Whether you’re running a solo consulting practice, leading a coaching business, managing an HR consultancy, or growing a strategy firm, there’s a common challenge that unites all consultants: your expertise is your product, but administrative and operational work threatens to consume the time you need to deliver that expertise.

The math is simple but brutal. Every hour spent on client onboarding paperwork, social media scheduling, or expense reports is an hour you’re not spending on billable work, business development, or strategic thinking. For consultants, the return on delegation isn’t just about convenience—it’s directly tied to revenue and growth.

At Trusty Oak, we work with hundreds of consulting businesses, from independent coaches and solo practitioners to growing firms with multiple consultants. What we’ve learned is that the most successful consultants don’t try to do it all themselves. They build leverage through strategic delegation to fractional talent who bring not just task completion, but systems thinking, specialized expertise, and operational excellence.

This comprehensive guide breaks down 83 tasks consulting firms delegate across three types of fractional support:

  • Executive Assistants (EAs) - Trusted generalists who ensure operational excellence and keep nothing from falling through the cracks

  • Specialists - Targeted expertise in marketing, operations, technology, and creative work

  • Fractional Executives - Strategic leadership for building systems, creating clarity, and accelerating growth

Whether you’re just starting to think about delegation or ready to scale your support structure, this list will help you identify exactly where fractional talent can create the most leverage in your business.

Part 1: Executive Assistant Support - Operational Excellence

Your Executive Assistant is your operational backbone. They’re trusted generalists who handle the essential tasks that keep your consulting business running smoothly, from calendar management to client communications to travel coordination. When you delegate these operational responsibilities, you create the space and mental bandwidth to focus on what only you can do.

Goal: Reclaim Time for Revenue-Generating Activities and Strategic Work

The highest-leverage move any consultant can make is protecting time for billable work, business development, and strategic thinking. Your EA makes this possible by taking ownership of lower-leverage tasks that still need to happen flawlessly.

Administrative Operations:

  1. Manage your inbox using filters, labels, and priority systems—responding to routine emails on your behalf and flagging what needs your attention

  2. Coordinate calendar management and appointment scheduling across time zones and competing priorities

  3. Plan and coordinate all aspects of business travel, including flights, hotels, ground transportation, and detailed itineraries

  4. Prepare expense reports and track spending against budgets by organizing receipts and documentation

  5. Maintain and update payment information for software subscriptions and memberships, eliminating unused subscriptions

  6. Research and recommend quality networking events, conferences, and professional development opportunities

  7. Coordinate vendor relationships and manage communication with third-party service providers

  8. Handle personal tasks that free up your mental space—from scheduling dental appointments to researching family activities

Marketing Support:

  1. Execute social media posting schedules, monitor direct messages, engage with comments, follow relevant accounts, and post Stories to maintain your online presence

  2. Add content to monthly newsletters by gathering blog posts, testimonials, or updates, and schedule email sends

  3. Update website content like team bios, service descriptions, or blog post uploads

  4. Track and organize marketing assets like brand photos, logos, templates, and graphics in shared drives

Goal: Deliver an Exceptional Client Experience from First Contact Through Offboarding

First impressions matter in consulting. When prospects see that you manage your time and operations professionally, it reinforces your positioning as a strategic expert. Your EA ensures every client touchpoint reflects the quality of your work.

Client Experience & Operations:

  1. Prepare professional proposals and contracts for prospective clients

  2. Create and send invoices and receipts with consistent branding and clear payment terms

  3. Facilitate completion of onboarding questionnaires, assessments, and intake forms

  4. Keep your CRM updated with accurate client data, conversation history, and key milestones

  5. Follow up diplomatically on failed or missed payments

  6. Process and document payments to referral partners

  7. Coordinate logistics for client events like quarterly off-sites, workshops, or leadership retreats

  8. Order and manage shipping for any physical materials you provide clients

  9. Send personalized thank-you notes, gifts, or thoughtful surprises that strengthen client relationships

  10. Create and distribute handouts or digital documents for workshops and training sessions

  11. Design and share welcome posts on social media to celebrate new client partnerships

Part 2: Specialist Support - Targeted Expertise That Drives Growth

Specialists bring deep expertise in specific domains. While your EA handles operational excellence, Specialists tackle the work that requires targeted skills—marketing strategy and execution, content creation, design, automation, data analysis, and more. This is where you stop settling for “good enough” and start leveraging professional-grade expertise in the areas that directly impact your business growth.

