Quick Tips for Starting Your Consulting Business

http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca Thinking of starting a consulting business? Dave Schulte and Ian Marshall, Consulting experts for Small Business BC give you their tips and tricks for starting a consulting business.


Tip #1:
Pick your niche and know your market
Don't try and be all things to all people. Focus on your discipline, understand what you truly do and what you can offer your clients. Many people start a business based on all of their skill sets; however to their clients they appear a "jack of all trades and a master of none" and when someone is looking to hire a consultant they are looking to hire a master.

Tip #2: You are the CEO of your consulting business and your clients are looking to hire a professional, and that is what you need to project.

Tip #3: Get a set of good general business skills.
People have the skills they need when they are delivering their consulting but often lack the basic general knowledge business skill sets. Attend some business courses so that you can learn how to run and operate a business. You already know your subject really well but do you know how to run a business well?

Tip #4: Understand what your customer wants to buy.
The skill sets which you are offering may not be what your customers are looking to buy. It may take some market research to really truly understand what your client wants. The services you present should have more to do with what your customers want and not how you define your skills sets.

Need more consulting insight? Attend the Starting a Consulting Business at Small Business BC http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/seminars.

Dave Schulte's Bio
http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/seminars/bios/dave-schulte
Dave diverse background as an international business consultant and educator inspired him to co-found Vancouver Consultants, a membership organization with a mandate to provide the best vehicle to connect independent professional consultants to the market in order to facilitate and enhance opportunities for both.

Testimonials:
• "It was possibly the best professional training I've ever done. A Full 3 hours of fantastic. I went in directionless, now I feel I can confidently move forward"
• "Direct delivery of information, clear, timely and relevant!"

Ian Marshall's Bio
http://www.smallbusinessbc.ca/seminars/bios/dr-ian-marshal
Ian Marshall is an entrepreneurial development specialist. With over 15 years of independent business consulting experience Ian provides his client base with a holistic approach to business development and growth.
He guides clients through a defined process to achieve strategic business plans; encompassing business philosophy, marketing, operations, and finance. Ian's experience comes from not only many years in the corporate world holding positions such as National Marketing Manager, General Manager and Managing Director, but Ian has owned several companies and understands the pitfalls that many entrepreneurs face in the day to day operations of their businesses.
Ian is co-owner of Marshall, Schulte & Associates Ltd. a business consulting practice with a focus on the development of entrepreneurs and co-owner of Vancouver Consultants, a subscription based marketing organization for independent consultants and consulting firms. Ian holds a DBA from Fairfax University, Louisiana USA.

Testimonials:
• "An excellent summary of the issues and strategies required for successful consulting. Presented with enthusiasm and expertise -- well worth the investment."
• "Fantastic speaker, extremely knowledgeable."
• "The instructor was extremely knowledgeable"
• "Quite charismatic and knowledgeable, definitely recommend Ian!"

Category:

Education

Tags:

• small business
• educational
• insight
• expert
• tips & tricks
• consulting