17 Best Performance Improvement Consultants Reviewed in 2025
9 Best Performance Improvement Consultants Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 9 best services providers from the 17 we reviewed.
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If your team is missing goals, stuck in silos, or just not working well together, you're not alone.
These issues are common, and they’re tough to solve from the inside. A strong performance improvement consultant can help by finding the real blockers and getting your team moving in the right direction.
I’ve worked with people leaders who’ve brought in the right consultant and seen real progress. Not vague advice—instead, clear priorities, accountability, and results you can track.
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In this article, I’ll share consultants I trust, with a quick look at what each one does best, so you can find the right fit for your team.
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Best Performance Improvement Consultants Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top performance improvement consultant selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
| Service | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for strategic planning | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 2 | Best for global reach | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 3 | Best for data analytics services | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 4 | Best for healthcare industry focus | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 5 | Best for small business support | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 6 | Best for middle-market companies | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 7 | Best for benchmarking services | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 8 | Best for financial restructuring | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 9 | Best for team collaboration | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website |
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Guru
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Absorb LMS
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Mitratech Trakstar
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.3
Best Performance Improvement Consultant Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best performance improvement consultant providers that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a look at each provider’s key services, unique specialties, and pros & cons to help you find the best one for your needs.
ClearPoint Strategy offers a comprehensive platform designed for effective strategy execution, focusing on productivity and management reporting. They primarily serve business functions like strategic planning and organizational alignment, targeting industries such as government, healthcare, and finance.
Why I picked ClearPoint Strategy: Their unique selling proposition lies in their built-in expertise and proven Success Framework, which helps over 15,000 users achieve strategic goals. The platform provides customizable reporting and AI-driven insights, making it ideal for strategic planning. Your team can benefit from features like automated data collection and live dashboards, which enhance collaboration and decision-making.
Standout Services: ClearPoint Strategy provides real-time KPI tracking to help your team monitor performance and make informed decisions quickly. Their automated data collection reduces manual work, allowing you to focus more on strategic initiatives and less on data entry.
Target industries: Local government, healthcare, banking and finance, utilities and energy, and higher education.
Specialties: Strategic planning, business reporting, OKR management, organizational alignment, and data visualization.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automated data collection
- Customizable reporting options
- Effective strategy execution tools
Cons:
- Limited user interface customization
- Initial setup complexity
BRG offers consulting services in corporate finance, economic consulting, disputes and investigations, and performance improvement. They serve global clients across industries like healthcare, energy, and finance.
Why I picked BRG: The firm combines deep industry expertise with practical problem-solving to help your team navigate complex challenges. They offer performance improvement strategies supported by insights from corporate finance and economic consulting. With a worldwide team, BRG can support your team’s needs across multiple regions.
BRG Standout Services: disputes and investigations helps your team address complex legal and regulatory challenges by providing expert analysis and practical support. economic consulting gives you data-driven insights to guide decision-making and improve your team’s approach to market, competition, and policy issues.
Target industries: healthcare, energy, finance, technology, and legal services.
Specialties: performance improvement, corporate finance, economic consulting, disputes and investigations, and risk management.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Flexible solutions for complex challenges
- Deep industry and academic expertise
- Global team covers diverse markets
Cons:
- Availability may vary by region
- Limited focus on small businesses
Grant Thornton offers advisory services focused on operations and performance, helping organizations modernize core business functions to maximize ROI. They serve key business areas such as Agile and Program Management, Change Enablement, Operations Transformation, and Supply Chain Management, catering to a diverse range of industries.
Why I picked Grant Thornton: Their expertise in data analytics services sets them apart, providing tailored strategies to enhance efficiency and drive growth. They excel in managing complex changes, ensuring your team can navigate transformations smoothly. With a focus on maximizing ROI, Grant Thornton delivers customized solutions that align with your business goals.
Standout Services: They offer Agile and program management to help your team implement flexible strategies and improve project outcomes. Their supply chain management services enhance operational efficiency, addressing core challenges in logistics and resource allocation.
Target industries: Energy, technology, financial services, hospitality, and banking.
Specialties: Agile and program management, change enablement, operations transformation, supply chain management, and data analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Diverse industry experience
- Significant cost savings
- Customized approach
Cons:
- Implementation challenges
- High costs
L.E.K. Consulting offers performance improvement consulting services, focusing on cost competitiveness and operational performance. They serve various industries, with a strong emphasis on healthcare, life sciences, and logistics.