Goal: Build and Maintain a Strong Digital Presence That Reflects Your Expertise

For consultants, your digital presence is often your first impression. Prospects Google you before they book a call. Your LinkedIn profile, website, and social media presence either reinforce your expertise or raise questions. A Marketing Specialist ensures you show up consistently and professionally across all channels.

Social Media Strategy & Management:

  1. Develop a comprehensive content strategy aligned with your business development goals

  2. Create monthly content calendars that balance thought leadership, engagement, and promotion

  3. Write and ghostwrite posts that authentically reflect your voice and strategic perspective

  4. Design custom graphics, carousels, and infographics that make complex ideas visual and shareable

  5. Optimize your LinkedIn profile and other platforms with compelling storytelling and strategic positioning

  6. Start and manage a LinkedIn newsletter to establish thought leadership in your niche

  7. Edit and repurpose long-form content (speaking events, podcast interviews, webinars) into Reels, TikToks, and platform-optimized short-form video

  8. Create and facilitate strategic online communities (Facebook Groups, LinkedIn Groups) that provide genuine value and position you as a connector

Goal: Generate Qualified Leads Through Strategic Content Marketing

Your expertise deserves to be seen. Content marketing—when done well—positions you as the obvious choice when prospects are ready to hire a consultant. A Content Marketing Specialist helps you show up consistently without draining your time and energy.

Website & Blog Content:

  1. Develop a blog content calendar with topics that address your ideal client’s challenges and questions

  2. Write or ghostwrite blog posts based on your frameworks, presentations, or conversations

  3. Source and optimize images for blog posts

  4. Write case studies that showcase client transformations and results

  5. Request and feature client testimonials strategically throughout your site

  6. Optimize blog content for search engines to drive organic traffic

  7. Repurpose content from podcasts, speaking engagements, or workshops into written articles

Email Marketing & Lead Nurturing:

  1. Create valuable lead magnets (guides, frameworks, templates) that attract your ideal clients

  2. Design landing pages or website forms to capture email addresses

  3. Write automated email sequences that build trust and nurture prospects toward working with you

  4. Set up email automation in platforms like HubSpot, ConvertKit, or Mailchimp

  5. Design and write monthly newsletters that keep you connected with your audience

  6. Create visually compelling newsletter designs that reflect your brand

  7. Prepare, test, and schedule email campaigns

  8. Add offline contacts (from events or networking) to your email list with appropriate permissions

Goal: Elevate Your Brand with Professional Design and Creative Work

In a crowded consulting market, professional design signals credibility and attention to detail. A Creative Specialist ensures your visual brand is as polished as your strategic thinking.

Brand & Design:

  1. Create branded templates for proposals, presentations, and client deliverables

  2. Design social media graphics that stand out in crowded feeds

  3. Develop infographics that make your frameworks and methodologies visual

  4. Edit video content for Reels, YouTube, or your website

  5. Design professional slide decks for speaking engagements or webinars

  6. Create branded Zoom backgrounds or digital assets for virtual events

Goal: Automate Repetitive Processes and Streamline Operations

Smart consultants know that the best systems run in the background without requiring constant attention. An Operations or Automation Specialist can build the infrastructure that makes your business scalable.

Systems & Automation:

  1. Build workflow automations that connect your CRM, email platform, scheduling tools, and other systems

  2. Set up intake forms and automated scheduling for discovery calls or client onboarding

  3. Create Zapier or Make.com automations that eliminate manual data entry

  4. Design Notion or Airtable systems for project management, client tracking, or knowledge management

  5. Implement and optimize your CRM for better client relationship management

  6. Build reporting dashboards that give you visibility into key business metrics

  7. Build client portal systems or resource libraries that enhance the client experience and reduce repetitive questions

Part 3: Fractional Executive Support - Strategic Leadership for Scaling

Fractional Executives bring senior-level strategic thinking without the full-time commitment. This is where you stop working in your business and start working on it. Fractional COOs, CMOs, and other executive-level talent help you create clarity, build scalable systems, and make strategic decisions that accelerate growth.

