How to Choose the Best SharePoint Consulting Company (2025)

Last Updated on August 8, 2024

Considering hiring a SharePoint consulting company?

In this guide, let’s talk about how you can possibly hire the best SharePoint consulting company out there.

Let’s get started.

1. Define your SharePoint Project Scope

Before reching out to SharePoint consulting companies, you must have a clear understanding of your project needs. 😅

If you’re not sure, here are some questions that can help you:

• What do you want to achieve with the SharePoint platform?
• Do you need integration with other systems?
• What’s your budget and timeline?
• How complex is the customization required?

The reason is simple:

You need to make sure that you find a SharePoint consulting firm that has the right expertise for your specific goals.

After you answer the questions above, I recommend you document your requirements in detail.

That can help you communicate your needs effectively to potential consultants. 🙂

2. Key Expertise and Experience

Now, you should be able to choose a SharePoint consulting services company with the right expertise and experience.

Some factors to consider:

• Do they have experience in your industry?
• What certifications do they hold?
• Can then handle both out-of-the-box and custom solutions?
• Do they offer end-to-end services?

If you’re confused with the first one, well, having prior experience in the field means they understand your unique needs.

The last one may be optional if you prefer the consultants to be able to support you from planning to post-implementation.

After reviewing these factors, ask for case studies or references that can demonstrate their ability to deliver similar projects.

3. Evaluate Customization Capabilities

Naturally, it’s important that you assess their ability to customize the platform according to your needs.

Some points to consider in a SharePoint consulting service:

• Do they offer custom development?
• Can they integrate SharePoint Online with other systems?
• How flexible are their solutions?

All these are important since unfortunately, not all projects can be achieved with standard features alone. 😣

This is why you need to make sure that they can build features beyond standard SharePoint solution capabilities if needed.

It’s also important that they can demonstrate past projects where they’ve successfully customized SharePoint.

4. Assess Communication and Collaboration

Since you would be working with SharePoint consultants, it’s important to check good communication and collaboration.

Some aspects to evaluate on potential SharePoint consulting firms:

• How do they communicate updates?
• Do they listen to your needs?
• Are they responsive?

As you know, regular and clear updates will keep you informed about the project’s status.

A good SharePoint consultant though should actively listen and understand your requirements before proposing solutions.

Consider these elements as they can influence how smoothly your project progresses and how well your needs are met.

5. Consider Training and Support Services

Training and support services can ensure that you can still effectively use and maintain the platform after SharePoint implementation.

Some key points to consider:

• Do they offer comprehensive training?
• Is ongoing support available?
• What are their support channels?

Continuous support is important, especially in helping address any issues that arise after deployment.

For the support channels, of course, you need to know how you can reach them for quick problem resolution. 😅

I recommend that you ask for details on the training programs and the type of support you can expect post-implementation.

6. Compare Pricing and Contract Terms

You know this already, but it’s important to compare pricing and contract terms carefully.

Some aspects to evaluate:

• What’s their pricing structure?
• Are there hidden costs?
• What are the contract terms?

At the very least, understand whether they charge a flat fee, hourly rate, or a retainer.

You may also need to look out for additional fees that may not be included in the initial quote. 😅

These factors will directly impact your budget and the overall value you receive, so take them seriously.

7. Evaluate Security and Compliance Expertise

Security and compliance are important in protecting your data and that your organization meets regulatory requirements.

Here are some points to consider:

• Do they follow best practices for SharePoint security?
• Are they knowledgeable about compliance requirements?
• What’s their approach to disaster recovery?

You must check that they understand and implement industry-standard security measures.

That means they must be familiar with regulations relevant to your industry, such as GDPR or HIPAA (if not, that’s a red flag).

Lastly, check if they have solid backup and recovery plans to protect your data in case of an accident.

Thoughtful Selection Process

It’s not about ticking boxes — it’s about finding a partner who truly understands your needs and can support your goals.

A thoughtful selection process like what I showed can help you build a long-term relationship that brings real value.

Anyway, if you have any questions about choosing the right consulting company, leave a comment.

For any business-related queries or concerns, contact me through the contact form. I always reply. 🙂