Growth - Evidence-Based Guide to Growing and Exiting a Consultancy

In this review of Growth, Professor Joe O'Mahoney delivers a focused, evidence-based guide for consultancy founders and leaders who want to scale responsibly and prepare for a successful exit. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its research-driven approach: drawing on interviews with 72 founders, two international surveys and a long advisory career, Growth translates experience into actionable guidance rather than anecdote. This review examines who benefits most from the book, what practical insights it offers and where readers might need complementary resources.

Key Features

• Evidence base: The book uses interviews with 72 founders and two international surveys to ground advice in real outcomes, helping readers avoid common scaling mistakes.
• Practical growth framework: Provides a structured approach to growth that consultancy leaders can apply to plan hiring, pricing and client focus decisions.
• Exit-focused guidance: Explains how to maximise value for sale or investment by aligning operational and market choices with buyer expectations.
• Accessible writing: The prose is written for busy leaders, making complex research findings readable and immediately usable.
• Author credibility: Draws on the author's long career researching and advising consultancies to interpret data and surface patterns that matter.

Who It's For

Growth is best for founders of small to mid-sized consultancies, partners in professional services firms and advisors who want an evidence-based playbook for scaling and planning an exit. It is particularly useful for readers who prefer conclusions drawn from multiple real-world cases rather than purely theoretical models.

Those who should look elsewhere include readers seeking step-by-step templates for finance or legal transaction mechanics, and people wanting a quick motivational read; this book emphasises explanation and patterns over templated forms or inspirational anecdotes.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Transforms interviews and survey data into clear, actionable lessons for consultancy growth.
• Balances growth strategy with exit planning so readers can build firms that attract buyers or investors.
• Readable and grounded in the author's extensive advisory experience, making findings easier to apply.

Cons

• The book focuses on strategy and evidence rather than providing legal or transaction templates that some readers may expect.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Growth is a high-value, evidence-led resource for anyone serious about building a consultancy that can scale and sell. Its combination of interviews, surveys and practitioner insight makes it a practical manual for strategic decisions, though readers who need transaction paperwork or legal details will need complementary resources. Overall, it is worth buying for strategy, planning and exit preparation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book include real founder experiences?
Yes. Growth is based on interviews with 72 founders plus two international surveys, and uses those experiences to draw patterns.

Is this a how-to legal or financial manual?
No. The book focuses on evidence-based strategy and valuation drivers rather than providing legal templates or transaction documents.

Who authored the research and guidance?
The author is Professor Joe O'Mahoney, who combines research and a long advisory career working with consultancies.