Check out these tips for home-schooled students who are just beginning to navigate the college admissions process. https://www.collegeconfidential.com/articles/advice-for-a-home-schooler-starting-the-admissions-process/
Homeschool parents absolutely do not need to pay for an independent counselor, unless that counselor is affordable to them AND understands homeschooling- otherwise they could be detrimental. We had a professional counselor tell my daughter she had to take the GED to be accepted to college as a homeschooler, which was hogwash. We were also never asked for a list of books or curriculum used, and my daughter was applying to a range of schools, from public flagships to ivies.
This is no doubt true, although there are some top-tier schools that want a book list and course description list uploaded as part of the guidance counselor documents. So even though the student may not have to submit these things, the course description list may be requested of the counselor (which of course is the parent).