Forming a partnership as an independent consultant can feel difficult and even risky. You’re used to autonomy. You’ve created your own unique way of running your business. And, you also feel lonely at times.

Bringing someone else into your process? That can feel like a threat to your freedom, your income, or your control.

But what if the right partnership expanded your possibilities instead of limiting them?

In this episode, I sit down with two of my past coaching clients, Abbie DuBois and Scott Allen, who have built a mutually beneficial joint offering.

They share how they met through this podcast (I am so honored to be part of their story) and how they organically grew from one conversation to a fully functional collaboration, without sacrificing their individual practices.

We unpack how they brainstormed, pressure-tested their idea, went to market, and ultimately signed joint clients. 

You’ll hear how they use divide-and-conquer tactics for business development, how they structure contracts and compensation, and how they manage capacity between solo work and joint projects.

They don’t hold anything back.

If you’ve ever considered working with another consultant or dismissed the idea entirely, this episode will challenge your assumptions.

What you will learn in this episode:

[05:12] How an organic connection led to a formal partnership and why they never forced the outcome
[08:44] Why complementary skills are the key to building a synergistic joint offer
[13:22] How they used surveys and iterative testing to identify a viable niche (value-based care)
[17:40] Their client acquisition approach and why they focused on building reps together first
[23:55] How they structure contracts, fees, and incentives in a way that preserves autonomy and ownership
[30:41] What’s next: retainer models, advisory boards, and leveraging AI for scalability

Tune in to Episode 242 to hear the behind-the-scenes of a successful partnership model that preserves independence and accelerates growth.

Mentioned Resources

1) Full Show Notes: https://shownotes.melisaliberman.com/episode-242/

2)  Find Abbie DuBois: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbie-dubois 

3)  Find Scott Allen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-allen-b06b6b5/  

4) Melisa’s Free Resources, Books, Planners & Journals: https://linktr.ee/melisaliberman

5) Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 172 - Filling Your Pipeline, Landing Ideal Consulting Clients, and Turning Away Work with Abbie DuBois 

If you want a predictable pipeline in 2026, I’m hosting a live training to show you how to create steady consulting opportunities, even when you’re busy delivering. You can choose from two dates, January 13 or January 15. There are no replays. 

Go to ICworkshop.info to grab your spot. 

Want help achieving your consulting business goals? Melisa can help. Click here for more on coaching tailored to you as an independent consulting business owner.