Making it as a business consultant

Contents

Chapter 1 – To boldly go: the consultancy journey

By the end of this chapter you should be able to:

· Gain an understanding of the consultancy business

· Explain what personal qualities are required in a consultancy role

· Be aware of the main issues that you should consider

Chapter 2 – On the launch pad: preparing the business

By the end of this chapter you should have:

· Researched and scoped your possible markets for your services

· Constructed your personal skills and expertise profile

· Completed a financial forecast including suitable for presentation to advisers, banks and support agencies

· Prepared your marketing approaches – eg website, and started to build your networks

· Identified the appropriate  name and format for your business

· Identified your first potential clients

Chapter 3 – Lift off: winning the business

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

· Refine your business proposition

· Understand and create the necessary and appropriate methods for approaching potential clients

· estimate and cost the project budget

· Create the various forms of tenders

· Construct proposals and specifications for assignments

· Identify specific niches and areas of opportunity that are difficult to find

· Develop and execute your action plan to win assignments and projects in your chosen marketplace

Chapter 4 - Touch down: doing the business

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

· Understand and develop your skills in the appropriate tools for consultancy and project management tools

· Plan and expedite projects in a manner that best utilises your technical skills to best effect for clients

· Understand the various processes and develop a deeper insight into the dynamics of consultancy type exercises

· Understand the human issues underlying various interventions and how the client/consultant relationships will alter through the project lifecycle

· Identify and analyse situations in order to prescribe key interventions which will benefit the client and therefore increase your consultancy skills

· Create concise accurate reports that provide the findings of a consultancy exercise in an and appropriate style and format

Chapter 5 - Onwards to the stars: developing the business

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:

· Consolidate the position that you have already created in the market

· Develop an action plan that will take your business onto the next level

· Devise ideas and activities that will insure against future business failure

Appendices

Sample Forms, Contracts, Checklists etc

T&Cs

The chapters describe the consultancy ‘journey’ according to a ‘plan-do-review’ methodology: