Salesforce Implementation Consultant Hiring Guide for 2024

How to hire a Salesforce implementation consultant. Our complete guide to finding a consultant, Salesforce implementation checklist, costs, timelines, and more.

What is Salesforce Implementation?

Salesforce implementation is the process of setting up Salesforce. Salesforce is powerful out of the box. But to maximize its potential you need to customize it to fit your company's needs. Proper Salesforce implementation is key to unlocking Salesforce's full potential.

3 Ways to Implement Salesforce

A successful Salesforce implementation needs to start with proper planning.

This doesn't simply mean designing and architecting the tool you want to use.

It requires a top-down look at your organization: current business systems utilization, internal Salesforce capabilities, business units impacted by this new technology, and ongoing resource allocation strategy.

Let’s look at three different ways to implement Salesforce.

Using the Internal Salesforce Team

Very few organizations can handle a new Salesforce implementation project without outside consultants.

However, there are established Salesforce Centers of Excellence that possess the digital transformation vision, the Salesforce architecture capabilities, and the hands-on resources (Administrators and Developers) needed to handle the actual build.
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That means either hiring full-time staff, or finding the right expert consultant for the job.
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But hiring a Salesforce implementation consultant is more complicated than many people realize. Especially if you have limited working knowledge of Salesforce. There are many different types of Salesforce products, and there’s also a lot of variation among Salesforce implementation consultants. You’ll be choosing between offshore and local, many skill sets and specializations, and between individual freelancers and partner consulting firms.

Engage a Salesforce Consulting Partner

Salesforce consulting partners are professional services organizations that are strategic partners to Salesforce. Particularly in helping companies implement Salesforce for the first time. Salesforce consulting partners are given a Consulting Partner Trailblazer Score that is based on a 1,000 point scoring system. Points are determined based on the partner’s ratings on customer success, innovation, and engagement. This system is meant to make sure that all Salesforce consulting partners are held to a quantifiable standard and represent the Salesforce brand well.
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It's worth noting that a lot of consulting partner's business comes from Salesforce directly. They also rely on them to help "co-sell" and acquire Customers to purchase additional Salesforce products. Also important to note that just because a company is a certified salesforce partner, it doesn't mean they focus specifically on new implementations. Partners focus on a wide range of Salesforce projects and it's important to evaluate their core capabilities to ensure alignment with your project goals.

Hire Independent Salesforce Consultants

A Salesforce contractor (or independent Salesforce consultant) is a professional available for hire whose skills and experience focus on Salesforce. These are usually individuals who can assist with Salesforce projects, but they are not directly connected to the Salesforce organization the same way as a consulting partner.
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These individuals work independently and consult directly with end customers, helping them to implement, support, maintain, or enhance their Salesforce instance. Often, Salesforce customers will use a contractor to help identify the right consulting partner, if needed, and then work as the project lead to oversee their work.

What do Salesforce Implementation Consultants Do?

Salesforce implementation consultants unlock the platform's potential for your business. They guide you through customizing and integrating Salesforce. Their goal is to make sure it fits your business. Here's a step-by-step look at what they do.

The Essence of Salesforce Implementation Consulting

These consultants guide your Salesforce journey. They digest your business goals. Then, they turn these goals into a Salesforce setup that meets your needs. They pick the right Salesforce products for you. Salesforce implementation consultants also configure them to match your business processes. This makes sure your CRM system is right for you.

Salesforce Consulting and Implementation: A Step-by-Step Overview

First, they dive deep into your business processes. Next, they create a detailed plan. This plan shows how Salesforce can improve your processes. Then, they customize Salesforce for you. They choose the right features and integrations. They don't stop after everything is in place though. They make sure everything works well. They also train your team. This helps you succeed in the long run.

Salesforce Implementation Costs

Understanding Salesforce implementation costs is key for your budget. There are fixed and variable costs. Here's a breakdown with examples to guide your Salesforce implementation planning.

