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Consultant Guide

We are Consultants

Find everything you need to know to be a better Consultant.
Become a freelancer
Working from the Outside In

Offering the best of both worlds, the role of a consultant helps you keep one foot in the corporate world while the other is free to roam, offering flexibility, challenge, and balance for your career and life. With the ongoing evolution of business, consultants are in demand more than ever across all segments, including strategy, technology, marketing and employee relations.

A Consultation for the Consultant

If you’re considering a career as a consultant, consider this a free consultation into what it involves, how to set up a business and attract clientele, best practices for project and time management, and how to set rates and establish cash flow. Just like the role of a consultant, this comprehensive guide is intended to give you the resources to apply to your personal situation to make an informed decision.

What is a Consultant?

Consultants are experts. They use their expertise to help others build the businesses and the lives that they want to create. They may have an insatiable curiosity about an industry and want to share what they’ve discovered. Or they’ve already got their hands dirty, learned on the job, and want to share their experience.

We can all benefit from expert, outside opinion, someone who can see the things we miss and provide specialist analysis that we can’t create ourselves.

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The Value of a Consultancy Niche

Every business is unique. Every life has its own special issues. The closer the consultant’s expertise to the client’s goals, the more willing they’ll be to buy that expertise—and the more they’ll agree to pay for it.

That’s why choosing a niche can be such a powerful strategy for a consultant: a fintech consultant or a creative consultant rather than a general business consultant.

A niche market will be smaller but there will be less competition and a greater willingness to buy.

The Price of a Consultant

Consultants sell valuable knowledge built up over years of study and experience. The effects of that knowledge can be millions of dollars in additional revenues, the turnaround of a struggling business, or the launch of a successful new product line.

Consultants make a difference.

Pricing that difference can be challenging. Some consultancies charge by the hour and others by milestone. Fixed fees are also common. How much to charge depends not just on the amount of work involved in a project but also on the value of the result. We’ll explain how to put a price on your expertise.

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Building Your Consultancy Brand

A consultant is an expert in their chosen field. But every field has more than one expert. What makes a client choose one consultant over another? How can a company executive know which consultant will give them exactly the advice they need?

 

Branding matters for consultants as much as it matters for any other kind of business.

 

Consultants need to show the unique way they work, the special results they can produce, or the distinctive knowledge that they offer. Find out how to make your consulting skills stand out.

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Table of Contents

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

Consultant

Are you experienced, talented, and have a unique skillset that any organization would love to acquire? Would you rather work for yourself than someone else? Then you may want to consider becoming a consultant.

 

Fortunately, you’re not alone.

 

Consulting is a business that’s on the rise for both clients and the self-employed. In fact, research conducted by Source Information Services discovered that 42% of clients surveyed planned to bring in more consultants in the near future.

 

If being a consultant is starting to look more and more like a promising career path, then here is a guide to help you get started.

What is a Consultant and What Are Their Responsibilities?

A consultant is simply an individual who provides expert advice for a fee. Since consultants usually are employed in an advisory capacity they are not held accountable for the outcome of a project. Depending on the industry, job duties will vary for consultants. In most case though, consultants are hired to improve or fix a specific component of a client’s business that they are speclificiazed in. Consultants also share advice, make recommendations, and solve any problems within an organization. For example, an IT consultant may be called in to teach employees how to correctly use a new computer computer that was recently installed and how to troubleshoot any issues with the software. In most cases, consultants are used before and during the launch of a business. But, consultants can also be used when a business needs to reorganize or rebrand itself. Consultants will be retained until the goals of a business have been achieved. Because of this, the time period for the consultant’s services will vary. Besides education or work experience, a consultant can be successful by possessing the following the traits:
  • Are a leader
  • Able to reason logically
  • Ability to communicate effectively
  • Ingenuity qualities, like being clever, innovative, and inspirational
  • Can work with others

Do Consultants Require a College Degree?