Why I picked L.E.K. Consulting: Their expertise in the healthcare sector is complemented by their focus on cost optimization and commercial excellence. They utilize data-driven solutions to identify key areas for improvement, ensuring tailored strategies for your team. Their collaborative approach consistently achieves significant savings, making them a strong choice for healthcare-focused performance improvement.
Standout Services: They provide commercial excellence, helping your team enhance market strategies and boost sales effectiveness. Their dynamic performance management service allows you to monitor and adapt your operational strategies in real-time, addressing core business needs efficiently.
Target industries: Healthcare, life sciences, logistics, financial services, and technology.
Specialties: Cost optimization, commercial excellence, organizational strategy, sustainability consulting, and the Edge Strategy framework.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Consistent cost savings
- Emphasis on sustainability
- Strong healthcare focus
Cons:
- Complex implementation process
- Limited customization options
Monevate offers monetization and pricing strategy consulting, serving startups, high-growth companies, and small businesses. They help your team develop pricing models, optimize packaging, and capture customer value at different growth stages.
Why I picked Monevate: The firm supports your team with 6- to 12-week consulting engagements tailored to pricing and monetization challenges. They also offer guidance for early-stage companies balancing growth and profitability. If you need flexible, expert advice on pricing strategy, Monevate can help your team make informed decisions.
Monevate Standout Services: monetizing APIs helps your team create pricing strategies for integrations that reflect customer value while supporting profitability. usage-tiered user license models gives you flexible pricing options that adjust to customer usage, helping your team align revenue with growth.
Target industries: saas, technology startups, high-growth companies, software development, and digital services.
Specialties: pricing strategy, monetization, packaging optimization, api monetization, and usage-based pricing models.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Deep expertise in saas monetization
- Offers community for XaaS leaders
- Flexible support for early-stage companies
Cons:
- Small team may limit availability
- Limited service range beyond pricing
The Keystone Group offers management consulting services focused on mid-market manufacturing, distribution, and business services. They provide growth strategy, operational improvement, restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions services, catering primarily to mid-sized companies.
Why I picked The Keystone Group: Their specialization in the mid-market segment ensures tailored strategies for businesses in this category, making them a strong choice for companies seeking targeted growth. They emphasize long-term client relationships, providing solutions that align with your business goals. The Keystone Group's approach is rooted in delivering sustainable results, which is crucial for mid-market companies aiming for stability and growth.
Standout Services: They offer restructuring and turnaround services to help your team navigate financial challenges and improve operational efficiency. Their mergers and acquisitions support assists in strategic growth, ensuring successful integrations and value creation for your business.
Target industries: Manufacturing, distribution, business services, and mid-market companies.
Specialties: Growth strategy, operational improvement, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and tailored solutions.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Experienced partner engagement
- Long-term client relationships
- Tailored growth strategies
Cons:
- Smaller firm size
- Pricing not disclosed
The Hackett Group provides consulting services focused on performance optimization and cost reduction. They primarily serve industries like finance, human resources, IT, and supply chain management, leveraging insights from extensive corporate engagements.
Why I picked The Hackett Group: Their benchmarking services are a key differentiator, utilizing a comprehensive database from over 27,000 engagements to drive performance. They focus on implementing best practices across business functions such as finance and IT. Your team can benefit from their data-driven approach to performance optimization and cost management.
Standout Services: They offer digital transformation consulting, helping your team adapt to new technologies and improve operational efficiency. Their executive advisory services provide strategic guidance to enhance leadership effectiveness and decision-making.
Target industries: Finance, human resources, IT, supply chain management, and procurement.
Specialties: Business benchmarking, digital transformation, enterprise performance management, Oracle and SAP solutions, and generative AI consulting.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Generative AI capabilities
- Data-driven insights
- Extensive benchmarking database
Cons:
- Requires organizational change
- Limited customer reviews
Alvarez & Marsal offers professional services focused on corporate performance improvement, turnaround management, and financial restructuring. They serve businesses across industries, including financial services, healthcare, energy, and manufacturing.
Why I picked Alvarez & Marsal: The firm delivers hands-on financial restructuring, helping your team manage liquidity, stabilize operations, and navigate distressed situations. They also offer advisory services like cost reduction and operational improvement tied directly to business transformation. If you’re facing complex financial challenges, Alvarez & Marsal’s practical, results-driven approach can help your team take control.
Alvarez & Marsal Standout Services: interim management lets you bring in experienced executives to stabilize leadership and guide your team through restructuring or performance improvement phases. mergers and acquisitions advisory helps you and your team handle complex deal structures, assess risks, and execute transactions that support long-term growth.
Target industries: financial services, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and retail.
