How to Work with a Business Strategist in Australia: The Complete Guide for Startup Founders
- Simon. P
- Oct 13
- 5 min read
A Melbourne SaaS founder I worked with was caught in this trap. They had talented developers, strong tech, and early customers, but growth stalled. Once they engaged a strategist, they redefined their positioning, mapped out a sustainable growth plan, and prioritised retention. Within 18 months, revenue doubled and investor confidence soared. The difference wasn’t luck—it was strategy.
Behind every successful founder, there’s usually someone helping them see the bigger picture—a business strategist. Having a strategist in your corner helps you step out of the daily grind, clarify direction, and make decisions that actually move the needle.
Too many founders spend their first five years reacting—launching campaigns, hiring staff, chasing revenue—without a clear strategy. They confuse being busy with being effective.
A business strategist brings structure, focus, and perspective. They help you align short-term moves with long-term goals, so you grow faster without burning out.
What Exactly Is a Business Strategist?
A business strategist is an advisor who helps founders and leadership teams design and execute strategies that drive growth, efficiency, and resilience. Unlike coaches who focus on mindset, or consultants who often handle specific tasks, strategists sit in the middle—they combine insight with execution planning.
A strategist typically helps with:
Clarifying vision and goals.
Analysing the market, competition, and customer data.
Designing strategies for marketing, operations, or fundraising.
Identifying risks and preparing contingencies.
Aligning teams around priorities.
Examples:
Afterpay leveraged strategic planning to expand into overseas markets.
Local founders often hire strategists through advisory boards or part-time engagements.
Think of a strategist as your “outside brain”—someone not caught in the weeds, who helps you steer.
Why This Could Make or Break Your Business
Engaging with strategy can be the difference between momentum and mediocrity.
Legal: Strategists help you anticipate regulatory or compliance risks that could derail you.
Financial: A strategist helps prioritise investments, ensuring every dollar goes where it creates ROI.
Growth: They uncover opportunities (partnerships, market niches) you might not see from the inside.
Reputation: With a clear strategy, your messaging is consistent, making it easier to build trust with customers and investors.
Real-World Examples
A Brisbane fintech worked with a strategist to prepare for fundraising. Together they refined the pitch, tightened the financial model, and mapped a growth strategy. They raised $5m successfully.
A Melbourne services firm ignored strategic advice to diversify clients. When their largest client left, revenue collapsed. A strategist could have prevented the overdependence.
Without strategy, you risk growing chaotically. With it, you grow intentionally.
Before You Start
Before hiring or working with a business strategist, prepare:
Define what you need help with (growth, positioning, fundraising, operations).
Collect your baseline data (financials, KPIs, customer insights).
Be ready to share openly—strategists can’t help with half-truths.
Set expectations (is this a project, ongoing advisory, or board role?).
Ensure your team is open to outside input.
This preparation makes engagement more productive.
How to Work With a Business Strategist:
Step by Step
Step 1: Clarify Your Needs
Get clear on why you’re seeking a strategist.
Is it market entry, scaling, funding prep, or turnaround?
Write down your top 3 challenges.
Decide whether you need short-term advice or long-term partnership.
Result: You’ll find the right strategist for your stage.
Step 2: Choose the Right Strategist
Not all strategists fit every founder.
Look for industry experience (SaaS, retail, services).
Ask for case studies or examples of outcomes.
Test cultural fit—they need to “get” your business.
Check references.
Result: You avoid generic advisors and get targeted expertise.
Step 3: Set the Framework
Make sure the relationship is structured.
Agree on deliverables (strategy plan, roadmap, advisory hours).
Decide cadence of check-ins (weekly, monthly).
Define decision-making authority (advisory vs. hands-on).
Sign NDAs if sensitive data is shared.
Result: Clear expectations prevent wasted time and money.
Step 4: Execute and Review
Strategy only works if implemented.
Assign owners for each strategic initiative.
Track KPIs aligned with the strategy.
Review progress regularly with your strategist.
Adjust where needed—strategy is not static.
Result: Your strategy becomes a living roadmap, not a forgotten document.
Step 5: Build Strategy Capability In-House
Don’t outsource thinking forever.
Learn how your strategist approaches analysis.
Train team leaders in strategic frameworks.
Build a culture of asking “why” and “what’s next.”
Result: You reduce reliance on external help over time.
Mistakes to Avoid
A Sydney ecommerce founder hired a strategist but treated them like a consultant—asking for tactical fixes instead of long-term planning. The engagement delivered little value.
A Perth tech startup chose a strategist with no SaaS experience. Advice was too generic and didn’t fit the business model.
An Adelaide founder paid for a “one-off strategy document” but never executed it. Without action, strategy is just paper.
What It Costs and How Long It Takes
You’ll need to budget for both money and time.
Here’s what founders usually face:
DIY / In-house: $0 + 5–10 hrs/month. Using free frameworks and self-led strategy workshops.
Template/Resource: $50–$500 AUD + 2–5 hrs setup. Strategy templates, canvases, and playbooks.
Professional / Done-for-you: $2,000–$15,000 AUD + 4–8 weeks. Engagements for strategy design and workshops.
Ongoing / Renewal: $500–$5,000 AUD/month for retainer-style advisory or board participation.
Hidden Costs
Choosing the wrong strategist (poor fit, wasted time).
Strategy without execution follow-through.
Over-reliance on outside advice instead of building internal capability.
Mentor Tip
Trial a short project (like a market entry strategy) before committing to long-term retainers.
What to Do Next
✅ Download free Business Tools at ProDesk—designed for those ready to stop waiting and start building their business the right way today [ProDeck.com].
✅ Partner with Noize—and book a session. We specialise in helping founders implement the right business strategies so they can scale with confidence [Noize.com.au].
✅ Grab The StartupDeck. It’s a deck of over 200 founder-tested strategies to help you make smarter decisions and accelerate growth [theStartUpDeck.com].
By acting now, you’ll shift from reacting to leading with clarity.
The Bottom Line
A business strategist doesn’t just create a plan—they help you see the whole chessboard. For early-stage founders, that clarity is priceless.
Without strategy, you risk running in circles. With it, you align your team, attract investors, and make decisions that compound over time.
Successful founders don’t wait for chaos to force strategy. They bring in strategic thinking early and grow with intention.
FAQs
Do I really need a business strategist this early?
Yes—especially if you’re making big bets (fundraising, scaling, market entry). They prevent costly mistakes.
What’s the difference between a business strategist and a consultant?
Strategists focus on long-term direction and alignment. Consultants usually solve specific problems or tasks.
Can a strategist work part-time or project-based?
Absolutely. Many startups hire strategists as advisors, not full-time staff.
Will a strategist guarantee growth?
No one can guarantee growth, but a strategist increases your odds by aligning actions with a clear roadmap.
How do I measure ROI on a strategist?
Track whether strategic goals (growth, funding, efficiency) were achieved faster or with better outcomes.
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