Many businesspeople need critical information but don’t know where to find it. Sure, it’s readily available on the Internet, but most businesspeople don’t have the time or staff to wade through a million Web pages searching for hard-to-find information. That’s where the information consultant comes in. If you’re a whiz at tracking down information online or in libraries, databases or government archives, why not use your skills to start your own information consultant business? This step-by-step guide shows you how to become an information consultant and make big money helping corporations, institutions and even other small businesses answer questions about industry trends, developments, mergers, markets and other topics. This book provides all the tools you need to start, run and grow your own profitable business, including: • Tips on identifying markets, establishing pricing and promoting your business • Cost-cutting ideas, common mistakes to avoid and lists of helpful resources • Useful sample forms, checklists and work sheets to guide you through every aspect of the startup process • Secrets for quickly finding valuable Web sites that most people don’t know about • Tricks for distinguishing reliable information resources from bogus ones

Leading entrepreneurs into the multi-billion dollar consulting industry, the experts at Entrepreneur show you how to capitalize on your talents to help others achieve their business goals. Coached by experts, learn to define your market, find and keep clients, obtain licenses, set rates, monitor cash flow, hire staff, prepare contracts, agreements, and reports, and more. Includes new interviews with successful consultants, updated answers to frequently asked questions, and a completely refreshed list of the top 20 consulting businesses.

Consultants work in all fields. They operate from offices and from home, work for investment firms and as personal trainers, or have expertise as accountants and wedding planners. The independence, flexibility, and potential income it brings make for an exciting and satisfying career. And it’s an increasingly popular one for highly skilled, motivated professionals who’ve been laid off in this unstable economy. This guide features tips and tricks to help beat the competition, including how to: Set—and keep—personal and financial goals Organize important paperwork Price and market specific services Create advertising and publicity plans Grow a business, from finding a partner to managing employees Minimize and eliminate business risks Consultants are paid well for their advice—if they know how to operate a successful business. With advice from experts in a variety of areas, this valuable guide helps you create the business of your dreams!

How can you take your skills and expertise and package and present it to become a successful consultant? There are proven time-tested principles, strategies, tactics and best-practices the most successful consultants use to start, run and grow their consulting business. Consulting Success teaches you what they are. In this book you'll learn: - How to position yourself as a leading expert and authority in your marketplace - Effective marketing and branding materials that get the attention of your ideal clients - Strategies to increase your fees and earn more with every project - The proposal template that has generated millions of dollars in consulting engagements - How to develop a pipeline of business and attract ideal clients - Productivity secrets for consultants including how to get more done in one week than most people do in a month - And much, much more

Many business people need critical information but don't know where to find it. Sure, it's readily available on the Internet, but most businesspeople don't have the time or staff to wade through a million Web pages searching for hard-to-find information. That's where the information consultant comes in. If you're a whiz at tracking down information online or in libraries, database or government archives, why not use your skills to start your own information consultant business? This step-by-step guide shows you how to become an information consultant and make big money helping corporations, institutions and even other small businesses answer questions about industry trends, developments, mergers, markets and other topics. This book provides all the tools you need to start, run and grow your own profitable business, including: Tips on identifying markets, establishing pricing and promoting your business Cost-cutting ideas, common mistakes to avoid and lists of helpful resources Useful sample forms, checklists and work sheets to guide you through every aspect of the startup process Secrets for quickly finding valuable Web sites that most people don't know about Tricks for distinguishing reliable information resources from bogus ones Looking to profit from your ace fact-finding skills? This book, part of Entrepreneur magazine's highly regarded Startup Series, is your key to success!

An Arsenal of Shrewd Tactics and Winning Strategies to Make You a Major Account Sales Success Knowing how to get to the decision maker, deal with the competition, understand buyer psychology, and service the client--these are the keys to success when you need to nail down major accounts. Now, for the first time, here's a book of practical, proven-effective strategies and tactics for the entire major account sales cycle. Based on Neil Rackham's exhaustive research, the strategies you'll find here will enable you to . . . Tailor your selling strategy to match each step in the client's decision-making process. Ensure that you won't lose your customers because you'll know the psychology of the buyer and how to respond to their doubts. Gain entry to accounts through many different windows of opportunity. Deal with competitive situations, take on bigger competitors, and win using strategies that the author's meticulous research shows are employed by the most successful salespeople. Handle negotiations, concessions on price, and term agreements skillfully and effectively. Offer the ongoing technical and maintenance support that keeps your major accounts yours. From a world-renowned sales innovator, this first-of-a-kind A-to-Z presentation of major account strategy puts sales success in your hands. Make it yours today. Read Major Account Sales Strategy.

Join the thousands of professionals who have already gotten Insidethe Technical Consulting Business -- and discover how to channelyour technical know-how into an exciting career as an independentconsultant. This Third Edition of Harvey Kaye's bestselling guidegives you the focused, no-nonsense help you need to start and runyour own consulting practice in today's ultracompetitiveenvironment. What's inside: Setting up your consulting business.The lowdown on finances, record-keeping, office space, taxes, andchoosing the form of business organization that's right foryou. Insider's guide to proposals and contracts. Gives plenty ofexamples to use in your own consulting practice. Marketing secrets your boss never told you. Tips on creating demandfor your services and keeping your clients coming back for repeatbusiness. PLUS ALL-NEW MATERIAL ON: * Creating your personal strategic marketing plan. A step-by-stepguide to developing and maintaining your competitive edge. * Learn from the pros. "Meet the Pros" interviews show howsuccessful consultants handled some of the very problems you'relikely to encounter. * Building successful client relationships. The inside scoop onkeeping clients happy while protecting your own professionalinterests. * The technical challenges of consulting. A consultant's primer onproblem-solving, coping with the information explosion, andorganizing for maximum productivity.