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Introduction
If you are starting a cannabis business, then you need to hire an expert consultant. A good consultant will help you navigate the complex legal and regulatory environment that surrounds this emerging sector, as well as provide guidance on how to launch and manage your company in the most effective way possible. There are literally thousands of consultants that call themselves experts in this industry but only a select few have the right background experience, knowledge base, and personal skill set required to get their client’s projects off the ground successfully. Here are some tips on how to find one:
Do a background check on your canna consultant:
- Do a background check on your consultant.
- Ask for references.
- Check out the company website if one exists for it and collect information on their previous experience in the industry.
Ask for references:
Ask the consultant to provide you with at least five references of clients or companies they have worked with in the past. This is a great way to get a general idea of their experience and their work ethic. You can also ask them for three or four examples of people who had a bad experience with the consultant, which will give you an idea about how they respond when things go wrong. You can even ask for several recommendations from people in the industry that know them or are familiar with their services as well as those who do not know them so well but have heard good things about them from others in the business or industry.
When our clients approach us, they often ask us to provide some clients that are willing to provide a good reference for us. We completely understand where this request is coming from, and we always want to do everything in our power to reassure our prospects that should they choose to use us as a consultant, they will have a positive experience.
Check the consultant’s license:
Check their license. The consultant should have a current, valid license to practice in your state and for the type of business, you are opening. For example, an attorney who works in private practice may not be able to advise you on how to open a dispensary due to potential conflicts of interest with other clients who might be competitors or have similar businesses. Also, make sure that any consultants you use will be able to work with your state’s regulations for cannabis businesses when they come into effect later this year.
See if they have an updated resume:
You should also check if the consultant has an updated resume. They will have more experience than you think, and it is important to know this in advance. Look for LinkedIn profiles and awards or recognition for their work. Also look for them on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, or forums like Reddit where they share knowledge with others in the industry.
It’s important to keep things like resumes and social media pages up-to-date. Our clients often look us up on LinkedIn and Twitter to read about our past experience and the responsibilities we are currently managing. In addition, they want to learn a little more about us on a personal level, and social media is the perfect way to do so!
Ask for additional resources:
You should also ask for additional resources. For instance, you can ask for a list of references so that you can call them and find out about the quality of service that the consultant will provide. You might also request a list of projects they have worked on in the past. This way, you can get an idea of the types of projects they are capable of handling and whether or not your project is within their scope. It is also a good idea to make sure that your potential Canna Consultant has experience with similar projects as yours because this will give them an edge over other companies when it comes time for bidding on contracts with your company or organization.
When asked about current clients and current projects (or even past clientele), most consultants should be willing to provide information about these topics freely because it will help build confidence in your mind that they are indeed qualified enough to handle this job right now!
In the past, we’ve had clients ask our firm to provide a summary of projects we’ve worked on along with their outcomes. They usually want to know if we’ve ever received any refusals or rejections and what the reasoning is. We can proudly say that Cannabis License Experts has received ZERO refusals to date, but this may not always be the case when working with a consultant, so it’s important that you ask these questions up front!
Assess the cannabis consultant’s knowledge of the industry:
When meeting with a cannabis consultant, you should ask yourself:
- Does the consultant have a comprehensive understanding of the industry?
- Does the consultant know all relevant laws and regulations?
- Is he or she aware of all relevant business models (vertical integration, retail operations, etc.)?
- What kind of market information is available to him/her (traffic counts, demographic data)?
Check the canna consultant’s experience in specific areas of cannabis business and product development:
- You should check the consultant’s experience in specific areas of the cannabis business with the products or geographical region that you’re interested in
- Ask if they have worked with other cannabis businesses
- Ask what their past experience is in the cannabis industry
- Ask if they have worked with other businesses to help them get started
Cannabis Consultant: Permit & Business Planning Background:
You should choose a cannabis consultant who has the right background and expertise to help you get the necessary permits for your dispensary or production facility, make a business plan, find the best location for your cannabis business, and obtain financing options for your project.
Where to find the best canna consultants?
You can find the best cannabis consultants by looking online, in your local area and through directories or reviews.
Online: There are many websites that offer listings of cannabis consultants. These sites will offer a variety of information about each consultant such as their location, services offered, fees charged and contact details for the business itself. You can also read customer reviews from previous clients who have used their services before making your final decision on which consultant to go with.
Local: Another way is by using a directory or review site that lists all available Canna Consultants within your state/city/area so you can compare prices between them before deciding on who would be best suited for your needs!
How Cannabis License Experts can help?
At Cannabis License Experts, we provide you with the guidance to plan your cannabis business, acquire funding, navigate the legal requirements, and acquire the appropriate cannabis license for your operations. As the North American cannabis industry develops, more and more licensed producers will be needed to meet the demands of consumers.
Cannabis License Experts offers support from day one of starting your cannabis business, including strategic planning, floor plan preparation, site audits, SOPs, Preventive Control Plans (PCPs), and more.
Our Edibles Compliance division can provide you with a solid plan for your edibles business to help get your products on store shelves.
Contact us today to discover how we can license and legalize your cannabis business to meet federal or provincial regulations.
