| As companies struggle to stay afloat using | | | | most likely come from your innermost circle of |
| restructuring, reorganization and retrenchment | | | | relatives and friends who own small and medium-sized |
| strategies, nowadays it's easy for even the most | | | | businesses that may need your expertise. From there, |
| skillful employees to lose their jobs. | | | | you can build your list of potential clients by asking for |
| If you've been laid off due to cost-cutting measures, | | | | referrals and by attending social functions and |
| your unemployment could actually be a blessing in | | | | gatherings where you can give out your business |
| disguise as many have come to realize the benefits of | | | | cards. |
| starting a consulting business instead of applying for | | | | * Learn new skills: Update your skills by learning new |
| similar jobs in other companies. | | | | techniques, applications or taking up a short course that |
| Change in your job situation can be a good thing for as | | | | can make you an expert at something and allow you |
| long as you open yourself to new experiences and | | | | to charge premium fees for your services. You can |
| challenges. | | | | study these on your own or jumpstart your business |
| In the bestselling book "Who Moved My Cheese", | | | | by investing in a system or tools developed by |
| author and psychologist Spencer Johnson emphasizes | | | | experts. Tip: Learn a few Internet marketing techniques |
| the point that change in most aspects of life is | | | | that most businesses need such as SEO, content |
| inevitable and that the sooner we move to a new | | | | writing and email marketing. |
| direction, the sooner we are able to find something | | | | * Create your business plan: This need not be a |
| better to replace them with. You, too, can move on | | | | complicated MBA-type feasibility study although you'll |
| from a terminated employment to a financially | | | | need to set your goals, vision, business model and |
| rewarding consulting business. | | | | strategies at the onset. |
| Tips for Starting a Consulting Business | | | | If you are serious about starting a consulting business, |
| * Work from home: You don't need to spend your exit | | | | you can choose to offer a full menu of services, |
| compensation or savings just to start this business. | | | | specialize in one service or create information |
| Consulting is a flexible business that you can do from | | | | products that can teach business owners some of |
| home, eliminating rent and other overhead expenses in | | | | your skills which may be valuable to them. |
| the meantime. Some basic equipment that you'll need | | | | Expect other income opportunities to present |
| is a computer, Internet connection, telephone and fax | | | | themselves as you venture into consultancy, |
| machine. | | | | something that you may not have the freedom to |
| * Market to your immediate circle: Your first clients will | | | | undertake if you were still employed. |