Organizations usually look for prospects who are either highly educated or have years of experience in their field. As a whole, they are not required to have a college degree. If you’re looking to join a consulting firm though, having a college degree from a top university will definitely help you gain an advantage from other applicants. Even if you don’t have a college education your years of experience in your respective field can be just as attractive to consulting firms or potential clients. However, if it is required that you have a degree, certification, or just need to brush-up on your skills you can self-study by taking online classes on CourseraUdemy, or edX. You can also attend a class either online or in-person of any accredited university of your choice if they offer a degree program in your field. Depending on your area of expertise, you may need to have take a class so that you can have the right certifications or keep up-to-date with the latest trends and changes.

Consulting v. Contracting

If you start your own consulting firm or are a freelancer, it’s important that you know the difference between being a consultant and a contractor.
  • Consultants are brought in whenever a company has a problem that it either can’t solve because it doesn’t have the knowledge or time. A consultant will analyze the problem and figure out the best course of action to take. Consultants are self-directed.
  • Contractors are basically temporary employees. Contractors have to work under the manager’s supervision in order to complete a project. Because of this, contractors are told what to do, how to do it, and when it has to be done.
Additionally, according to project manager Rosalind Baker, the main differences between consultants and contractors also include:
  • Level of engagement
  • Length of engagement
  • Engagement rate
Knowing the difference between the two is important for you and clients because:
  • Contractors base their bills around the time spent performing services, and find work through agencies.
  • Contracting can be easier and safer to find employment since you’re using an agency. But, if you have a niche skillset, you can take the risk and become a consultant
  • Consultants bill clients by project where they charge for designing and implementing their solutions. They find their their own work by networking or marketing.
  • Consultants can set prices on quality and demand, as opposed to just an hourly fee.

Choose Your Niche

Figuring out which type of consulting services you’ll provide can be relatively easy to figure out. Just like any other small business owner, you can start your business based on what you’re passionate about, what expertise you have, or what you would like to start doing. While that may sound easy enough, if you focus on part of a market, which is a niche, you’ll have a better time at finding success as a consultant. For example, you’ve decided to share your experience from working at home. That sounds broad at first, but you could narrow that down to become a home office design consultant. You could continue to narrow that down to location since you’ll most likely have to visit the home. If you live in Boston, then you would want to market your services to Bostonian’s who work from home. The benefits of choosing your niche include:
  • There won’t be as much competition.
  • You can charge more for your services.
  • Because there isn’t that much competition, it will be easier to market your services and get recognized as an authority figure.

Finding Your Niche

How do you go about finding your niche? Consider answering the following questions to guide you along:
  • What skills and experience can you offer to customers?
  • What are your most marketable skills?
  • How much money can you make?
  • What are you best at?
  • What are you passionate about?
  • Who do you enjoy working with?
  • What skills are currently in-demand?
  • What is the competition like?
If you’re having a difficult time choosing your niche, you can always do some keyword research to help you determine your niche. If you’re unfamiliar with keywords, they are the specific word (or phrase) that an individual is searching on Google or Bing to find information on exactly what they want to read, watch, download, or buy. Consultants can use keywords to see which markets are in-demand and what the competition is like by taking a look at how many people have visited a website. Thankfully there are tools from Google AdWordsWordStream, and Market Samurai that can help you with your keyword research. And, when it comes time to start marketing and promoting your consulting business, you’ll already have the keywords and tools needed to make content that will attract customers.

