The Business of College Consulting Building a Family College Consulting Business with Colleen Reed
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Aug 19, 2025 Colleen Reed, founder of American College Consulting and former high school teacher, helps Canadian students navigate their U.S. university applications. She shares insights on turning her consulting practice into a family-run business by involving her husband and daughter. Colleen emphasizes the importance of personal connections during consultations, ensuring students are invested in the process. She tackles current challenges like visa issues and political uncertainties, while advocating for affordable Canadian universities. Plus, she discusses the value of networking among consultants for continuous growth.
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Grow Through Generosity And Conversations
- Build your practice through relationships and give away useful information freely to start word-of-mouth momentum.
- Offer a complimentary hour-long family session so callers leave informed whether they hire you or not.
Turning The Business Into A Family Team
- American College Consulting became a family operation with Colleen's daughter writing essays and her husband managing operations and athletes.
- Colleen also hires specialists for essays, LD students, and grad applications to expand capacity.
Streamline Operations With One Stack
- Simplify systems and centralize contracts and invoicing to reduce administrative friction.
- Use tools like CollegePlannerPro and FreshBooks, and require upfront or short-term payments to keep cashflow clean.