Consulting For Dummies

by Nelson, Bob; Economy, Peter

• ISBN13: 9780470178096
• ISBN10: 0470178094
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-05-05
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

"Refreshingly irreverent and lucidly written...go for it whether you're a wannabe or an old pro!" - James H. Kennedy, Founder, Consultant News, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies."Whether you are a novice consultant or a pro, Consulting For Dummies coaches you to outstanding success. It is crammed with practical, proven tips and techniques to attract clients and to deliver a quality project profitably while having fun." - Bradley Zehner II, Ph.D., Professor, Pepperdine University , and Founder, Zetec, Strategy and Marketing Consulting, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies."This book is a revelation - a must read." - Ken Shelton, Editor, Executive Excellence, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies.Product Description So you want to be a consultant? If you have expertise people are willing to pay for and the motivation to work hard at this exciting and rewarding profession, Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition, supplies the rest. Newly revised - with lots more information for aspiring and established consultants alike - Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition is without a doubt the most current and comprehensive book available today on the art and business of consulting. In it, you'll find everything you need to set up your consulting business, generate demand for your services, create lasting solutions for your clients, and succeed!This friendly, practical, guide shows you how to get your business off the ground and running smoothly, with the latest on developing a marketable idea, running your home office, writing winning proposals, selling your services, and getting referrals. You'll find expert tips on setting fees, keeping track of time and money, and building a business with new clients, including the latest on using the Internet to market your services and make a name for yourself. Discover how to:Start a successful consulting business Build partnerships with clients Handle financial and legal issues Set your fees (including advanced pricing strategies) Write winning proposals Understand and develop solutions for client problems Make great presentations Negotiate contracts Promote your business Implement your recommendations and make them stick Practice the ABCs of selling Reward current clients for referrals Troubleshoot common consulting issues Take your consulting business to the next levelComplete with savvy tips on how to improve cash flow, find new clients, and increase your business with existing clients Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition, helps you get your business up and running fast. And if you've already got an established consulting business, Consulting For Dummies, 2 nd Edition, helps you take your business to the next level - building your client base and increasing your bottom line. From the Back Cover The fun and easy way to turn your expertise into incomeThis practical, friendly guide shows you how to get your business off the ground and running smoothly, with the latest on developing a marketable idea, running your home office, writing winning proposals, selling your services, and getting referrals. You get expert tips on setting fees, keeping track of time and money, and building business with new clients. So whether you're a novice looking for your first client or an experienced consultant searching for new techniques to build your business, you'll find the answers here!Disco

Author Biography

Bob Nelson (San Diego, CA) is founder and president of Nelson Motivation, Inc., a management training and consulting firm based in San Diego, California. As a practicing manager and a best-selling author, he is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of employee recognition, rewards, motivation, morale, retention, productivity, and management. He is author of the bestselling book 1001 Ways to Reward Employees (Workman) — which has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide — and coauthor of the best-selling book Managing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, with Peter Economy (Wiley), as well as 18 other books on management and motivation.
Bob has been featured extensively in the media, including television appearances on CNN, CNBC, PBS, and MSNBC; radio appearances on NPR, USA Radio Network and the Business News Network; and print appearances in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and many more. He writes a weekly column for American City Business Journals and a monthly column for Corporate Meetings & Incentives, among others.
Dr. Nelson received his PhD in management from The Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management Center of Claremont Graduate University in suburban Los Angeles, and received his MBA in organizational behavior from The University of California at Berkeley. For more information on products and services offered by Nelson Motivation, Inc. — including speaking or consulting services — call 800-575-5521. Visit Bob at his Web site: www.nelsonmotivation.com.

Peter Economy (La Jolla, CA) is a freelance business writer and publishing consultant who is associate editor of the Apex award-winning magazine Leader to Leader, and coauthor of the best-selling book Managing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, with Bob Nelson (Wiley), Giving Back with Bert Berkley (Wiley), The SAIC Solution with J. Robert Beyster (Wiley), as well as the author or coauthor of more than 30 other books on a wide variety of business and other topics. Visit Peter at his Web site: www.petereconomy.com and be sure to check out his Free Book Project at: www.booksforfree.org.

Table of Contents

Introduction

So You Want to Be a Consultant

Introducing the Wonderful World of Consulting

Determining Whether Consulting Is Right for You

Taking the Plunge into Consulting (Or at Least Getting Your Feet Wet)

Getting Your Consulting Business Off the Ground

Setting Up Your Consulting Firm

Getting a Grip on Legalities, Finances, and Ethics

Setting Your Fees

The Short Course in Consulting

Defining the Problem and Writing a Winning Proposal

Collecting the Client Data You Need

Problem-Solving and Developing Recommendations

Tell It Like It Is: Presenting Your Recommendations

Implementation: Making Your Prescriptions Stick

Selling Your Consulting Services

The ABCs of Selling

Getting the Word Out: Promoting Your Business

Building Business and Referrals through Current Clients

Building Business with New Clients

Taking Care of Business

Contracting for Business: It's a Deal!

Keeping Track of Your Time and Money

Communicating Your Way to Success

Troubleshooting Common Consulting Issues

Taking Your Consulting Business to the Next Level

Building on Your Success

Advanced Pricing Strategies

Enhancing Your Image and Reputation

The Part of Tens

Ten Ways to Improve Your Cash Flow

Ten Effective Marketing Strategies for New Business

Ten Ways to Build Business with a Client

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.