Consultants work in many different fields, such as marketing, marketing research, IT or information technology, auditing, tax preparation, writing, gardening and career counseling. You can start most consulting businesses with little investment, as the business is run mostly through personal contact and on a computer. As a consultant, you will help businesses solve problems in such areas as distribution and competitive analysis; or provide a necessary service to consumers. You can take specific steps to become a successful consultant.
Instructions
1.Choose what type of consulting services you will offer. Contact other consultants and get the going rate for the types of consulting services you are offering.
2.Set the prices for your various consulting services. Divide your services up into different functions, then price each function accordingly. Set an hourly consulting fee, for example, then tack on separate price points for surveys, reports and other end products you provide to clients. Put the services and prices in your brochure.
3.Write a business plan that summarizes the types of clients or customers you are targeting. List a specific industry in which you are targeting if you plan to specialize in a particular area. Include the characteristics of the consumers you want to attract, such as families who need investment or tax consultation. Write down your first-year financial sales and profit goals down in the business plan. List the methods you will use to finance your business in your business plan.
4.Contact your county or city administration office to determine what business licenses you need for your particular area. File for a DBA or "doing business as" which is required if you create a specific name for your business.
5.Create a website for you consulting business. Hire a web designer if you need help creating a more professional website that rivals other consulting firms.
6.Contact past business associates or agencies with which you worked. Tell them you are in the consulting industry. Call businesses in your area they can use your consulting services. Make appointments to see people that may have projects available for you. Leave copies of your business cards and brochures.
7.Advertise in the business section of your local newspaper and yellow pages. Place your yellow pages advertisement in both the print and online versions of the publication. Promote your consulting business in trade publications that your clients are most likely to read, especially if you want to expand into other cities. Place online ads in major search engines like Yahoo, Google, Lycos and Alta Vista. Join professional organizations related to your profession and offer to speak at one of the luncheons.
8.Submit a written price quote or bid for each client that needs a project completed. Tell each client, when you win a bid, the time frame for all tasks and services. Organize your schedule by specific tasks so you complete them all on time.
9.Hire employees to handle clerical work and incoming business calls as your business grows, according to Entrepreneur.com. Add employees to manage projects and keep clients apprised of their projects' status.
10.Prepare your income taxes on a semi-annual or quarterly basis. Report your profits and expenses on "Schedule C" which is published by the Internal Revenue Service. Take the home office deduction if you are regularly performing work from home.
Tips & Warnings
Continue advertising your business on a regular basis. Include samples of your work and testimonials on your web site. Testimonials are positive comments from satisfied customers that can impress businesses that are considering your consulting services. Make sure you have written documents of testimonials on file before using them.
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