Strategic Market Intelligence & Positioning Research for an SMB-Focused Consulting Launch
Role: Market Intelligence Analyst
Client: SMB-Focused Consulting Firm (Pre-Launch)
Tools Used: Market Research Databases (ie. Statista, IBISWorld, etc.), SWOT Analysis Framework, Survey Tools (ie. Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, etc.), Excel, Tableau, PowerPoint
Project: Pre-Launch Market Analysis & Competitive Landscape Research
Objective:
Empower a new consulting startup to launch with a clearly differentiated value proposition by delivering robust market intelligence, competitor analysis, and customer insights to guide service design, pricing, and outreach. The goal was to ensure relevance in the saturated SMB services space and build investor confidence pre-launch.
Approach:
Industry & Market Scan:
Conducted macro and micro-level research of the SMB consulting landscape, identifying key demand drivers in digital transformation, automation, and CX strategy tailored for small businesses across industries.
Competitive Intelligence:
Benchmarked 15+ national and regional competitors on service models, pricing structures, positioning tactics, niche focuses, and go-to-market timelines. Mapped whitespace opportunities and saturation levels.
Customer Insights Survey:
Designed and distributed a survey to 75 SMB decision-makers across retail, hospitality, and health sectors. Captured pain points in consulting partnerships, pricing tolerances, and demand for specific services.
SWOT & Value Mapping:
Developed detailed SWOT analysis and a competitor positioning matrix. Identified clear differentiation through affordability, digital enablement, and tailored playbooks for SMB maturity levels.
Investor Deck & Market Readiness Report:
Packaged research into a compelling strategic plan with market sizing, service model validation, pricing tests, and GTM roadmap.
Findings
$20M+ Addressable Market Identified:
Targeted underserved SMB verticals in the Southeast U.S. with strong growth potential and limited consulting options.
Three Underserved Niches Mapped:
Operational strategy for micro-retailers, fractional marketing services, and post-pandemic service redesign emerged as high-value, unmet needs.
Data-Driven Pricing Strategy Created:
Proposed tiered, digital-first service options that were 27% more affordable than top competitors while increasing projected revenue by 33%.
Validated GTM Roadmap:
Structured a staged rollout plan that aligned with SMB budget realities and validated service demand, reducing risk at launch.
Investor Interest Unlocked:
Insights and materials supported a successful $250K seed funding raise within 60 days, with investors citing "clarity and market-fit" in feedback.
Results:
Business Model Refinement:
The research realigned the client’s service design and delivery to match the most urgent and valuable needs of their target SMBs.
Market-Ready Strategy:
Equipped the startup with a compelling narrative, validated pricing, and a strong point of differentiation at launch.
Positioning for Launch:
Clear value mapping and customer demand validation helped sharpen their GTM messaging and prioritize early adopters.
Investor Buy-In:
Materials were directly credited with helping secure initial seed funding and establishing the startup’s early credibility in a crowded market.
