Best Boutique Consulting Firms

Which are the best small, mid-sized and specialist consulting firms to work for?

What is a boutique firm?

While there is no hard and fast definition, the term is generally understood within the consulting industry to refer to firms that are narrower in focus and smaller in size than the larger, generalist firms that can offer advice across a wide range of practice areas and industries. Thus, each of the firms on this ranking are specialists in their practice areas--some have, in fact, just one area of specialization, and all had fewer than 750 consultants at the time of publication.

Why work for a boutique?

There are many reasons why someone would choose to work for a boutique consulting firm over one of the larger competitors in the industry. For example, boutiques tend to offer better work-life balance opportunities. Some staff employees locally, as opposed to firms that operate on 100% travel models. And sometimes, it just comes down to specialization: if you're only interested in economics or public sector consulting, it might not make sense to work at a firm where you'll be expected to rotate through a variety of practice areas in your first two years.

Every year, we look at our consulting survey data from a number of angles, trying to find insights and takeaways about the consulting industry that we haven't seen before. One of those insights led directly to the creation of the Best Boutique Firms ranking--that when you compare responses of employees from large firms and those who work for boutiques, one major factor stands out: big firm consultants are much more likely to value the prestige of their organization than those who work for boutiques.

Interestingly, the remaining factors that motivate employees at the two groups of firms are almost identical and, when prestige is excluded, are also weighted almost identically.

As a result, we decided to examine our data from that perspective: to eliminate prestige as a concern, and simply rank the boutique firms based on the remaining factors that consultants identified as being important to them, weighted as closely as possible to their relative importance in our survey data. The result is this ranking, which is weighted as follows:

25% Culture
20% Satisfaction
20% Work-life balance
10% Ability to challenge
10% Compensation
10% Outlook
5% Promotion

As ever, our survey is only open to consultants who are currently employed at reputable firms in the industry. When rating quality of life issues, consultants are only permitted to rate their own firm. For prestige and practice area rankings, however, consultants are only allowed to rate competitors, and NOT their own firms.

2019 Best Boutique Consulting Firms

SCORE 9.612

2018 Rank 2

Putnam Associates

Over the last 30 years Putnam Associates has grown into a premier strategy consulting firm serving biopharmaceutical, biotechnology (cell, gene and tissue therapies), diagnostics, medical device, and related clients in the healthcare space. The...

Overview Survey Says Why Work Here Employee Reviews

SCORE 9.402

2018 Rank 1

Insight Sourcing Group

Founded in 2002, Insight Sourcing Group is a consulting firm that focuses exclusively on strategic sourcing and procurement. Led by alumni of some of the world's top consulting firms, including the likes of Accenture, Deloitte Around half of...

Overview Survey Says Employee Reviews

SCORE 9.151

2018 Rank 4

The Bridgespan Group

The Bridgespan Group is a global consulting firm that serves nonprofit organizations, NGOs and philanthropy by collaborating with mission driven leaders to break cycles of poverty and dramatically improve the quality of life for those in need....

Overview Survey Says Employee Reviews

SCORE 9.121

2018 Not Ranked

ghSMART

ghSMART was founded in 1995 by Geoff Smart.

Overview Survey Says Why Work Here Employee Reviews

SCORE 9.046

2018 Not Ranked

Cornerstone Research

In the increasingly complicated world of commercial litigation, attorneys often need help sifting through complex economic or financial issues. Cornerstone Research is the place they turn to for help. The firm has worked with top-tier law firms...

Overview Survey Says Why Work Here Employee Reviews

SCORE 9.033

2018 Rank 24

LeapPoint

We drive enterprise change through the delivery of innovative solutions. Whether your organization needs strategic insight or tactical support, we provide a thoughtful blend of resources that bring just the right mix of business acumen and...

Overview Survey Says Employee Reviews

SCORE 9.019

2018 Not Ranked

The Keystone Group

Founded in 1991, The Keystone Group is a management consulting firm that works with mid-market manufacturing and distribution clients to develop and execute strategy, improve operations, restructure finances, and integrate acquisitions.

Overview Survey Says Employee Reviews

SCORE 8.914

2018 Rank 6

Ignyte Group

Founded in 2014, Ignyte Group is a management and digital experience consultancy located in the heart of Washington, DC - named among the city's best companies to work for in 2017 by Washingtonian Magazine. Formed by former Big Four consultants,...

Overview Survey Says Why Work Here Employee Reviews

SCORE 8.908

2018 Rank 7

Eagle Hill Consulting

Billing itself as a "family-run, woman-owned company," Eagle Hill Consulting serves clients in four distinct sectors: financial services; public service; media, technology and entertainment; and health and life sciences. With offices in...

Overview Survey Says Why Work Here Employee Reviews

#10

SCORE 8.890

2018 Rank 8

Health Advances, LLC

The professionals at Health Advances consult about one thing and one thing only: health care. Established in 1992, the firm's core belief is that focusing on just one industry allows it to provide clients with greater resources and focused...

Overview Survey Says Why Work Here Employee Reviews

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