Records Management Consulting

Help organizations develop records management policies and systems

Startup Cost
$4,000-$15,000
Difficulty
Advanced
Time to Profit
6-12 months
Profit Potential
$10,000-$50,000/month

Overview

Records management consultants charge $100-$250 per hour or $5,000-$50,000 per project.

Serving 8-25 clients annually generates $120,000-$600,000 annually with 70-85% margins.

In 2025, businesses face complex compliance requirements (GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, industry regulations) requiring professional records management.

Services include records retention policy development, compliance audits and assessments, document classification systems, records management software selection, staff training programs, disaster recovery planning, and ongoing compliance support.

Successful records management consultants understand industry regulations (healthcare, legal, financial, government), develop customized retention schedules, implement document management systems, provide staff training, and maintain client compliance.

Can serve industries with strict compliance: healthcare, legal, financial services, government, manufacturing.

Many consultants specialize by industry (medical records, legal records) or regulation (HIPAA, GDPR).

Marketing through compliance conferences, industry associations, legal and accounting firms, and LinkedIn.

Required Skills

  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Records Management Standards
  • Policy Development
  • Training & Documentation
  • Industry Knowledge
  • Consulting Skills

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • High consulting rates ($100-$250/hour)
  • Low overhead (knowledge-based business)
  • Growing compliance requirements drive demand
  • Can work remotely with most clients
  • Recurring revenue from ongoing compliance support

Cons

  • Requires extensive regulatory knowledge
  • Long sales cycle with enterprise clients
  • Liability for compliance recommendations
  • Must stay current with changing regulations
  • Competition from large consulting firms

How to Get Started

  1. Develop expertise in records management standards
  2. Learn key industry regulations (HIPAA, GDPR, etc.)
  3. Create consulting frameworks and templates
  4. Target regulated industries (healthcare, finance)
  5. Provide compliance audits and assessments
  6. Build reputation through successful implementations
  7. Consider specializing in specific industry or regulation

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