Fixed Salesforce Implementation Costs

Fixed costs in Salesforce implementation are those that remain unchanged throughout the project. These include:

• Licensing Fees: Salesforce offers various licenses, depending on the edition and the number of users. For example, the Sales Cloud pricing can start at $25 per user per month for the Essentials edition.
• Basic Customization and Setup Fees: Some consultants offer packages that include basic setup and customization for a flat fee.
• Data Migration Fees: If you’re moving data from an existing CRM to Salesforce, some consultants offer this service for a fixed cost. That cost could vary depending on the data volume.

Knowing these fixed costs upfront allows for more accurate budgeting.

Variable Salesforce Implementation Costs

Variable costs depend on the project’s specifics and can change as the project evolves. Examples include:

• Customization: More complex work costs more. This depends on the hours needed.
• Training: Teaching your team to use Salesforce can vary in price. It depends on how much training you need.
• Apps: Adding Salesforce or third-party apps can add to the cost. Each app or integration has its own price.

Collaborating closely with your consultant will help manage and anticipate these costs.

Average Salesforce Implementation Cost

Costs vary a lot. They depend on your company's size and needs. They’ll also vary depending on who you hire. FoundHQs Salesforce consultants are about 60% the cost of a Consulting Partner. They charge between $85 to $185 an hour.
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The total cost of your implementation is really dependent on the time it takes. A simple use-case might just take a few weeks. Some Salesforce implementations take months.

How Salesforce Implementation Consultants Charge

Understanding how Salesforce implementation consultants charge helps you plan your project's budget. Here's a look at three common billing models.

Fixed-Cost Project Pricing

In this model, you pay a set price for the entire project. The consultant outlines the work, timeline, and total cost in a Statement of Work (SOW). This model is good for large projects because it gives cost certainty. But, it's less flexible. Changing your project's scope later can be difficult.

Pros: It's great for budgeting large projects. You know the cost upfront. Consultants work efficiently to deliver quality within the fixed price. This can offer good value.

Cons: There's a big deposit upfront, often 50% of the total cost. It's less flexible for changing project scopes or goals.

Monthly Retainer

This model suits ongoing Salesforce needs. It's like hiring in-house experts but outsourced. You pay a flat monthly fee for a set number of hours. This arrangement can offer a discount on standard hourly rates. But, if you don't use all your hours, you still pay the full fee.

Pros: It offers more flexibility than fixed pricing. You have expert help on call. Negotiating the monthly fee can save money versus hourly rates.

Cons: Unused hours waste money. Make sure you know your needs before committing. Unused hours usually don't roll over.

Hourly Rates

This model is very flexible. You pay for the hours worked, with no upfront commitment. It's common for freelancers. You can adjust the work hours as needed. But it's harder to predict the total project cost.

Pros: Greatest flexibility for customers. You pay only for the hours used at the end of each month.

Cons: Project costs are unpredictable until the invoice arrives. It might cost more than a retainer if the contractor has less income certainty. Projects aren't scoped upfront, which can add to the unpredictability.

Types of Salesforce Implementation Consultants

The title 'Salesforce Implementation Consultant' is a bit of a catch-all, so it's important to evaluate skill sets at a deeper level.

In short, a Salesforce implementation consultant leads the end-to-end discovery, design, and implementation of one or more new Salesforce products or platforms.

Most Salesforce implementations are highly complex projects requiring cross-disciplinary Salesforce consultants. Each brings a specific capability to the table during different phases of the project lifecycle.

A Salesforce implementation consultant will typically assume one of five main roles:

Salesforce Business Analyst Consultants

SalesforceBusiness Analysts are involved early on in the implementation process. They help gather requirements, document current processes, and translate those processes into the new technical solution. This is part of project discovery.

Salesforce Solution Architect Consultants

‍Salesforce Solution Architects come on board during the discovery phase and use the deliverables from their Business Analyst to design the deeper functionality needed. Similar to the Salesforce Business Analytics, Architects work closely with the business. They optimize their operations and make sure that end results align with future state goals in the short-term and long-term.

