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Step 1
Make sure you're qualified in the field. Just because you have been using a computer for a long time doesn't mean you know enough to start a business providing advice. To start a successful consulting business you should be able to understand the basic functioning of the hardware and keep up-to-date with changes in the market and industry.
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Step 2
Try to get an organization to hire you. Whether they do it on a temporary basis, to supplement their staff or as somebody called in when the need arises to identify problems, the truth is that companies pay consultants high sums for their services. Even if you have your own business with private clients, freelancing for a company can increase your income significantly.
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Step 3
Don't limit yourself. Offer your services in different ways and styles. For example, you could teach workshops to company employees, offer online or phone consultations or as the decision-maker when it comes to software upgrading and change.
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Step 4
Consider hiring a secretary or an assistant to deal with the everyday office stuff, such as answering emails, dealing with clients and filing. The less time you spend on menial tasks, the more you'll be able to network and provide out-of-office help to both companies and private clients.
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Step 5
Decide how you will charge for your services. Most consultants charge a flat fee at the start of their careers. As they become more established, it's possible to charge a monthly retainer or by the hour.
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Step 6
Establish yourself as an expert by providing talks, writing articles on computer and related subjects and by asking for letters or praise and reference from past clients. You can also put out your own newsletter (either in print or email) to keep in touch with former clients and reach new ones.
Comments
independent said
on 12/31/2008 eHow's article is good, but let me just add one more important factor - specialized skills. Most clients are willing to pay good money for consultants with specialized skills. They are not looking for a jack-of-all-trades. The best computer skills to have are the ones that are red-hot - C-Sharp, business intelligence, and SAP, for instance.
If you're really serious about starting a computer consulting business, then I would recommend my new book "Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant". In this book, I will show you, step-by-step, how to acquire clients, how to negotiate the best rates and terms, and how to avoid common mistakes that I see new consultants making all the time. To order, please go to:
http://www.cti-seminars.com/seminars.html
This book comes with a 75-minute instructional DVD featuring me. In the DVD, I will take you on an entertaining personal jour
itconsultingkit said
on 7/23/2008 While this articles discusses many valid points, it doesn't address the big challenge of building a client list in the early months and years of launching a computer consulting business.
For most new computer consulting businesses, sales and marketing will pretty much dominate the first 6-12 months in business until the utilization rate (# of billable hours a week) gets to at least 50-75% on a consistent basis.
It also really doesn't even touch on the distinction between
(a) computer consulting for home users
(b) computer consulting for tiny businesses (<10 computers)
(c) computer consulting for more established small businesses (10-100 computers)
(d) computer consulting for medium-sized enterprises (100-1,000 computers)
(c) enterprise computer consulting
When I approach writing an article on this topic, I find it more helpful to zero in on more specific topics.
How to S