IncBizNet
Resource Centers
Special Sections
is your arsenal for developing and maintaining sound financial plans and business strategy.
Inside: Budgeting | Compensation | Valuation
Free Trial: Intuit QuickBooks
Simple Start Free Edition 2009 for Windows
Departments
Newsletters
Click below to preview:
Help Me...
- Build a Business Plan
- Search for Software
- View Product Gallery
- View Product Guides
- Search Classifieds
Sponsored Links
Fresh Inc. - The Inc.com Weblog
Staff Blog Menu
Regular Features
Recent Entries
More With Less, Resolutions and the New Thrift
Fighting Nasty Computer Viruses
Obama, Steve Jobs, and Hiring in a Tough Economy
Community Banks, Viral Marketing and More Spending Declines
Last-Minute Gifts for the Office
Arianna Huffington and Om Malick Share Their Tips on How to Blog
Digg, Credit Cards and Cutbacks
Inc. Recommends
Archives
March 31, 2004
Before You Start a Consulting Business...
Posted by Carole Matthews at 2:05 PM
Inc. reader Ken Fredeen shared his thoughts on what to consider when starting a consulting business in the Sound Off! area of the April 2004 article, "Brains For Hire." From his experience as the principal/owner of NeuTech Consulting, a strategy consulting practice based in Monroe, Conn., Fredeen offers four areas that prospective new consultants should have covered before hanging out the "open-for-business" sign.
- You have one or two immediate clients.
- You have a well-respected reputation in your industry.
- You have strong self-promotion and selling skills.
- There is an eaily identifiable, pent-up demand for your service, and you are uniquely qualified to deliver it. (You must be absolutely realistic about this, not just hope that the demand is there.)
If you're strong in only some of these areas, you have a pretty good chance of success, according to Fredeen, but if none of these bases are covered, then you should reconsider going into business for yourself.
Try a RISK-FREE Issue of Inc. Today!
I will abide by these as truth - as a website business broker consultant, I started out selling my own website businesses and was successful enough to have a few friends ask me to represent and consult for them. This provided a foundation of strong testimonials and experience that allowed my business to take off. My online marketing skills allowed me to ramp up and acquire more clients and now we are turning clients away and have raised the bar because we have such a strong reputation, excellent Search engine penetration and a huge maturing industry that is growing every month as the internet ages.
Website Businesses For Sale
Post Your Own Comments