
Guidepoint offers expert consulting services for businesses and individuals, leveraging their global network of experts to provide tailored solutions.
Their services range from market research and due diligence to expert testimony and strategic consulting.
Guidepoint's team of experts has the ability to provide high-quality research and consulting services across a wide range of industries and topics.
Their services can help businesses make informed decisions and mitigate risks.
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Consulting Services
Guidepoint offers a range of consulting services beyond phone calls, including teleconference meetings for broader insight delivery.
They also provide surveys, data products, and legal services, although phone calls are what they're often known for.
You can expect to be compensated for consultations you're selected to participate in, and screening questions are part of their qualification process to ensure clients connect with the right expert.
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Unprofessional to Experts
Guidepoint's reputation has taken a hit from some experts who claim the company is unprofessional. This is a concern that should be taken seriously.
A senior executive and top expert had their account deactivated without explanation, sparking accusations of unethics from the expert. Guidepoint's response was to clarify that screening questions are part of their qualification process to ensure clients connect with experts whose experience matches their specific needs.
These questions are not used as free research, but rather to increase the likelihood of being chosen for a paid consultation. However, not being selected can be frustrating, and experts may feel like they're not being valued.
Guidepoint acknowledges that not being selected can be frustrating, but assures experts that their responses are still considered for future projects.
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Consulting Services
Guidepoint offers a range of consulting services, from phone consultations to teleconference meetings and even legal services. They work with a variety of clients, including consulting firms, corporations, and law firms.
Phone consultations are a mainstay of Guidepoint's services, and they can last anywhere from an hour to much longer. Clients will steer the conversation, but consultants must comply with Guidepoint's strict rules regarding information disclosure.
Guidepoint has conservative compliance guidelines in place to avoid legal or ethical breaches. Advisors are instructed to decline invitations to consult about their current employer, but can discuss suppliers or customers if there's no confidentiality agreement.
You'll be compensated per minute for your time, so try to keep the knowledge flowing. If the call goes longer than an hour, so be it – you'll still get paid.
Legitimate Services, No Free Trials
Guidepoint is a legitimate consulting service, but it's not a free trial. They have a pool of consultants like the reviewer who have been members for years, but don't get many consultations.
The reviewer contacted Guidepoint with feedback, and their reply was a standard text without direct connections to the input. This suggests that Guidepoint might not always be responsive to individual concerns.
Guidepoint's intake form is somewhat detailed, which is understandable given their clients need to gather an understanding of whether the consultant is a true fit. However, the reviewer's experience with multiple requests for the same topic raises questions about the service's efficiency.
The reviewer received three requests for the same topic, each with slightly amended intake questions and new, more detailed questions added. This is hard to believe isn't related and not glued together to get a full picture of the situation.
Guidepoint's consultant experience wasn't always positive for the reviewer, who requested twice to be removed from their mailing lists but still receives requests. This suggests that Guidepoint's communication can be inconsistent.
Timeline
Guidepoint has been a major player in the consulting services industry for over two decades. Founded in 2003 in New York City as Clinical Advisors, the company has undergone significant growth and transformation over the years.
Here's a brief timeline of Guidepoint's major milestones:
- 2003: Founded in New York City as Clinical Advisors
- 2007: Rebranded as Guidepoint Global
- 2009: Acquired Vista Research, a pioneering expert network, for $10-15m
- 2009: Opened its first European office in London
- 2011: Mentioned in relation to an insider trading case, but not accused of any wrongdoing
- 2012: Expanded into Mainland China with Guidepoint Shanghai
- 2015: Acquired Innosquared, a German expert network, and transformed it into a consulting-only office in Düsseldorf
- 2018: Launched Guidepoint Insights, a product similar to Forum offered by Third Bridge
- 2018: Launched QSight, a quant data product for the healthcare sector
- 2021: Announced its database had reached 1 million experts and established offices in Athens and Shanghai
- 2022: Agreed to pay $4.4m in two separate lawsuits concerning overtime compensation to over 500 former employees
- 2022: Opened its first India office in Mumbai
- 2023: Laid off its entire German team of around 60 people
- 2024: Announced it had 4,500+ clients and 1.5m+ experts, the largest expert database in the industry.
Potential Issues
Regulatory issues can arise in the expert network industry, as seen in 2010 when an expert allegedly gave confidential information to a third party, leading to a strong regulatory focus on the industry.
Guidepoint was mentioned in insider trading complaints, but its compliance procedures protected it from accusations of wrongdoing.
