So you are probably reading this with eager enthusiasm as to get your consulting business off the ground, rocking and rolling, and making a profit. Guess what. It's never that easy to start ANY business. There are certain things to keep in mind way before you even start your career as a consultant. It is important to identify the following areas of concern: your niche in a specific industry, special permits and/or certifications you will need, networking and establishing connections, organization and administration, and goal-setting.
Don't just answer the questions with the best possible answer, like "Of course I have skills and everyone wants them." Take the vantage point of a third-party. Imagine how a close friend would answer these questions about you. Get as close to an unbiased standpoint as possible and it will make life a lot easier down the road. If the answers to some of the questions have a negative connotation, you still have time to gain the skills before you jump into starting a consulting business.
When starting a consulting business, just like any other business, it is important to identify your niche. For instance, someone who has never worked in the restaurant industry should probably stay away from restaurant consulting. Consultants are required to have vast knowledge and experience. So, find your own individual niche. There are plenty to choose from.
Secondly, figure out if your industry of choice will require any special permits or certifications to do business. Check on both the local level, the state level, and the federal level. In some circumstances, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out that starting a consulting business may be easier than you once thought!
Networking is a necessitynot a luxury. You will be the new guy on the block. Consulting will be your way of life. You should make it that way. No one is going to sell your services for you, unless you hire them to do so, except for you and your referrals. Customer service and referrals aside, you are the driving force for gaining clients and/or customers. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and make the connections.
Another important aspect to consider is organization. Running a consulting business can be extremely taxing, if you are unorganized. So, take a quick review of your organizational skills. Is your house neat and tidy? Is your desk organized and ready to rock? If so, great - you still have a lot of work to do in planning, scheduling, finishing tasks in a timely manner, and conducting prompt follow-up. Administration and organization are key areas of concern for consultants in any industry.
Lastly, identifying your goals and being able to see them through to fruition is a trait that most people lack. Being able to put a bucket-list together is fairly easy, but being able to really identify where you want your business to be five years from now is not. All goals should be SMART, meaning, they should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive. Just saying that you would like to do more consulting down the road is not good enough. You need to visualize where you want your consulting business to be from a 30k foot vantage point. Then, work your way backwards. Figure out what it is going to take to get there and be prepared to do the work.
Getting a consulting company up and running is extremely challenging, much like getting any business up and running really. If you take the previous items into account before launching your brand new consulting business, you will have a lot higher chance for success than if you didn't.
Don't just answer the questions with the best possible answer, like "Of course I have skills and everyone wants them." Take the vantage point of a third-party. Imagine how a close friend would answer these questions about you. Get as close to an unbiased standpoint as possible and it will make life a lot easier down the road. If the answers to some of the questions have a negative connotation, you still have time to gain the skills before you jump into starting a consulting business.
When starting a consulting business, just like any other business, it is important to identify your niche. For instance, someone who has never worked in the restaurant industry should probably stay away from restaurant consulting. Consultants are required to have vast knowledge and experience. So, find your own individual niche. There are plenty to choose from.
Secondly, figure out if your industry of choice will require any special permits or certifications to do business. Check on both the local level, the state level, and the federal level. In some circumstances, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out that starting a consulting business may be easier than you once thought!
Networking is a necessitynot a luxury. You will be the new guy on the block. Consulting will be your way of life. You should make it that way. No one is going to sell your services for you, unless you hire them to do so, except for you and your referrals. Customer service and referrals aside, you are the driving force for gaining clients and/or customers. You have to be willing to put yourself out there and make the connections.
Another important aspect to consider is organization. Running a consulting business can be extremely taxing, if you are unorganized. So, take a quick review of your organizational skills. Is your house neat and tidy? Is your desk organized and ready to rock? If so, great - you still have a lot of work to do in planning, scheduling, finishing tasks in a timely manner, and conducting prompt follow-up. Administration and organization are key areas of concern for consultants in any industry.
Lastly, identifying your goals and being able to see them through to fruition is a trait that most people lack. Being able to put a bucket-list together is fairly easy, but being able to really identify where you want your business to be five years from now is not. All goals should be SMART, meaning, they should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-sensitive. Just saying that you would like to do more consulting down the road is not good enough. You need to visualize where you want your consulting business to be from a 30k foot vantage point. Then, work your way backwards. Figure out what it is going to take to get there and be prepared to do the work.
Getting a consulting company up and running is extremely challenging, much like getting any business up and running really. If you take the previous items into account before launching your brand new consulting business, you will have a lot higher chance for success than if you didn't.
About the Author:
Still wondering how to really get your consulting business up and going? You should visit Vantage Point Consulting Columbus Ohio where you can get some more great tips. Vantage Point consulting Inc Columbus Ohio offers sales, marketing, and start-up advice to entrepreneurs!