Top Consulting Jobs

Still need help identifying your niche? Here’s a list of the consulting jobs, courtesy of Entrepreneur, that you can use to start brainstorming ideas for your consulting business.
  • Accounting
  • Advertising
  • Auditing
  • Business
  • Business writing
  • Career counseling
  • Communications
  • Computer consulting
  • Editorial services
  • Executive search/headhunter firms
  • Gardening
  • Grantsmanship
  • Human resources
  • Insurance
  • Marketing
  • Payroll management
  • Public relations
  • Publishing
  • Taxes
  • Writing services

Legal, Tax, and Contractual Considerations

Before consulting, there are some considerations freelancers should keep in mind. Consulting may not involve the same amount of paperwork that other business owners have to fill-out. However, consultants are still business owners. As SBA.gov points out, this means that “you need to be sure you have the right licenses or permits, make estimated tax payments on time, report your earnings each year, and deal with client paperwork such as contracts, non-disclosure agreements, and more”. Let’s dive into two considerations for freelancers.

Prior to working with any clients, make sure that your business is legally set-up by fulfilling these obligations:

  • Get the Right Licenses and Permits – All businesses are required to have a license or permit to operate in their state, county or city. If you’re working from home you may have to get a Home Occupancy Permit and a General Business License.
  • Register Your Business Name – Unless you’re using your given name, you’ll have to register a “Doing Business As” name with your local government. This guide explains how. If you use your own name, skip this step.
  • Pay Estimated Taxes – As a freelancer, you are responsible for paying taxes on your incomes. You can use the guide How To Calculate and Make Estimated Tax Payments for more information.
  • Complete a W-9 Form When You Get a New Client – Whenever you sign an agreement, or being work with a new client, you may be asked to complete IRS Form W-9.
  • Annual Tax Reporting: The 1099 Form – If you’ve made more than $600 in one year from a client, then they will have to report these payments to the IRS through Form 1099-Misc.

Here’s our next consideration for freelancers – As a freelancing consultant, you’ll also need the day-to-day documentation and paperwork like:

  • Cost Estimate and Proposal Documents – Create you own branded template for project quotes and proposals through Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or sites like FreelanceSwitch.
  • Contract Documents and NDAs – It’s not uncommon for clients to have their own contracts for independent contractors or freelancers. So, make sure to review the contract before signing it. If you need advice with creating your own contract, use Setting Up a Client Contracts. Most of the time, the Non-Disclosure Agreement or NDA are straightforward.
  • Statement of Work – This outlines the scope of work that you and the clients have agreee upon in the contract.

Create Your Brand

As a consultant you have to remember to create your brand and to brand your business in order to attract new customers – which requires more than just a logo. A brand, according to Seth Godin, “is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another. If the consumer (whether it’s a business, a buyer, a voter or a donor) doesn’t pay a premium, make a selection or spread the word, then no brand value exists for that consumer.”

When it comes to developing your brand, here are some questions that you should answer:

  • What goals do you want to accomplish?
  • What makes you unique?
  • What are your values?
  • How do you want to be perceived?
  • What do you want to stand for?
Once you determine what your brand is going to be all about, you need to figure out what sets you apart from other consultants in your niche. In other words, what value will you bring to the marketplace? If you’re a great teacher as an IT consultant, then you may want to use that skill as a selling point when approaching potential clients since you can effectively teach their employees how to operate new software.

Once you’ve determined what makes your brand unique, you need to make sure that it’s reflected through:

  • The design of your website.
  • Your writing style.
  • How you communicate with clients.
  • Online portfolios on LinkedIn, Twitter.
  • Involvement with relevant organizations.
Also make sure that your brand is consistent. This means having the same logo or color pattern on your website, social media channels, business cards, and invoices. Consistency also means delivering high-quality content on a frequent basis. Finally, don’t hesitate to give your brand an overhaul from time-to-time. This means updating your logo if it doesn’t match your brand and staying current with the changes in your industry.

