But before getting down to the nitty-gritty, you owe it to yourself to answer some fundamental questions. You got where you are because you're smart, tenacious, and competitive. If so, you are ready to hire a consultant, someone who will provide what you want, while guiding you to what you need. A contractor or a temp does the former, while a consultant does the latter. A contractor will run your accounting software on Tuesdays while a consultant will advise you on how to do your accounting better, cheaper, faster.
Consultants have a broader perspective and a larger mandate.
If you generally know what needs doing, and realize you will benefit from working with someone who will help you think outside the box, you want a consultant. Buying is short-term oriented. Hiring a consultant is about investing in your ability to compete. Define your goals. The more specific you are about the business goal you want to reach, the more likely your consultant can help you achieve your objective.