Specialties: financial restructuring, performance improvement, interim management, mergers and acquisitions advisory, and cost reduction.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Offers senior-level interim leadership
- Flexible team structures for unique cases
- Wide global reach for cross-border needs
Cons:
- Limited transparency on service packages
- Premium pricing for most engagements
Unity Advisory provides performance improvement services focusing on crisis management and risk mitigation for businesses and high-net-worth families. They serve key business functions such as workplace violence prevention, cyber threat assessments, and travel risk management, catering primarily to organizations facing high-risk situations.
Why I picked Unity Advisory: Their focus on team collaboration in high-risk environments sets them apart, offering bespoke training and advisory services tailored to your unique needs. They partner with Tokio Marine HCC to enhance safety and well-being, ensuring comprehensive support for your team. Unity Advisory's expertise in crisis response and risk management makes them a reliable choice for organizations seeking specialized protection.
Standout Services: They offer workplace violence prevention programs designed to keep your team safe and informed about potential threats. Their cyber threat assessments help your organization identify vulnerabilities, ensuring your digital assets are secure.
Target industries: Corporate security, high-net-worth families, insurance, government, and non-governmental organizations.
Specialties: Crisis management, risk mitigation, workplace violence prevention, cyber threat assessments, and travel risk management.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Partnership with Tokio Marine HCC
- Tailored risk mitigation services
- Strong crisis management focus
Cons:
- Requires client engagement
- Niche focus may limit appeal
Other Performance Improvement Consultants
Here are some additional performance improvement consultant providers that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Jump Associates
For innovation strategy
- Clerkin Consulting
For small business solutions
- The Poirier Group
For operational excellence
- Catalant
For on-demand talent solutions
- NMS Consulting
For global business strategy
- Woodward Consulting
For organizational change management
- LoBue
For financial services focus
What Do Performance Improvement Consultants Typically Offer?
Performance improvement consultants are experts who help organizations enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. They might offer things like:
- Strategic planning and execution
- Process optimization and redesign
- Change management support
- Performance metrics and analysis
- Employee training and development
Businesses and departments like operations, HR, and finance often seek out performance improvement consultants to address challenges like operational inefficiencies, ineffective processes, and the need for organizational change.
Performance Improvement Consultant Selection Criteria
When selecting the best performance improvement consultant providers to include in this list, I considered common business needs and pain points that these providers address. This included things like enhancing operational efficiency and managing organizational change. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Services (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each provider had to offer these basic services:
- Strategic planning
- Process optimization
- Change management
- Performance analysis
- Employee development
Additional Standout Services (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique or especially valuable services, such as:
- Digital transformation consulting
- Crisis management
- Sustainability consulting
- Mergers and acquisitions support
- Data analytics integration
Industry Experience (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the industry experience of each provider, I considered the following:
- Years in business
- Number of industries served
- Case studies available
- Industry-specific expertise
- Client testimonials
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each provider, I considered the following:
- Clarity of onboarding process
- Availability of training materials
- Support during setup
- Customization options
- Timeline for implementation
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess the level of customer support each provider offers, I considered the following:
- Availability of support channels
- Response time to inquiries
- Expertise of support staff
- Availability of dedicated account managers
- Customer support reviews
Value For Price (10% of total score)
To evaluate the pricing and potential ROI of working with each provider, I considered the following:
- Transparency of pricing
- Comparison to industry averages
- Flexibility of pricing plans
- Potential cost savings
- ROI potential
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the overall satisfaction of existing customers, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Feedback on service quality
- Comments on customer support
- Reports on ROI achieved
- Repeat business indicators
How to Choose a Performance Improvement Consultant Provider
It’s easy to get bogged down in long lists of services and complex pricing structures. To help you prioritize the things that matter most for your business, keep the following factors in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
| Business Objectives | Ensure the provider aligns with your specific goals, like increasing efficiency or managing change, to make sure they can deliver the results you need. |
| Service Scope and SLAs | Look at the range of services offered and the Service Level Agreements to understand what’s included and what’s guaranteed in terms of performance. |
| Support Availability | Check if support is available when you need it, including after-hours and weekends, especially if your team works across different time zones. |
| Costs and Pricing Structure | Evaluate if the pricing is transparent and fits your budget, including any hidden fees or flexible payment options that could affect your ROI. |
| Communication and Reporting | Determine how often the provider will report progress and how they communicate with your team to keep everyone aligned and informed. |
| Industry Experience | Consider their experience in your industry to ensure they understand the unique challenges and can provide tailored solutions. |
| Customization Options | Verify if the provider offers tailored solutions that can be adapted to your specific business needs and processes. |
| Client Testimonials | Look for reviews or case studies from similar businesses to gauge the provider’s effectiveness and client satisfaction. |
Key Performance Improvement Consultant Services
When selecting a performance improvement consultant provider, keep an eye out for the following key services:
- Strategic planning: Helps your team set clear goals and create actionable plans to achieve them efficiently.
