Excel/Google Sheets Consulting

TL;DR

What it is: You help businesses build custom spreadsheet solutions that track data, automate calculations, create reports, and streamline operations. Most companies use Excel or Google Sheets inefficiently, and you create systems that save them time and reduce errors.

What you'll do:

• Build sales dashboards, expense trackers, and inventory systems
• Create automated reports using formulas and pivot tables
• Design custom templates for budgeting, invoices, and project management
• Automate repetitive tasks with VBA or Google Apps Script
• Train clients on how to use your solutions

Time to learn: 3-6 months if you practice 1-2 hours daily and already know Excel basics. Learning automation with VBA or Apps Script takes an additional 2-4 months.

What you need: Excel or Google Sheets, advanced knowledge of formulas and pivot tables, understanding of business workflows.

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You help businesses build custom spreadsheet solutions that track data, automate calculations, create reports, and streamline operations. Most companies use Excel or Google Sheets inefficiently. You fix that.

This works if you understand formulas beyond basic addition and can think logically about how data flows. You don't need to be a programmer, just someone who gets how spreadsheets actually work.

What You'll Actually Do

You build solutions for specific business problems. A client needs to track inventory across three warehouses. You create a system with automated alerts when stock runs low.

Another client manually copies sales data into reports every week. You automate it with formulas and pivot tables so it updates in real-time.

Common projects include sales dashboards, expense trackers, project timelines, budgeting templates, automated invoices, and custom CRM systems. Each project is different based on what the client needs.

Skills You Need

Master the advanced functions most people don't know. VLOOKUP, INDEX-MATCH, SUMIFS, array formulas, pivot tables, conditional formatting, data validation.

Learn Google Sheets equivalents plus unique features like QUERY and IMPORTRANGE. These let you pull data from multiple sources automatically.

Understanding business workflows matters more than technical skills. You need to ask the right questions to figure out what clients actually need versus what they think they need.

VBA for Excel macros or Google Apps Script for Sheets automation is a bonus skill that commands 2-3x higher rates. But you can start without it.

How to Start

Build 5-7 template solutions showcasing different skills. A sales tracker with charts. An inventory system with low-stock alerts. A project timeline that updates automatically. An expense report generator.

Make them look professional with proper formatting and clear labels. Create short video walkthroughs showing how they work.

Start on Fiverr with simple projects at ₹1,500-5,000 to build reviews. Move to Upwork once you have 10-15 projects completed for higher-value work.

Note: Platforms may charge fees or commissions. We don't track specific rates as they change frequently. Check each platform's current pricing before signing up.

Income Reality

Market rates for simple templates like expense trackers or invoice generators are ₹2,000-8,000 per project. These typically take 2-5 hours.

Advanced formulas and workflow automation projects go for ₹10,000-25,000. Interactive dashboards with charts and KPIs are priced at ₹15,000-40,000.

Projects involving VBA or Apps Script automation are priced at ₹20,000-60,000.

Most consultants handle 3-6 projects monthly. Starting out, people typically earn ₹12,000-30,000/month part-time. With experience, ₹40,000-80,000/month is realistic. Some experts with automation skills earn ₹70,000-1,50,000/month.

Some consultants charge hourly at ₹800-2,000/hour instead of per-project. Income depends on your skill level, project complexity, client budget, and time invested.

Common Problems

Clients undervalue spreadsheet work because "it's just Excel." You need to sell the business value, not the formulas. Talk about hours saved and errors eliminated.

Scope creep is constant. "Can you just add one more column?" turns into rebuilding the entire system. Define scope clearly upfront.

Clients break formulas by accident. Protect your sheets and create clear documentation for non-technical users.

Maintenance requests come months later when they've modified things beyond recognition. Build in safeguards or charge for ongoing support.

Strategies That Work

Focus on specific types of solutions instead of being a generalist. Financial models, project management templates, inventory systems. Pick one and get known for it.

Build reusable templates you can customize for multiple clients instead of starting from scratch each time. This lets you complete projects faster.

Offer training sessions to teach clients how to use your solutions. Monthly support packages for updates and fixes provide recurring income.

Create before/after demos showing messy spreadsheets transformed into clean, automated systems. This sells better than listing your skills.

Network with accountants and business consultants who need spreadsheet help for their clients. They become regular referral sources.

Is It Worth It?

If you already know Excel well and enjoy solving logic puzzles, yes. The skills transfer to actual jobs too if you decide to quit freelancing.

But it's trading time for money. You build something, hand it over, get paid. No passive income, no scaling beyond hourly rates.

That said, it's one of the easiest freelance paths to start. Everyone needs spreadsheets. The demand never stops.