The New Consultant's Quick Start Guide

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.  

ELAINE BIECH is president of ebb associates inc, a strategic implementation, leadership development, and experiential learning consulting firm. Elaine has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Management Update, Investor's Business Daily, and Fortune. She is the author and editor of more than 85 books, including Training and Development for Dummies, and The New Business of Consulting.

PRAISE FOR THE NEW CONSULTANT'S QUICK START GUIDE ". . . all you need to become a successful independent consultant for the long haul!" --KEN BLANCHARD, coauthor of The New One Minute Manager and Leading at a Higher Level "Arguably the foremost authority on training consulting, Elaine. . . has produced a personal planning guide that will illuminate the path to consulting success." --DR. JIM KIRKPATRICK , coauthor of Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Training Evaluation How to create and grow your consulting business--a complete roadmap to success from one of the best-known consultants in the field The New Consultant's Quick Start Guide offers step-by-step instructions on how to successfully navigate the crucial first year of business--providing new and aspiring consultants with a framework to move into consulting, identify their niche, develop a business plan, and create a marketing plan. A blueprint for any consulting start-up, this guide: Answers the most common questions asked by new consultants: how much do I charge and how do I find clients? Explores the skills and attributes of successful consultants Offers specifics on developing a website, setting up your office, creating and writing business plans, and naming your business Defines the transition of becoming an entrepreneur and a successful consultant Biech also clearly shows how to overcome the challenges of getting your business off the ground: working alone, lack of administrative support and day-to-day routine. The New Consultant's Quick Start Guide is a useful companion to The New Business of Consulting and a must-have resource for anyone starting a consulting business in today's dynamic and competitive business environment.

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