I've been a solo practitioner for more than 15 years. Although it's been satisfying, I want to start to build a larger consulting firm. What do I need to consider before selecting people?

Building a firm is more than just "staffing up." Do you want to staff up for a current engagement or a long term business strategy? Would a stable of 1099 consultants work better than permanent staff? What legal form of business do you currently have and is it appropriate for your intended staff? Do you want to hire experienced staff or "grow your own?" Do you want staff to help run the business or just deliver client service? Is this part of an exit strategy?

There are a lot of questions that go into this decision. However, let's assume you answered them so we can address your question of how to select the right types of people.

Look at the following characteristics: