Starting your own consultancy business isn’t as hard as it sounds. All you have to do is have an idea, a field of specialism and the gall to get up and do it. Experience is one of those things that you build up along the way. As long as you know enough about your chosen field to be able to answer any practical questions and to be able to solve your clients business problems as and when they arise, and provide solutions you’ll be able to go it alone as a consultant.There are so many opportunities out there to be taken yet most people let them pass by. Why? Some may think they haven’t got what it takes; some don’t consider themselves experts and others simply find it too much hard work. Each and every one of us has a talent that we can specialize in, whether it’s gardening, cooking or sewing to programming. Yet starting a consulting business is far from people’s minds and is one of the most lucrative ways of drawing on your expertise and creatively making use of your skills.Yes it’s a popular field to go into but there are so many areas which you could specialize in, it is nearly impossible to saturate a niche market – and potentially very lucrative for would-be business owners. The consulting industry is worth billions globally and a good consultant could earn up to £500 per hour depending on the field of expertise, location and credibility.
Many people enter the consulting field from all different backgrounds and easily find their niche. If you are ready to become your own boss and set yourself free from the 9 – 5 slave trade then start by following the few simple points below to get started.BUILD YOUR REPUTATION BEFORE GOING IT ALONE
Spend a little time in your niche helping others establish their needs. i.e. if you are going to be a business consultant start by helping local, small businesses get on their feet. Don’t charge for your time initially, as word of mouth and a good reputation will serve you well in gaining new clients. Always remember that any expertise that you have gained in your field is not wasted, if you put it into practice what you know by helping others.PARTNER WITH OTHER BUSINESSES
For some, building their company or brand name is of utmost importance, they can’t see themselves credible without it. If name recognition is more of an issue than expertise is for you, start by looking for a local and established company to partner with. This partnership will allow you to build your name, define your services and reach clients that you wouldn’t ordinarily have access.MAKE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN YOUR SERVICES AND THOSE OF SIMILAR COMPANIES
One of the most important things to remember when setting up a consulting business is that it is important to call yourself a consultant from day one. So many people do not set themselves up as consultants from the beginning which means that potential customers may not find you or your services credible once you start to call yourself a consultant. Be very clear about the services that you can offer, if you offer business consultancy, don’t advertise non related services to your customers or on your site. If you start off calling yourself anything else than a consultant of XXX services from the start, your potential customers will be confused as to what you are all about.
Make sure your business and your services are clearly defined. If you want to reap the full benefit of being a consultant and for what you are offering, you must only see yourself as a consultant. Consultants earn more money than contractors or a freelancers, it’s as simple as that.If you are interested in starting up your own business as a consultant make sure that you invest in yourself first. Nothing in this life or industry is rewarded by inactivity. Learn as much as you can, do as much as you can and revise what you’ve done on a regular basis. There’s always room to grow and expand and that’s where you will grow in expertise and confidence. It’s also how you will find your customers, from the need to grow.