Hiring the right talent can be the difference between growth and stagnation. Startups and scale-ups across the UK and EU are increasingly turning to freelance growth consultants to access top-tier expertise without the long-term overhead of full-time hires or the cost of big consulting firms.

This guide walks you through how to hire a vetted freelance growth consultant, the benefits of doing so, and why platforms like Into are transforming how startups hire growth talent.

Why Hire a Freelance Growth Consultant?

1. Access Expertise Without the Full-Time Commitment

Growth consultants bring deep expertise across specific domains—whether it’s building a growth marketing engine, scaling paid acquisition, improving sales funnels, or expanding into new markets. Freelance consultants are often ex-heads of growth, CMOs, or agency veterans who’ve chosen flexibility over full-time employment.

With a freelance model, you can access this experience on a fractional basis—bringing on a high-caliber professional to solve a specific problem or accelerate a goal, without incurring overhead or long-term commitments. This is particularly powerful for startups operating under lean budgets or pre-Series A.

2. Speed to Impact

Freelancers can often start within days—not weeks—accelerating your growth efforts exactly when you need it. One of our fintech clients needed urgent help with conversion tracking. Using Into, they were matched with a consultant in under 36 hours — the campaign launched by the end of the week and doubled their ROAS.

This kind of responsiveness allows startups to act quickly and maintain momentum—especially when timing is critical, like during a product launch or investor raise.

3. Cost Efficiency

According to Movemeon, freelance consultants with top-tier backgrounds cost up to 82% less than comparable talent from large consulting firms. Since you’re not paying for middlemen, layers of management, or long onboarding processes, your spend goes directly into execution and results.

Freelancers also offer flexible billing models, making it easier to manage costs in line with project scope, not just hours worked.

How to Hire a Freelance Growth Consultant (Step-by-Step Guide for Startups)

Step 1: Define Your Growth Challenge

The clearer your brief, the better the match. Identify your specific growth bottleneck or opportunity:

• Is user acquisition stagnant despite increasing ad spend?
• Are you struggling to convert free users into paid customers?
• Do you lack a documented growth strategy or CRM automation?

Examples of common project scopes include:

• Building a go-to-market plan for a product launch
• Creating a demand gen engine (SEO, paid, or outbound)
• Auditing and fixing analytics setups
• Scaling paid media across new markets

Step 2: Post Your Project Brief (It’s Free!)

On Into, posting your project is quick and easy—and completely free for companies. Your brief should include:

• A short description of your business and product
• A clear statement of the goal or deliverable
• Timelines and any constraints (budget, platforms, tools, etc.)

Well-written briefs make it easier to surface the right-fit consultants fast.

Step 3: Get Matched with Vetted Experts

Into uses a smart matching algorithm backed by human review to ensure high-fit consultants. Every consultant is pre-vetted for:

• Relevant experience (by sector, startup stage, and tools used)
• Measurable results (e.g., CAC reduction, ARR growth, channel scaling)
• Strong communication and reliability

You’ll get a shortlist of profiles within 24–48 hours.

Step 4: Choose Hourly or Milestone-Based Payments

Most platforms leave payments vague or post-project. Into is different. We allow:

• Hourly billing for flexibility
• Milestone-based pricing for clear scopes and deliverables

All projects are pre-funded, meaning funds are held in escrow and only released when milestones are approved. This protects both parties and eliminates awkward follow-ups.

Step 5: Kick Off and Collaborate

Once you’ve selected your consultant, you can get started immediately. Into supports smooth onboarding by:

• Providing contract templates
• Offering messaging and file-sharing support
• Tracking milestones and approvals

You can use your own preferred stack (Slack, Notion, Asana, etc.), or keep everything centralized within the platform.

Freelance Consultant vs Full-Time Hire vs Agency: A Quick Comparison

What to Look For in a Freelance Growth Consultant

When reviewing candidates, here’s what to focus on:

• Proven Track Record – Look for past work with startups at your stage (Seed, Series A, etc.) and industry (SaaS, e-commerce, fintech, etc.).
• Strategic and Tactical Balance – The best consultants can set the vision and get their hands dirty executing.
• Communication & Transparency – Especially in remote, async environments, proactive communication is critical.
• References or Case Studies – Don’t hesitate to ask for examples of past wins, or metrics like CAC reduction or MRR growth.

Into consultants are already screened for these factors, but it’s always worth asking specific questions based on your challenge.

Why Use Into?

Here’s how we’re different:

• Pre-vetted growth consultants only – No fluff, no generalists.
• Match in under 48 hours – No lengthy RFPs or recruiter pipelines.
• Flexible payments – Hourly or milestone-based, based on how you want to work.
• Pre-funded projects = no payment chasing – Freelancers work confidently, and companies stay protected.
• Deep expertise across growth – Marketing, sales, ops, retention, GTM, CRO, analytics, and more.

Plus, we’re UK-based and EU-friendly, so you get local expertise and timezone alignment.

FAQs

How much does it cost to hire a freelance growth consultant in the UK?

Most vetted growth consultants on Into charge between £60–£120/hour, or offer fixed-fee project pricing based on milestones. It varies based on experience level and complexity of work.

What should I look for in a growth consultant?

Look for experience with startups like yours, clear communication, and evidence of ROI-driven work. Into vets every consultant to ensure they’ve done it before.

How long does it take to start working with a consultant on Into?

The average match time is under 48 hours, and many consultants can start within a few days of project approval.

Are payments secure?

Yes. Into uses pre-funded, milestone-based payments that are only released when work is approved—protecting both parties.

Do I have to manage contracts and legal paperwork?

Nope. Into provides standard agreements and handles contracts for you, so you can focus on the work.

Final Thoughts

Hiring a freelance growth consultant can unlock huge leverage for your startup—especially when time, budget, and results matter. Whether you need to validate a growth channel, ramp up performance marketing, or overhaul onboarding flows, the right expert can create clarity and traction fast.

Into was built to simplify this process. We handle the matching, vetting, contracts, and payments so you can focus on solving your biggest growth challenges.

Ready to find your consultant? Post your project now – it’s free.