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More About This Title The New Consultant's Quick Start Guide: An ActionPlan for Your First Year in Business
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An action plan for working as a consultant
Management consulting is a $250 billion industry and growing at a rate of over four percent annually. Many predict that more than 40 percent of the U.S. workforce will soon be contingent, freelance, or consulting members of the workforce—making this book more relevant than ever.
Individuals become independent consultants out of necessity or preference: necessity because they lost their job or the company offered an attractive exit package; preference because they want a career change, more control over their time, or an enriched, varied work situation. Consulting also appeals to the Millennial workforce who are searching for careers that offer a good salary as well as meaningful work. The New Consultant’s Quick Start Guide:
• Serves as a companion to The New Business of Consulting
• Provides you with a place to plan your transition into consulting
• Helps you identify your niche, develop a business plan, charge what you’re worth, and create a marketing strategy to ensure a steady stream of clients
• Prepares you for changes you will encounter beyond your professional life, including social, family, and financial aspects
The New Consultant’s Quick Start Guide helps you work through the challenges of consulting such as working alone, deciding on necessary insurance coverage, finding your first clients, struggling with cash flow, and understanding market trends.
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Acknowledgments
Introduction to the New Consultant’s Quick Start Guide
1. First Things First: Why Consulting?
Chapter Overview
Consulting: What Is It?
Why a Consulting Career?
Explore Your Experiences
Inventory Your Competencies
Assess Your Consulting Aptitude
Pull It Together: Your Initial Consulting Focus
Entrepreneur Attitude: Do You Have What It Takes?
Quick Start Action: Questions to Ask a Consultant
Quick Start Lists
2. Planning Your Consulting Future
Chapter Overview
Your Preferred Future
Will Consulting Lead You to Your Life Goals?
Professional and Personal Considerations
Identify the Changes You Will Need to Make
Quick Start Action: Create Your Personal Expense Plan
Quick Start Lists
3. Dollars and Sense
Chapter Overview
Establish a Start-Up Budget
Put a Price on Your Head
Calculate Required Revenue
Quick Start Action: Setting Your Fee
Fill Out Financial Forms
So What’s It Take to Get off the Ground?
Quick Start Lists
4. Taking Care of Business
Chapter Overview
Getting Started
What’s in a Name?
Hire the Best Accountant and Attorney
Quick Start Action: Find an Accountant and Attorney
Determine Your Business Structure
Explore Your Banking and Insurance Needs
Check Local Zoning Laws, Licenses, and Taxes
File Legal Documentation
Quick Start Action: Your First To-Do List
Quick Start Lists
5. Your Business Plan
Chapter Overview
Are Business Plans Really Necessary?
Write Your Plan
Plan to Use Your Business Plan
Quick Start Action: Plan a Review
Quick Start Lists
6. Make the Switch Painlessly
Chapter Overview
Gain Consulting Experience Before Leaving Your Job
Determine Your Transition Plan
Quick Start Action: Plan with Your Family
Quick Start Lists
7. Setting Up Your Office—or Not
Chapter Overview
Office Location Options
Set Up Your Office
Paper, Paper Everywhere!
What About a Website?
Quick Start Action: The App Age
Quick Start Lists
8. Finding Clients
Chapter Overview
Determine Your Market Niche
Quick Start Action: Is There a Client Base?
Who’s Your Competition?
Identify Your First Clients
Land Your First WorkQuick Start Action: make a Sale to Solve a Problem
Quick Start Lists
9. Marketing
Chapter Overview
What Is Marketing?
The ABCs of Marketing
Create Your Marketing Plan
Build Your Marketing Plan
Marketing on a Shoestring Budget
Quick Start Action: Grab Attention with Your Headlines
Write Winning Proposals
Track Your Clients
Tips to Become a Better Marketer
Quick Start Lists
10. Surviving the First Year
Chapter Overview
Take Care of Your Health
Manage Your Time
Establish Good Business Habits
Delight Your Clients
Balance Your Life
Did You Hear the One About the Consultant . . . ?
Quick Start Lists
11. So, Now What? Year Two and Beyond
Chapter Overview
Assess Your Progress
Quick Start Action: Review Your First Year with Your Family
Plan Your Next Steps
Bring It All Together
ebb’s 13 Truths to Ponder
Quick Start Action: Review Your First Year with a Colleague
Quick Start Lists
Electronic Resources
Reading List
About the Author
Index
