You should vet any potential IT consultants the same way you would an employee—ask for work experience and references, define their objectives, determine their availability, look at their online reviews, and inquire about their fixed or hourly rates. Legitimate IT consultants will have no problem providing you with this information in easy-to-understand language. Ones that are out for a profit or to swindle small business owners will object and use technical jargon to try to confuse you.