| If you have grown bored at your current job and are | | | | start your consulting business. |
| looking for a new challenge, perhaps you have | | | | Starting a Consulting Business - Financial |
| considered starting a consulting business as a way to | | | | Considerations |
| get you out of your rut and help you finally make the | | | | Financial issues loom large when it comes to starting a |
| money you deserve. While it is true that starting a | | | | business, and it is important to be prepared before you |
| consulting business can be a great way to make a | | | | make the transition from full time employee with a |
| living on your terms, it is important to be prepared | | | | steady paycheck to freelance consultant paid on a |
| before you make the leap from paid employee to | | | | per-project basis. Keep in mind that it can take some |
| freelance consultant. | | | | time to land that all important first client, and even more |
| Running a successful consulting business requires | | | | time before steady work starts rolling in. Being |
| some highly specialized skills, as well as a strong work | | | | financially prepared for starting a consulting business is |
| ethic, dedication and a desire to succeed. If you have | | | | one of the key underpinnings of success in this |
| been thinking about starting a consulting business, | | | | competitive environment. |
| chances are you already have these things in | | | | Having an emergency fund with at least six months |
| abundance, but it is still important to do a thorough | | | | worth of living expenses is important for any worker, |
| self-assessment before you get started. | | | | but it is even more critical if you are thinking about |
| Starting a Consulting Business - Build Your Network | | | | starting a consulting business. In fact, you might want to |
| When you are starting a business, one of the most | | | | salt away a year's worth of living expenses, or even |
| valuable assets you bring to the table is your network | | | | more, before making the transition from employee to |
| of contacts. Before you leave the nine to five world, it | | | | business owner. Having such a big cushion will allow |
| is a good idea to spend your time on the inside of the | | | | you to focus on building your business and growing |
| business world building your contact list and growing | | | | your network, without having to worry about paying |
| your network of colleagues and associates. | | | | the rent or keeping the lights on. |
| Keep in mind that it is often easier to make contact | | | | With your finances taken care of, you can focus on |
| with other business people while you are still a full time | | | | the other challenges you will face when starting a |
| employee, so do not be too anxious to make the leap | | | | consulting business, like finding clients and networking |
| to consulting. Take the time to network with colleagues | | | | with those in the industry you are targeting. Before you |
| and coworkers, both on the job and at corporate | | | | know it, you will have landed that first client and begun |
| functions. Join the professional organizations in your | | | | establishing your reputation. Once your business is off |
| industry, and attend industry events on a regular basis. | | | | the ground and running strong, you can start putting |
| Start building your network of professional associates - | | | | some extra money aside to help your business grow |
| you can start tapping that network when you finally do | | | | even stronger. |