What is the best way to get started in consulting? What would you have done differently if you were to do it all over again?

The best way to get started as a consultant is to leave your existing firm in good terms and use them as your first client. Most consultants have gotten their start this way. If I was to do things all over again I would of hired another person right away I was swamped with too many administrative things and not drumming up enough business.

I would of been better prepared i.e. get my website and logo put together consulting contracts, technology etc. when you start getting business it is much more difficult to do that and spend the time that you would like.

I when you first start out you never think that anything takes too long and then you find out that it takes a lot longer because you are tied up doing other things.

The best thing that you can do to get started is to write a business plan. I am amazed at how many consultants who get paid to write other companies business plans do not write one of their own.

But how often do you look at or refer to your business plan? Frankly, I think they are good if you are looking for funding or you have more than a hand full of employees who need "direction", but we are just two guys and we know exactly the market we are going after. And even at the large companies I worked for in the past, the business plan was dated about 3 days after the ink dried. IMHO, consulting is probably one of the last businesses that needs a business plan.

I would have to disagree with you there.

Remember, a business plan includes things such as a marketing plan. I would think that for some types of consulting businesses a marketing plan would be vital. Especially if you are just starting out on your own, not having come from a consulting business, you will need to market yourself pretty heavily. How will you do that? What about advertising?

What about your competition? A business plan contains information about your competition and how you plan to differ and improve on what is already out there.

It's one thing to have ideas and plans in your head, and quite another to put it down on paper. It forces you to see your ideas in detail and determine the best way to proceed.

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Sylvia
http://smallbusinessstartup.BIZ
Small Biz Startup & Business Plan Help