulting Business

Step 1: Reclaiming the Narrative

When Taylor joined Freedom, we started by reframing her track record. Instead of a résumé, we built a leadership story—one that named her results and revealed her influence.

We mapped her most high-stakes projects:

• A major campaign that drove millions in exposure

• A DEI initiative that shifted culture, not just metrics

• Her ability to build coalitions, navigate egos, and drive executive alignment

This wasn’t just a rebrand—it was a reclamation. Deciding to go from steady W-2 to creating your own revenue isn't an easy jump, but together, we figured out how to start a consulting business in a way that supports her family and her finances.

Step 2: Designing a Consulting Business That Fits

Taylor had long imagined consulting—but hadn’t owned it. She thought she’d need more credentials, more clarity, more time.

Instead, we got to work:

• Positioned her IP: We named her core offerings in communications, equity strategy, and advisory leadership.

• Structured the offer: With clear services, pricing tiers, and client profiles aligned with her values.

• Built her messaging: So she could pitch clearly, write proposals with confidence, and articulate her value on panels and in negotiations.

“Lauren gave me the language to advocate for myself in ways I hadn’t imagined.”

Step 3: From Laid Off to Six Figures

Taylor didn’t launch an empire overnight. She started with one aligned client.

Then another.

Then a retainer.

With the strategy and structure we built in Freedom, she turned her severance into a six-figure business in under nine months—not by chasing every opportunity, but by following a path that actually fit her.

What Starting a Consulting Business Actually Looks Like

It’s not just about invoices and email addresses.

It’s about clarity before branding. Vision before scaling. Owning your value before pitching your worth.

Taylor’s story proves this:

Consulting isn’t the fallback after a layoff.

It can be the forward.

Watch the full interview to learn how you can go from burned out and laid off to empowered CEO.

Have you subscribed to my newsletter? If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I rebuild—not just restart—after career disruption?” you’re in the right place. Each week, I share concrete strategies and stories from professionals navigating transitions like parenting, burnout recovery, and unexpected layoffs—without losing their vision. Sign up here.

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What You’ll Learn From This Interview:

• The mindset shift from corporate layoff to confident business owner

• How to translate leadership wins into offerable consulting value

• The tactical steps to position yourself for aligned clients

• Tools to advocate for yourself—across pitches, panels, and your own inner dialogue

• Why rebuilding is a strategic choice—not a fallback

  
  

Watch The Full Interview: