Frequently Asked Questions

IndusGuru is India’s leading Online Curated Business Network, helping organizations identify and engage independent experts and consultants to drive growth and performance.

IndusGuru connects Independent / Freelance expert consultants with organizations that need them, for consulting projects, advisory roles and flexible/short term roles on contract while offering independent professionals high-quality opportunities to leverage their experience.

IndusGuru is a Platform that helps companies find and use consultants and experts to solve critical business challenges through short-duration project assignments. IndusGuru makes it easy for our client users to post, find best-fit experts and consultants, and execute short-term Strategy, Finance, Marketing, Operations, HR and Technology projects at very competitive price points. Assignments can last a few days or a couple of months. IndusGuru connects businesses to high quality consultants and experts at a price point they can afford.

IndusGuru Network Partners LLP is led by a management team with over 100 years of collective experience in global consulting and technology firms.
Deepak Malkani - A Career Spanning 27+ years in management consulting, leading and growing diverse consulting practices in Accenture and PwC.
Shanu Malkani - A seasoned client-service leader in leading companies - Siemens Information Systems and Accenture, Shanu has 24+ years of experience in Technology Consulting.
IndusGuru is promoted by IndusGuru Network Partners LLP, a team who has between them more than five decades of experience in the management and technology consulting industry, in leading global consulting firms.

IndusGuru is promoted by IndusGuru Network Partners LLP. The Management team has between them more than ten decades of experience in the management and technology consulting industry, in leading global consulting firms.

IndusGuru connects Independent / Freelance expert consultants with organizations that need them, for consulting projects, advisory roles and flexible/short term roles on contract. The IndusGuru will mark-up the consultant charges before quoting the charge to the client. The percentage of mark-up varies from client to client.

IndusGuru focuses on the following domains:

• Strategy
• Finance
• HR & Organization
• InfoTech & Digital
• Sales & Marketing
• Operations

IndusGuru operates across a wide range of industries (30+), helping clients find expert consultants in sectors such as: Manufacturing, Engineering, FMCG, Pharma, BFSI, Technology, and Startups. It focuses on providing expert talent across key business domains, regardless of the industry.

Monetize your professional skill set when and where you want to without having to spend significant time in business development. Access and bid for a wide range of assignments when clients need them. Network with your professional peers.

Independent consultants, domain experts, boutique firms, freelancers, and employed professionals (with necessary employer permissions) can apply. Experienced professionals and experts—including independent consultants, freelancers, boutique firms, and domain specialists—can empanel on the IndusGuru platform. Professionals must meet experience and qualification standards and pass IndusGuru’s vetting process.

Yes, you may register as an individual or on behalf of a company, partnership, trust, or HUF entity.

Submit your profile, resume, and two professional references. Undergo curation, background checks, and agreement to platform terms.

References verify experience and quality, helping IndusGuru maintain a high bar of credibility and professionalism.

After all required information and references are submitted, empanelment will be completed within a week.

Yes, employed professionals can register on IndusGuru, provided they have no restrictions from their current employer and can comply with all relevant company policies and contractual obligations.

Consultants register by submitting an online application and professional profile, including a resume and references. They must agree to IndusGuru’s terms and undergo a curation process involving profile assessment, background verification, and conflict-of-interest checks.

After submitting your application and references, the review and verification process typically takes 1-2 days or less. You will be notified once empanelment is approved.

Yes, consultants can register either as individuals or under the name of a company, partnership, trust, or other legal entity capable of entering into commercial agreements.

Consultants are curated through a rigorous process that includes:

• Review of professional experience and domain expertise
• Background verification (identity, employment, education)
• Checks for legal, regulatory, and employment-related conflicts

Providing professional references helps IndusGuru verify the consultant’s credentials, credibility, and past work experience. As a promise to IndusGuru’s clients, it also ensures the platform maintains a high standard of expert quality and professionalism.

No, IndusGuru does not guarantee any project assignments; it aims at establishing maximum connect points for clients and consultants. Project invitations depend on client requirements and consultant fit. Consultants have the flexibility to accept or decline opportunities as they arise.

Generally, the following types of projects are available with IndusGuru:

• Expert Advisory Calls
• Freelance Assignments
• Flexi-staffing (6–12 months)
• Fractional CXO roles
• SME Advisory
• Full-Time Employment (FTE)
• Full-Time Contracts (FTC)

Generally, the following types of professional services are available with IndusGuru:

• Expert Advisory Calls
• Freelance Assignments
• Flexi-staffing (6–12 months)
• Fractional CXO roles
• SME Advisory
• Full-Time Employment (FTE)
• Full-Time Contracts (FTC)

Projects range from hourly advisory calls and short-term freelance assignments to fractional CXO roles and full-time contract opportunities.

Consultants are selected either by the team handling the project (direct approach) or when projects are marked open with mailers being sent to the relevant consultants (indirect approach). Once interest is affirmed, an introductory call is set up with both the client and the consultant.

Yes, provided your schedule and deliverables allow, and it’s acceptable to the clients involved.

IndusGuru shares project opportunities through a two-fold process. When a project is marked as open, consultants with matching domains receive an email with project details and can express their interest. Simultaneously, the IndusGuru team may directly reach out to shortlisted consultants after conducting a curated search on the platform. Once interest is confirmed, client interactions are arranged.

Consultants propose rates based on scope and experience. IndusGuru also guides consultants if they are unaware about the prevailing industry standards and requests for the same. IndusGuru facilitates a fair negotiation process and closes at the best-fit rate for both the client and consultant.

We provide the very best business talent as soon as you need them, and you pay only when you use them for your assignments. We only permit Curated talent onto IndusGuru, and our standard terms and conditions ensure satisfaction and confidentiality.

The IndusGuru Platform can be used by different types of organizations:

• Large Corporates: Can use the IndusGuru platform to engage niche or specialised skills that they find hard to recruit or those that they need to engage for project assignments with short-lead times – through a competitive and transparent process.
• SME’s or Mid-Sized Organisations: Can use IndusGuru, to engage high quality experts and consultants for critical projects that they cannot afford to from large / brand-name consulting firms.
• Private Equity Firms: Can use IndusGuru to provide high-quality talent on demand, to add value to short term assignments in their investee firms.
• Consulting Organisations: Can use IndusGuru to access high-quality experts to add value to on-going projects in a targeted way.
• Not for Profit Organisations: Can use IndusGuru to access high-quality business talent that they would normally find difficult to attract and afford – to address strategic and capacity-building challenges. Our experts and consultants are keen to contribute to the social sector through their professional skills.

Clients can register through the IndusGuru portal, after which an associate/manager would personally reach out to complete the empanelment and cater to the client’s needs, or clients can also reach out directly to us via the IndusGuru phone number - +91 9372638163 or an individual SPOC.

Through the online form or directly with an IndusGuru associate who helps define scope and requirements.

Projects are created when a client submits a specific requirement, and the team ensures that all relevant details—such as the project description, duration, and the desired expert profile—are accurately filled in on the project page.

Beyond vetting and references, IndusGuru monitors ongoing consultant performance and client feedback to maintain quality standards.

Yes. If clients raise valid concerns, IndusGuru facilitates a smooth transition and provides suitable alternatives to replace the consultant.

During the project, IndusGuru support covers the following:

• Relationship management
• Scope clarification
• Conflict resolution
• Contracting, Billing & invoicing assistance

There are no platform charges to be paid by the consultant to register. For every project won by a consultant, as part of administrative expenses, IndusGuru charges a transactional fee of 1%, or INR 3,000—whichever is lower—per invoice.

Payments are routed via IndusGuru. Depending on payment schedules as defined in the agreement, IndusGuru raises an invoice to the client. Depending on the size & scale of the client, the client pays IndusGuru within a stipulated time frame ranging from 14-45 days, the latter being the case for the Big4 Consulting Firms. On receipt of the payments, the consultant raises an invoice to IndusGuru, who pays the consultants within a maximum of 7 days.

Yes, invoicing through registered firms or family/HUF entities is accepted. In case of an HUF, the expert should be the head (Karta), and the HUF PAN should be registered in their name.

Yes. Consultants must add 18% GST to the invoice amount where applicable.

Yes. A 10% TDS is applied, and certificates are issued quarterly.

It’s a platform facilitation fee capped at ₹3,000 per transaction or 1% of the invoice, whichever is lower.

IndusGuru also supports clients in recruiting full-time employees (FTEs), focusing exclusively on senior leadership and C-suite roles such as CEOs, CFOs, CHROs, and other executive-level positions.

Flexi-staffing is another service offered by IndusGuru, where experts are sourced for medium-term assignments—typically ranging from 6 months to a year—that demand the same level of commitment and effort as a full-time employee.

Expert Calls are the shortest form of engagement offered by IndusGuru, involving hour-long consultations to deep-dive into industry insights tailored to address specific client needs.

Fractional CXO service means hiring an experienced senior executive (like a CEO, CFO, CMO, etc.) to work with your company part-time or for a limited period, instead of full-time. It gives you high-level expertise without the cost of a full-time hire. Ideal for growing businesses that need strategic guidance but don’t yet need (or can’t afford) a full-time CXO.

Full-time employment refers to a long-term engagement where the expert works with the client on a daily basis as an integrated member of the team, beyond a short-term or project-based assignment.

Full-time contract refers to a fixed-term engagement where the consultant works with the client full-time—daily and exclusively—for a defined period, without being a permanent employee.

The following are the roles and responsibilities of IndusGuru:

• Curate and share relevant consulting opportunities with vetted consultants based on their expertise and interest.
• Empanel the consultants who are successfully curated.
• Send relevant project announcements to consultants.
• Forward consultant profiles to clients for matching projects.
• Help negotiate fees, terms, contracting, and billing cycles if needed.
• Support contracting, billing, and collection for consultants selected by clients.
• Step in to help resolve misunderstandings or issues around scope, deliverables, or payments if they arise.

The IndusGuru Team cannot guarantee:

• Providing touchpoints or interviews with clients (it’s the client’s prerogative).
• Finalizing consultants for projects (it’s the client’s prerogative).

The following are the roles and responsibilities of the consultants:

• Maintain an up-to-date, accurate profile and clearly indicate availability for new opportunities.
• Respond promptly to IndusGuru’s outreach regarding potential projects.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding client information and respect IndusGuru’s role as the intermediary.
• Refrain from bypassing IndusGuru to directly approach or contract with the client, as per agreed platform terms.

The following are the roles and responsibilities of IndusGuru:

• Understand the client’s business challenge, project requirements, timelines, and budget.
• Identify and recommend a shortlist of pre-vetted, relevant consultants from its network based on fit.
• Assist with documentation, agreements, and onboarding between the client and consultant.
• Maintain confidentiality of client information and ensure consultants follow required protocols.

The following are the roles and responsibilities of the client:

• Provide a clear and detailed project brief, including objectives, scope, timeline, budget, and required expertise.
• Review consultant profiles and proposals promptly, and share feedback or decisions to avoid delays.
• Share feedback with IndusGuru on the consultant’s performance and overall experience.
• Respect IndusGuru’s role as the facilitator and avoid bypassing the platform for direct engagement outside agreed terms.

Yes, IndusGuru facilitates the execution of formal contracts between the client and the consultant before the start of any engagement. These agreements clearly outline the scope of work, deliverables, timelines, confidentiality clauses, and commercial terms to ensure alignment and protect all parties involved.

The client makes all project-related payments directly to IndusGuru, as per agreed commercial terms. IndusGuru disburses the applicable fees to the consultant upon receipt of payment from the client, based on the agreed schedule. Monthly invoices are raised based on approved timesheets or upon completion of deliverables/milestones, including consultant charges and IndusGuru markup.

Yes, consultants can invoice IndusGuru through their registered company.

TDS certificates are issued every quarter.

This is a standard admin/transaction fee for billing, contracting, and invoicing support. The charge is capped at ₹3,000 per transaction or 1% of the invoice value, whichever is lower.

Absolutely. We encourage referrals and also offer a referral incentive program. View details here.

The referral fee varies by project and is specified on the referral program page:

• Expert Calls and SME Advisory: INR 8,000 for the first successful consultation within one year of empanelment.
• Long-term Flexi-Staffing (3 months or more) or Full-time Recruitment: INR 20,000 for successful deployment/onboarding within one year of empanelment.

Please refer to the referral terms and conditions.

IndusGuru follows industry-best practices for data security and confidentiality, ensuring your information is protected.

Maintaining your company's private data is our highest priority. We never reveal any information to our Business Experts and Consultants unless you, the client, have approved it first.