Consultants are persons rendering help to others by enabling them to make profits or making them learn from their own experiences. In case an organization has little or no knowledge or experience or expertise in Strategic Planning then a consultants help may be sought. It may also be that planning needs to be carried out on an urgent basis, so a consultant is required. It might also happen that the key members are continuously disagreeing upon various issues of planning and there is the need for a Strategic Planning Consultant to step in by providing expertise or facilitation skills to help the members come to a consensus. The very employing of a consultant often gives credibility to plans. Besides, a consultant has an objective perspective and is free from any bias about the organizations past and present concerns.

Strategic Planning consultants have many applications in many different industries. Professional associates like lawyers, facilitators, trainers, fundraisers, accountants and others may provide consultants. Non-profit organizations may also hire Strategic Planning Consultants.

Though the consultant is there for helping out in the entire planning process, organization members must not become completely dependent on the consultants services. Again, instead of getting the consultant sanctioning recommendations by signing, it is advisable if the professional expert hired as a consultant is directly involved in implementing worthwhile recommendations.

One must not go by the fees of the consultants. Expertise should be the judging criteria.

Proper help and guidance must be provided to the Strategic Planning Consultant regarding the organization and its activities beforehand.