Getting Started in Computer Consulting

by
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 1999-12-01
Publisher(s): Wiley
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Summary

Written by an expert who has helped thousands of people nationwide find success as computer consultants, this is your complete guide to starting and managing a thriving computer and network consulting practice. From start-up costs to contract negotiation, from taxes to pricing and marketing, you get concise, straightforward advice and guidance on all the critical issues involved. And throughout the text you'll find candid accounts from seasoned computer consultants who share invaluable insights into all aspects of the business. You'll learn how to: * Assess your strengths and zero in on your market niche * Use proven, affordable marketing and sales techniques * Decide when you need a broker and find one you can work with * Set fees and negotiate contracts to your best advantage * Bid on government contracts--and win * Manage your time and workload for optimum satisfaction * Choose and win the clients you want to work with * Use the Internet to build your success

Author Biography

PETER MEYER is the nation's preeminent computer consultant's consultant and a principal of the Meyer Group. He is the contributing editor for technology for the Business & Economic Review and his articles appear regularly in computer consultant and business journals, including the Independent, Solutions, R & D Innovator, Marketing Potentials, and Executive Female.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi
List of Figures
xiii
Introduction
Serving Clients
1(1)
The Evolution of Technology Consulting
2(2)
Where Do Successful Computer Consultants Invest Their Time?
4(2)
The Client's Expectations and Marketing Yourself
6(1)
Results versus Hours
7(1)
Consultant, Contractor, or Employee?
7(1)
Your Roles and Responsibilities
8(3)
The Practice of Computer and Network Consulting
11(26)
What Is a Computer Consultant?
11(1)
What Keeps Computer and Network Consultants Up at Night?
12(1)
Why Become a Consultant?
13(1)
Your Own Boss?
14(1)
What Does a Computer Consultant Do?
14(7)
What Are the Skills You Will Get to Use?
21(2)
What Are the Most Important Skills You Need?
23(3)
How Much Money Should You Have Set Aside?
26(1)
What Will Your Day Be Like?
27(1)
Investing Your Time
28(1)
How Much Do Computer Consultants Earn?
29(2)
Are You Sure You Want to Be a Consultant?
31(2)
Part-Time Consulting
33(1)
Getting Started from Scratch
33(2)
In the End, What Do Clients Want?
35(2)
Finding Your Market and Service Niches
37(10)
Examining Your Strengths
37(1)
Choosing Your Future
38(1)
When to Take an Interim Assignment
39(1)
Finding Your Niche
39(1)
The Next Step in Selecting a Niche
40(2)
Some Growth Niches to Watch
42(5)
Setting Up and Structuring Your Practice
47(28)
First---Your Resources
47(2)
Boom and Bust---Strategies to Balance Your Time and Projects
49(4)
Should You Grow Your Business?
53(1)
Your Practice Versus Billing---Balancing Your Time
54(1)
When Should You Hire a Consultant?
55(1)
Structuring to Telecommute
56(2)
Financial Aspects of Setting Up Your Practice
58(1)
Start-Up Costs
59(14)
Contingencies
73(2)
Incorporating and Protecting Yourself
75(22)
Incorporation, Partnerships, and Related Myths and Misunderstandings
75(1)
Should You Incorporate?
76(3)
Incorporation
79(3)
Getting Incorporated without an Attorney
82(9)
Contracts and a Few Related Matters
91(6)
Marketing and Selling Your Services
97(28)
What Is Marketing for a Consultant?
98(2)
Getting into New Accounts and Markets
100(1)
Informational Interview Model
101(5)
A Variation on the Informational Interview
106(1)
The Benefit First Model---A Better Way
106(2)
Are You Selling to Their Problem or Your Solution?
108(1)
Finding the Key Results and Benefits
109(1)
USPs
110(4)
Creating an Effective USP in Two Steps
114(2)
Benefit First in USPs
116(1)
Make the USP Easy on You
116(1)
Using a USP Online
117(1)
More Than One USP?
118(1)
Brochures and Mailings
119(1)
Getting Value from People Networks
119(1)
Users Groups
120(2)
Is There Value to Certifications?
122(3)
Pricing Your Services
125(26)
Pricing as a Marketing Tool
126(1)
Can Price Put You at Risk?
127(1)
Pricing Software Projects
128(1)
Too Much Work? Look at Your Pricing
129(3)
Using Expectations to Keep Bid Prices Down
132(1)
The High Cost of Working for Free
132(1)
Systematizing Fees---Three Processes
133(1)
Process One---Hours per Year
134(1)
Process Two---Competitive Analysis
135(4)
The Place for a Baker's Dozen
139(1)
What Stops Consultants from Raising Fees?
140(5)
Structuring Fees---By the Hour or Flat Rate?
145(1)
Why Bother with Flat Rate Pricing?
145(1)
Reducing the Risk
146(2)
Guarantees
148(3)
The Seven-Step Process for Pricing
151(20)
Two Clients, Two Prices?
152(1)
Hours or Results?
153(1)
Could a Result Be Worth More Than the Hours?
154(17)
Prospecting
154(1)
First Meeting
155(3)
Surveying the Stakeholders
158(2)
Design Session
160(6)
The Proposal and Close
166(2)
Contracts
168(1)
The Next Contract
169(2)
Successfully Marketing to the Government
171(12)
What Is the Government?
171(1)
What Government Agencies Buy
172(1)
How Governments Buy
173(1)
You Can Take Advantage of Exceptions
174(1)
Getting the Contract without Bidding---An Example
174(1)
How to Find Out about Government Needs
175(1)
Sample Sole-Source Bid Request
176(1)
Sample Request for Proposals (RFP)
177(2)
Procurement Categories
179(1)
Awards and Subcontracts
180(1)
Extending the Meaning of ``the Government''
180(3)
Contracts, Negotiations, and Brokers
183(22)
Win-Win Negotiations
184(2)
Contracts and Agreements
186(2)
Contractor or Employee?
188(1)
The Limitations of Your Contract
188(1)
Special Considerations for Software Contracts
189(1)
What about Brokers?
190(3)
Finding Brokers
193(1)
Choosing Your Brokers
194(4)
Negotiating with Brokers
198(2)
Selecting Your Brokers
200(3)
Dealing with Broker Defaults
203(2)
Additional Profit Centers
205(18)
Why Additional Profit Centers?
205(1)
The Three Basic Ancillary Services
206(1)
Public Speaking, Seminars, and Training
206(2)
Platform Paralysis
208(1)
Speaking Opportunities
209(1)
Writing and Publishing
210(3)
Developing Software---From Hobby to Income
213(1)
Developing Software---Advantages and Cautions
214(1)
Marketing Your Software
215(4)
Getting Paid for Your Software
219(1)
Selling Hardware
220(1)
Maintaining Hardware
221(1)
Additional Profit Centers
221(2)
Some Final Strategic Tips
223(14)
Difficulties in Listening Today
223(6)
Doing Right---Ethical Considerations
229(7)
The Most Important Consideration
236(1)
Appendix The Consultant Resource Guide 237(12)
USENET Lists and Forums
237(1)
Associations
237(1)
Rate Surveys
238(1)
Sites That May Offer Broker Contacts
238(1)
Sites That May Sell Your Software
239(1)
What Keeps the Company President Up at Night?
239(8)
Books to Read for Further Information
247(1)
The Independent Computer Consultants Association Code of Ethics
247(2)
Glossary 249(4)
Index 253

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