Salesforce Technical Architect Consultants

Salesforce ‍Technical Architects come from engineering backgrounds and deeply understand Salesforce's capabilities and technical limitations. The Technical Architect will collaborate with Salesforce Solution Architects to make sure their plans work and can be implemented.

Then, Technical Architects take these designs a step further by leading the actual project planning, scoping, and integration strategy. This individual will stay on board throughout the end-to-end project, typically overseeing the work of Salesforce Engineers during build.

Salesforce Administrators / Consultants

An Administrator or Consultant will do all of the hands-on work that involves point-and-click or declarative automation (i.e. flows). This includes setting up user profiles and permission and building out reports and dashboards. All-star Salesforce Admins might be kept on post-implementation to help lead change management, training, and all ongoing maintenance work.

Salesforce Developers

Salesforce Developers build all complex automations using Apex code. They create custom front-end experiences with Lightning Web Components and handle all custom integration work and use of APIs. Salesforce Developers are essential to any implementation because their capabilities are what help unlock the true potential of how companies can build custom solutions on top of Salesforce.

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Best Salesforce Implementation Consultants & Partners

The Salesforce community includes thousands of certified Salesforce partners, in addition to 30,000+ independent Salesforce consultants available globally. Understanding how to select the right consulting partner or Salesforce implementation consultant is a critical first step.

First and foremost, there is no one-size-fits-all Salesforce partner.

The best partner for implementing Marketing Cloud isn't going to be the best partner for implementing Salesforce CPQ.

One of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to engage with a consulting partner or hire an independent consultant. Each has the core competency to implement Salesforce; however, the way in which they operate alongside your team will differ greatly between these two options.

Hire a Salesforce Implementation Services: What to Look For

Here are some things to consider when looking for a Salesforce implementation consultant.

Salesforce Implementation and Consulting Services Offered

Salesforce implementation consultants should be experts in the Salesforce products you need. They should also have a strong track record with businesses like yours. For example, imagine  your focus is on enhancing customer service. You'd seek a consultant who has implemented Salesforce Service Cloud for companies like yours. They also need experience customizing it.

Salesforce Certification Status

Certifications show a consultant's dedication. But they’re not everything. Focus on their practical experience too. For example, a consultant with a Salesforce Sales Cloud certification is valuable. But their real-world experience matters more. Look for someone who can show how they have applied their skills.

Salesforce Support

Support after implementation is important. Good consultants offer support options. Some may offer troubleshooting when needed. Others might do regular system checks. Look for a consultant who solves issues proactively. Their approach to solving past client issues can guide you.

Reviews

Reviews give insights into a consultant's work. They show how reliable and skilled a consultant is. Look for reviews that mention specific benefits. For example, find a consultant praised for solving complex issues. Or one known for excellent project management.

Find a Salesforce Implementation Consultant

FoundHQ personally matches companies with Salesforce Consultants that meet the project's specific requirements. You tell us what you need, and we’ll handpick the right people from our community of over 3,500 pre-vetted, Certified Salesforce Consultants.

Get matched to a Salesforce Consultant today.

Checklist for Hiring a Salesforce Implementation Consultant

We’ve gone through a lot in this guide on hiring a Salesforce implementation consultant. To summarize things, here's a helpful checklist you can copy and paste to make sure your search goes well:

1. Know your goals.
2. Decide the Salesforce products you need.
3. Set your budget.
4. Choose between a consultant or a partner company.
5. Look for experience in your industry.
6. Check certifications. Remember, experience beats certifications.
7. Ask for past project examples.
8. Check reviews and references.
9. Plan for post-launch support.
10. Discuss their billing model. Fixed, hourly, or retainer?
11. Confirm they understand your business process.
12. Make sure they offer training for your team.
13. Ask how they handle project changes.
14. Find out their project management tools and methods.

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With this checklist, you’ll be well-equipped to find a Salesforce implementation consultant. Click this link to get matched with one today.