The expert network industry is highly competitive, with over 800,000 highly qualified advisors working in over 190 countries, making it challenging to stand out and secure projects.
Consulting Downsides
Consulting for Guidepoint can be a competitive business, with over 800,000 highly qualified advisors vying for projects.
You won't have a regular job with guaranteed hours, so be prepared for a feast or famine situation, where you might go months without a project and then get hit with multiple gigs in a short period.
It can be frustrating if your proposals aren't getting replies, but consultants with the most success are those who adapt and keep trying.
Some consultants might not land enough projects, even if they're getting matched and submitting proposals, which can lead to negative reviews on Glassdoor.
Others love the experience, despite wishing there were more work available.
Insider Trading Issue
In 2010, there were allegations of insider trading related to an expert network service provider.
Guidepoint, a prominent firm in the industry, was mentioned in complaints but its compliance procedures protected it from accusations of wrongdoing.
Charges were not brought against Guidepoint, demonstrating its ability to operate within regulatory boundaries.
The expert network industry received a strong regulatory focus following these allegations, highlighting the importance of compliance in this sector.
Guidepoint's vetting process and training program for subject matter experts help ensure they operate within the law and maintain high standards of professionalism.
Business Model
Guidepoint operates as a matchmaking service, connecting its users to recruited experts in the field they are looking to learn more about. These experts are categorized into six main industry sectors.
The company offers subscription-based services, including hourly phone consultations, in-person events, teleconferences, surveys, and custom research reports. A monthly healthcare data offering called Guidepoint TRACKER is also available, featuring data on market share in the therapeutics and medical device sectors.
According to Integrity Research, Guidepoint has a network of over 1,000,000 experts, making it the second-largest expert network.
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Business Model
Guidepoint operates as a matchmaking service, connecting clients to recruited experts in specific industry sectors.
The company has a vast network of over 1,000,000 experts across six main industry sectors: Healthcare, Financial and Business Services, Consumer Goods and Services, Energy and Industrials, Tech, Media, and Telecom, and Legal and Regulatory.
Services are subscription-based, offering a range of options including hourly phone consultations, in-person events, and teleconferences.
Guidepoint's services also include surveys, custom research reports, and a monthly healthcare data offering called Guidepoint TRACKER.
Guidepoint TRACKER features data on market share in the therapeutics and medical device sectors, such as the US Breast Implant market.
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Revenue Estimate

Guidepoint's revenue is difficult to assess, but we can make some educated estimates based on available data. The company does not publish financials, and has shared few estimates in the media.
In October 2020, Guidepoint announced its database contained 770,000+ experts, doing "3,500+ interactions" per week. This would translate to annual revenue of $140-182m, assuming the typical Guidepoint interaction costs ~$1,000 and there are 40-52 weeks of business per year.
The term "interactions" could mean many things, making this range shaky. Most interactions are interviews, but Guidepoint also does some longer engagements (more $/engagement), and lots of quick surveys (less $/engagement).
In April 2022, Guidepoint said it does "1,000+ daily interactions". This would mean they'd do 200-260,000 interviews at $1k each, resulting in $200-260m in revenue.
Estimating revenue/employee is slightly less biased. Guidepoint has a lower revenue/head than many large peers, given its low pricing.
Finding and Working with Guidepoint
Guidepoint connects clients with vetted subject matter experts from their global professional network.
You can expect to access new industries, get up to speed on trending topics, enable in-depth exploration of critical subjects, and offer validation of qualitative insights.
Guidepoint facilitates over 1,000 paid consultations every day across the globe from their 19 offices.
To increase your chances of being chosen for a consultation, you can answer screening questions, which are optional but help clients determine if you're the right fit.
As an expert, you can expect to carry out at least one consultation per month, and payment will be prompt and hassle-free.
Guidepoint has a multinational client list that includes top consulting firms, hedge funds, private equity firms, and Fortune-ranked public companies.
The company takes accusations of racism extremely seriously and categorically rejects this claim, highlighting their commitment to diversity and inclusivity.
Guidepoint is a global organization with over 1,600 employees across 19 offices on 4 continents, and their network of experts includes 1.75 million+ advisors spanning nearly every country and culture in the world.
If you have concerns, you can reach out to Guidepoint directly at [email protected].
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get paid by Guidepoint?
You'll be paid based on your agreed consulting fees, prorated by the number of full minutes completed in a consultation. Payments are made as per your customary consulting fees, with no additional costs or surprises.
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