Marketing and Promotion

When it comes to marketing and promotion as a consultant, you’re not necessarily placing an ad in a local newspaper. Instead, you’re looking for ways to prove that you’re a leading authority figure in your industry. And, you can achieve that by creating content that is valuable to your potential customers. Content can come in a number of different forms. It could be through a daily blog post, publishing a book, creating an infographic,or hosting a webinar or podcast. The idea is that you need to create content that not only proves that you’re a thought leader in your industry, but also is going to be shared. This will build your brand and get clients to notice you notice you. Creating content is just the beginning though. You need to have a strong online presence to share and interact with your audience. This starts with a website that includes a description of services, your past experience, testimonials from clients, and contact information. You can purchase a domain name from GoDaddy for just $2.99. On top of your website, you online presence should also include a blog to publish content. WordPressSquareSpace, and Blogger are a couple of recommendations. Don’t forget to include a portfolio as well that illustrates your previous work. If you not in a creative field, you could provide case studies on your past success. You’ll also need to be on social media by creating profiles on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. This gives you a chance to share your content or thoughts, exchange ideas, or connect with other influencers. Other proven methods of marketing and promoting your consulting services are:
  • Build email lists. Build a extensive email list so that you can share your content and keep subscribers updated with newsletters. You can obtain emails by asking for an email address to attend one of your webinars.
  • Speak at events. Share your knowledge with others by speaking at an industry event.
  • Join associations. Depending on your field, you may want to join an association where you can network, share content/ideas, or earn certifications.
  • Network. Attend industry events, such as conferences or cocktail hours, where you can mingle with potential clients and exchange contact information.
  • Cold email/calling. Email or call clients that interest you and could use your services.Have a script or text planned and be creative. The end game is for you and the client to have a meeting.

Where to Find Work

Marketing and promoting your services will only take you so far. When you don’t have clients approaching you about work, you will have to take the initiative to get new gigs on your own. Thankfully, there a number of websites available where consultants can find work.

While the websites listed above are great places to find work, consultants should also look at their established network. Whether it’s friends, family, college roommates, former colleagues, or your accountant, one of the easiest, and most effective, ways to find work is using your current network to find clients.

Also, don’t forget to ask your previous clients for referrals. Word of mouth will be one of the best ways to attract new customers.

Working With Clients

Congratulations! You just landed a no client. What are you going to do to make sure that you retain their services?

Neil Patel, who used to consulting prior to finding success with Quicksprout, reminds us that consulting has a high churn rate. But, if you follow his advice, you’ll increase your chances of keeping them for longer.

  • Set realistic expectations from day one.
  • Give them a gift for the kick-off call. Neil used to send his clients cookies or snack on the day of the kick-off call.
  • Have a weekly 5-minute call to keep them updated or answer any questions that the client may have.
  • Send your clients industry updates to keep them informed and make them feel special.
  • At end of every month send your clients a report that illustrates the work that you have done.
  • Neil also sent his clients a monthly survey so that you can track your performance and find out ways to make your client happier.

Another tip from Neil is one that you’ve most likely heard numerous times before; you have to dress to impress. If you walk into a meeting wearing a pair of worn-out jeans and a hoodie, do you honestly think that the client is willing to hire you? Even if you are the most knowledgeable consultant that is being considered, you’ll probably miss out if the other consultants are wearing suits. Why? Because they come across as a professional who knows what they are talking about and should be taken seriously.

Neil states that once he began to dress to impress, he was able to charge more money, have potential clients listen to him, and even having individuals come up to him during conferences.

 

The Customer Isn’t Always Right

While you are getting paid for your services, you always have to remember that you were hired because you possess a set of skills that the client does not. In other words, don’t let a client tell you how to do your job. That doesn’t mean that you can do whatever you want, it means that you have a responsibility to what’s best for the client. But, you’re the expert and they’re not. To keep them satisfied, make sure that you keep them update with your progress and show them reports.

There are other instances of when you may have to fire a client. For example, you may have a client that you get along with personally, but they never pay you on time. Even after you’ve brought this to their attention, they continue missing the due date. If you don’t want to do damage to your cash flow, you’re going to have let that client go and move on to someone who does pay you on-time.

To avoid potential headache clients, ask any in your network if they have worked with them in the past. Or, just Google their name or business and see what comes up. Does their website look fishy? Are there complaints about them of message boards? Did they leave an inappropriate Facebook status bad mouthing their ex? Look for any red flags prior to working with a client – also do the same on your end.