- Process optimization: Identifies inefficiencies in your operations and suggests improvements to enhance productivity.
- Change management: Guides your team through transitions, ensuring smooth adaptation to new processes or systems.
- Performance analysis: Uses data to evaluate your team's performance and identify areas for improvement.
- Employee development: Offers training and development programs to enhance your team's skills and capabilities.
- Digital transformation consulting: Assists your organization in integrating new technologies to stay competitive.
- Crisis management: Provides strategies for handling unexpected challenges and mitigating risks effectively.
- Mergers and acquisitions support: Offers expertise in navigating complex mergers and acquisitions to ensure successful outcomes.
- Data analytics integration: Incorporates data analytics into your operations to provide insights and drive decision-making.
- Communication and reporting: Keeps your team informed with regular updates and clear communication channels.
Benefits of Performance Improvement Consultants
Partnering with a performance improvement consultant provider offers several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Increased efficiency: Streamlines your operations through process optimization, helping your team work smarter, not harder.
- Enhanced decision-making: Uses data analytics to provide insights that guide better business decisions.
- Successful change implementation: Supports your team through change management, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruptions.
- Skill development: Offers employee development programs to enhance your team's capabilities and boost performance.
- Risk mitigation: Provides crisis management strategies to help your team handle unexpected challenges effectively.
- Competitive edge: Drives innovation and digital transformation, keeping your business ahead of industry trends.
- Improved communication: Ensures clear communication and regular reporting to keep your team aligned and informed.
Costs and Pricing Structures of Performance Improvement Consultants
Performance improvement consultant providers typically come at a custom price to accommodate various business needs, sizes, and circumstances. Providers generally work within one of the following pricing structures:
- Project-based: Charges are based on the specific project scope and duration.
- Hourly rate: Costs are determined by the number of hours consultants work.
- Retainer fee: A fixed monthly fee for ongoing services and support.
- Subscription-based: Regular payments for access to services over a set period.
- Scope of work (SOW): Pricing is based on predefined deliverables and outcomes.
Key Factors That Influence Performance Improvement Consultant Pricing
Beyond the specific pricing model, here are some additional factors that can influence the cost of performance improvement consultants:
- Customization level: The more tailored the solutions, the higher the cost due to additional resources and time needed.
- Industry requirements: Compliance with specific regulations or standards can increase costs due to specialized expertise.
- Company size: Larger organizations may face higher costs due to increased complexity and resource needs.
- Service duration: Longer engagements can lead to higher costs, especially if continuous support is required.
- Geographic location: Costs may vary depending on regional economic conditions and cost of living.
Being aware of these factors before you start seeking out custom quotes from providers helps you get a sense of what to expect, and compare and contrast quotes more effectively.
Performance Improvement Consultants: FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about performance improvement consultants:
How do I know if my business needs a performance improvement consultant?
If your business is experiencing inefficiencies, facing challenges with change management, or struggling to meet strategic goals, a performance improvement consultant can help. They analyze your operations and provide tailored solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Consider hiring one if you need expert guidance to address specific business issues.
What should I expect during the initial consultation?
During the initial consultation, the consultant will assess your business needs and challenges. They’ll ask questions to understand your goals and current operations. This meeting is an opportunity for you to outline your expectations and for the consultant to propose potential strategies for improvement.
How long does it typically take to see results?
The timeline for seeing results can vary based on the complexity of your business challenges and the scope of work. Some improvements may be seen within a few months, while others could take longer. It’s essential to set realistic expectations and work closely with your consultant to track progress.
Can performance improvement consultants work with businesses of any size?
Yes, performance improvement consultants can work with businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations. They tailor their services to meet the specific needs and scale of your organization, ensuring that solutions are relevant and effective for your particular business context.
How do performance improvement consultants charge for their services?
Consultants typically offer various pricing models, such as project-based fees, hourly rates, or retainers. The cost may depend on factors like the project’s scope, the level of customization required, and the duration of the engagement. It’s important to discuss pricing options upfront to find the best fit for your budget.
What should I look for when choosing a performance improvement consultant?
When selecting a consultant, consider their industry experience, track record, and approach to solving business problems. Look for someone who understands your specific challenges and can provide tailored solutions. It’s also helpful to read client testimonials and case studies to gauge their effectiveness and reliability.
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