Any growing business ultimately learns this lesson: you can't do everything yourself.

Eventually, you have to relinquish a bit of control and resign yourself to depending on the expertise of outsiders. Whether you're installing computer equipment, embarking on a new marketing campaign, or designing your web site, it's often best to stick to what you do best and pay experts to do what they do best.

But finding the right consultant can take a bit of digging, perhaps even more than when buying equipment. But keep in mind that it's far easier to return a nonworking printer than to turn back the clock on a project. To help ensure the right fit, there are a number of areas to explore with any consultants you consider.