No matter if you have the same candidate for years, have had to let them go, or can’t accept a project because you don’t have the time or experience, you should always have the best interest of the client in mind. While you may have have disagreements or face roadblocks, you have to be a professional. If you fire a client, refer them to another consultant.

Time and Project Management

One of the most difficult tasks that independent consultants must handle is managing their time and projects. Besides being disciplined because you’re working from home and control your schedule, you’re also at the mercy of customers. This can be a problem because your clients don’t care how much work. They care that you get their project done when they need it. And, because you don’t want to run into a situation where work dries up, you keep taking on more projects.

Because you’re juggling multiple clients, projects, and deadlines, how can you manage everything and still be productive?

 

Time and Project Management

For starters, you may have to decide whether or not you want to live that lifestyle. If you don’t mind working that much, you can take on as many clients as you like. If you do run into any roadblocks that prevents you from completing a project, be honest with the client and explain the situation.

To help make you more productive and manage your time more efficiently, you can also try using some of these powerful project management tools:

Basecamp

This is one of the most popular project management and collaboration tools available where you can assign tasks, exchange ideas, and manage deadlines.

Trello

An easy-to-use project management tool that allows you to assign due dates, create checklists, upload files, and create individual boards for either clients or team members.

Evernote

This popular note-taking app can used to keep your career, and personal life, in order by creating tasks, taking notes, and capturing web pages. You can even turn your notes into slides with Evernote’s Present feature.

Solo

This free app was created with freelancers in mind. You can use it to create contacts with project info, manage tasks, track your progress, and upload files.

LiquidPlanner

This project management can assist consultants because it focuses on scheduling. In fact, it will automatically create schedules based on project priorities. It also comes with time and task tracking.

Podio

You can use Podio to stay organized by managing and discussing specific tasks on a single page. It also has a simple drag-and-drop interface and can be customized to suit your needs.

Wrike

Real-time project management tool that allows you to break goals into tasks, instantly communicate with team members, and transform emails into tasks. Wrike integrates with Google Drive, Word, and Excel.

Project Bubble

This tool provides Gantt charts, client progress reports, visual milestones, the ability to automate recurring tasks, daily outlooks, and the power to assign tasks.

Projecturf

You can use this tool to collaborate with team members or clients in real-time through in-line commenting, Gantt charts, and email notifications. It also integrates with Google Drive and Dropbox.

Due.com

There’s a handy time tracking tool if you need to track the time you spent on a project, as well as reports that describe tasks and calander summary of upcoming tasks. Due.com also integrates with Basecamp.

If you ever do get overwhelmed, you may want to consider outsourcing some work. You can use some of those same freelancing sites, like Upwork, to find an assistant or another consultant looking for work to help lessen the burden.

Setting Your Rates

One of the most common, and important, questions that consultants ask is how much money do they make? If you have a salaried position, a consultant could make anywhere between $28,000 to $131,000 – depending on what area of consulting you focus on. If you’re out on your own, you the short answer, according to Stephen JFreidl, would be a mix of “whatever the market will bear” and “how busy you wish to be.” However, it’s not uncommon for consultants to work by the hour, on a retainer, or by fixed-project rates.

Before you decide on a rate, it wouldn’t hurt to do a little research and find out what other consultants are charging. The easiest way to go about this is seeing if they have prices listed on their website or asking for a brochure. You could even ask clients or fellow consultants at industry events what the normal rate is for consultants or take a like at sites like Careers-in-Business. This should help you establish a rate that will be competitive. If you’re just starting out though you may want to consider having lower rates until you have some more experience.

Another task to accomplish before you set your fees is to list all of your expenses. This will also give you a better understanding of how much money you’ll have to charge so that you can pay all of your bills and have a little something leftover. The last thing that you want is to have a rate so low that you can’t pay for overhead like insurance, rent, utilities, or office supplies. For example, if your total expenses are $3,500 per month, then at least you know that’s the minimum amount you have to bring in.

