Starting Your Own Consulting Business
Starting your own consulting business can be very rewarding, but it can be the most challenging time of your life. Depending on where you are in your consulting career, you may already have clients to take with you, therefore you have business right away. If you are starting a consulting firm from scratch, give yourself 6 months in order to get some business going.
6 Month Time line
If at all possible before you get started as a consultant, plan ahead and start marketing as soon as you make the decision, so when you leave your job you have a good transition.
If you are starting from scratch it can take up to 6 months, so plan your expenses accordingly.
This can be cut down dramatically if you start working at night or on the weekends towards your goal of becoming a consultant.
Industry Contacts
Whatever industry you choose to service try to make as many contacts as possible. Since most consulting jobs are done by word of mouth, you can get a head start on others.
Rule of 5
Everyday you should try and do at least 5 things to bring in new business. This could be phone calls, mailings, emails, etc.
It takes time and effort to build momentum in your marketing machine and once you do get that momentum, be sure to keep it up.
It is always best to turn away offers, than to have nothing.
Establishing Fees
Many times just being offered that first consulting job we want to take it regardless of the fee offered. If you have been reading this blog, you know I made this mistake in the past.
Although you are starting out, please do not underestimate how much time it takes to complete a job, and how much money your time is worth.