Goal: Build the Strategic Foundation for Sustainable Growth

Solo consultants often reach a ceiling where their business is successful but not scalable. A Fractional COO or Chief of Staff helps you transition from consultant-as-operator to consultant-as-business-owner.

Operations & Systems Strategy:

  1. Conduct operational audits to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies

  2. Design and document Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for every core function—from client onboarding to accounts receivable to marketing

  3. Create SOPs for sales processes, discovery calls, and proposal development

  4. Build onboarding systems for new team members or associate consultants

  5. Develop project management frameworks that ensure consistent delivery quality

  6. Create financial reporting systems and dashboards for better business visibility

  7. Design client offboarding processes that protect relationships and generate referrals

  8. Build contingency plans and documentation so your business can run smoothly even when you’re unavailable

Goal: Develop and Execute a Strategic Marketing Plan

Many consultants are incredible at delivery but struggle with consistent marketing. A Fractional CMO brings strategic marketing leadership that goes beyond social posts—they help you develop positioning, messaging, and a go-to-market strategy that actually drives qualified leads.

Marketing Leadership:

  1. Develop your overall marketing strategy aligned with revenue goals

  2. Create positioning and messaging frameworks that differentiate you in the market

  3. Build lead generation systems that consistently fill your pipeline

  4. Develop partnership and referral strategies

  5. Design and oversee content strategies across multiple channels

  6. Plan and execute webinars, speaking opportunities, or thought leadership campaigns

  7. Evaluate marketing performance and make data-driven optimization decisions

  8. Build strategic partnerships, alliance programs, or co-marketing opportunities to expand reach

  9. Develop brand partnerships or collaborative initiatives

Goal: Create Financial Clarity and Operational Discipline

Most consultants didn’t start their business because they love financial management—but understanding your numbers is essential for sustainable growth. A Fractional CFO or experienced COO brings financial discipline and clarity.

Financial Operations:

  1. Develop budgets and financial forecasts

  2. Create cash flow management systems

  3. Build financial reporting that helps you make informed decisions

  4. Manage accounts payable and receivable processes

  5. Coordinate with your accountant or bookkeeper for tax preparation and compliance

  6. Evaluate pricing strategies and package offerings

  7. Analyze profitability by service line or client type

Where AI Fits (and Where It Doesn’t)

Let’s address the elephant in the room: AI tools are everywhere, and they’re getting better fast. So why delegate to fractional talent when AI can draft emails, create social posts, or generate content?

Here’s the truth: AI is a powerful tool for execution, but it can’t replace strategic thinking, relationship intelligence, or systems design.

AI can help a Marketing Specialist draft social posts faster—but it can’t understand your unique client relationships, anticipate what messaging will resonate with your specific audience, or adapt your content strategy based on what’s actually working. AI can generate an email sequence—but it can’t build the trust-based relationship architecture that turns prospects into long-term clients.

The consultants who thrive aren’t choosing between AI and fractional talent. They’re using both strategically: AI for efficiency and speed, fractional talent for strategy, relationships, and judgment.

Your fractional embedded team uses AI to work faster and deliver more value. But they bring something AI never will: strategic thinking rooted in relationship intelligence, cultural understanding, and the ability to see patterns across hundreds of client engagements.

Ready to Delegate Strategically?

You became a consultant because you’re exceptional at what you do. But running a successful consulting practice requires more than expertise—it requires operational excellence, consistent marketing, strategic systems, and the discipline to protect your time for the work that only you can do.

The 83 tasks in this guide represent real work that real consultants delegate every day to fractional talent. Some of these tasks might feel too small to delegate. Others might feel too important to hand off. But here’s what we’ve learned from working with hundreds of consulting businesses:

The most successful consultants don’t wait until they’re drowning to delegate. They build leverage early and systematically, choosing to invest in fractional talent so they can focus on the strategic, revenue-generating work that grows their business.

If you’re ready to explore what strategic delegation could look like for your consulting practice, we’d love to talk.

Book a Discovery Call

This is an updated version of the original post “83 Tasks for Coaches and Consultants to Delegate to VAs”, by Trusty Oak Founder, Amber L. Gray, posted in 2023.