After you’ve checked out the marketplace and taken a closer look at your expenses, it’s time to settle on a hourly, retainer, or project rate for your services.

 

Hourly Fees

Hourly fees can get a bit tricky. Some are too high while others are too low. If it’s too high, clients won’t be able to afford you. If it’s too low, you won’t be taken seriously.

Since you already listed your expenses, you could add that and your salary together (your salary could what you previously earned or what your competitors are charging), multiple that figure by a 10% or 20% profit margin, and divide that figure by your billable hours to determine your hourly rate. It doesn’t really matter how you determine your hourly rate. Just know it’s pretty normal for consultants to double that figure so that they can cover their overhead.

Remember, if your rate is higher than others, the clients who hire you except you to be worth it.

 

Retainer Basis

This type of payment is a monthly fee. It averages around $3,500 per month, that you and the client agree on. The catch? You have to be on-call for the client for a specified amount of time each month. This can be rolled over into the following. This is a common form of payment for consultants since it gives clients access the consultants whenever needed. And, consultants like this form of payment since it is a steady stream of monthly income.

The only drawback is that you’ll most likely have a clause in your contract that prevents you from taking on additional jobs from competitors.

 

Project Rates

If you’re just starting out, project rates may be difficult to determine at first since you may not know how long projects take and how much your hourly rate is. Once you do figure this figure out, you can add 10% to your monthly rate. Let’s say you do decide to go with a project rate. Just know that this is a fixed amount that you’ll be paid for a specified amount of time, usually monthly.

 

Raising Rates

At some point you will have to raise your rates. This can be uncomfortable if you have a solid rapport with current customers. But, if you’re great at your job, you customers will realize that you’re in demand. If you’re in demand, you have to raise your rates. When you do raise your rates, give your customers notice, at least one billing cycle, and be modest.

Also remember that you can have different rates for different customers. For example, your longstanding customers, should be charged lower rates than the client you just acquired last week.

Getting Paid

After you have set your rates and have clients lined up, it’s time for you to get paid for your consulting services by sending your clients an invoice. An invoice is important. It’s how you’re going to paid what you’re owed by a client for the work that you just completed.

 

Invoicing Basics

While invoices can vary from person to person and industry to industry, they typically include:

  • The word “Invoice” at the top of the document.
  • An invoice number to help manage your invoices so that you can see which ones have been paid and which invoices are still pending. Invoice numbers are also used for tax purposes in case you get audited. Make sure that you don’t use the same number and begin with 001.
  • The date that the bill was sent, as well as the date that you expect it to be paid. Most invoices are to paid within 30, 60, or 90 days after the invoice is sent.
  • An itemized description of your work, such as a breakdown of the various components of your project and what each cost.
  • The total amount due that you’re charging the client for your services.
  • Invoices should also include the name, address, and contact information for both you and your customer in case you have to get in touch with each other.

 

Stand out

Even if your invoices contain the components listed above, you’ll want to create a more professional invoice that will help you stand out from the other invoices piling up on your client’s desk. And, that will probably improve your chances of getting on time.

  • Have Payment Policies in Writing. Your payment policies should have been discussed when you and the client signed a contract, and it should also be in writing. This should include the percentage you’ll charge for late fees, discounts for early payments, additional charges, advance payments, and how you expect to be paid.
  • Accept Multiple Forms of Payment. What is you preferred form of payment? Checks, credit cards, or third party payment gateways like PayPal. Even if you have preference, you should accept several different payment options so that it’s easier your client to pay the invoice. If you use a service like Due.com you can accept several payments, such as credit cards and PayPal.
  • Business Structure and Taxes. This may not be an obvious concern for all consultants, but even if you’re a sole proprietor, you’re responsible for paying taxes so make sure that you set aside money to pay your taxes.
  • Brand Your Invoices. You can really set your invoices apart by matching them with your brand. Due.com, for example, allows you to add your brand’s logo and template that best fits your brand.
  • Use Invoicing Software. There is no shortage of invoicing software options, which can make creating and sending out invoices a breeze. Due.com is one platform that you can save you time because you can store your recurring clients information so that you don’t have to keep entering their information each time you send them an invoice.

 

Getting Paid Faster

Creating professional invoices is just one part of getting paid for your services. You also have to ensure that you’ll get paid each and every time that an invoice due date approaches.

  • Create an Invoicing Schedule. When you’re starting out on your own, you may not realize that invoicing is a frequent task. To make your life easier, create an invoicing schedule. It could be as simple as invoicing your client as soon as you’ve completed a project. You could also invoice your clients weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Keep in mind though that you may have to adhere to your client’s payment schedule. If they pay on the first of the month, then that’s when you should send out their invoice.
  • Send the Invoice to the Right Person. To speed up the payment process, make sure that you’re sending the invoice to the right person. just because you’ve been dealing with a project manager does not mean that that’s the person paying your invoice. Instead of having the invoice pass through multiple hands, send it directly to the person making the payment, such as the accounting department.
  • Use Days, Not Net. Not all business owners are familiar with the term “net.” Use a phrase like “payment due within 30 days” instead “net 30” to make it clear when exactly the payment is due.
  • Be Polite. If you use terms like “please” and “thank you” at the bottom of your invoice you can increase your chances of getting paid on time by 5%.

 

Automate the process

  • Automate Billing. With software like Due.com you can automate bills if you have recurring clients. This means that a client’s credit card or checking account will be automatically deducted on an agreed amount on a specified date each month.
  • Ask For Something Upfront. For those working on large or expensive projects, you should definitely ask for an advance. For example, you could require a 25% deposit upfront, 25% during the halfway point, and the final 50% upon completion. If you have an advance, this will help you pay for and overhead or additional expenses that may incur during the project. Deposits also soften the blow if the client doesn’t pay your invoice.

 

Conclusion

There are two final points that you should keep in mind when it comes to invoicing. Number one; don’t continue working for a client if they don’t pay you. You could use that time working for a client who does pay their bill. Number two; if there is any intellectual properties involved, such as copy or software, that will belong to the client. However, you should hold onto the property until they have the invoice in full.

Ask For Help

Despite all of the planning and experience, there will be times when things will go wrong. This is especially true if you’re just starting out as a consultant. If that’s the case, you may want to ask for help and consider finding a mentor.

A mentor is someone who has the experience to know what has worked and what hasn’t for their consulting business. Because of this, you can exchange ideas with a mentor, along with receiving advice, feedback, and an objective point of view.

You can find mentors by asking your professional network, reaching out to an industry leader, or even hiring a mentor – which is pretty much what you, as an consultant.

Of course, mentors aren’t the only individuals you may have to seek advice from. When starting out you may need to seek the advice from accountants and attorneys if you need financial or legal assistance. This will ensure that you can get your business properly established and maintained, along without having to worrying about being penalized.

In short, you’re not an expert at everything, and asking for help can help your career. If you aren’t familiar with something that is outside of your field don’t hesitate to seek the advice from an expert.

Due Fact-Checking Standards and Processes

To ensure we’re putting out the highest content standards, we sought out the help of certified financial experts and accredited individuals to verify our advice. We also rely on them for the most up to date information and data to make sure our in-depth research has the facts right, for today… Not yesterday. Our financial expert review board allows our readers to not only trust the information they are reading but to act on it as well. Most of our authors are CFP (Certified Financial Planners) or CRPC (Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor) certified and all have college degrees. Learn more about annuities, retirement advice and take the correct steps towards financial freedom and knowing exactly where you stand today. Learn everything about our top-notch financial expert reviews below… Learn More