A clear, concise resource for entering this lucrative career fieldConsulting For Dummies, 2nd Edition includes a reorganization and narrower focus of the topic, with new or updated information that delves into the specifics of running your own consulting business. There is greater emphasis on the business of consulting, along with financial and legal issues involved in setting up a consulting business, deepening coverage of consulting proposals, and entirely new chapters on higher-level consulting issues that more-established consultants are demanding.

A clear, concise resource for entering this lucrative career fieldConsulting For Dummies, 2nd Edition includes a reorganization and narrower focus of the topic, with new or updated information that delves into the specifics of running your own consulting business. There is greater emphasis on the business of consulting, along with financial and legal issues involved in setting up a consulting business, deepening coverage of consulting proposals, and entirely new chapters on higher-level consulting issues that more-established consultants are demanding.

Introduction 1Part I: So You Want to Be a Consultant 7Chapter 1: Introducing the Wonderful World of Consulting 9Chapter 2: Determining Whether Consulting Is Right for You 21Chapter 3: Taking the Plunge into Consulting (Or at Least Getting Your Feet Wet) 35Part II: Getting Your Consulting Business Off the Ground 49Chapter 4: Setting Up Your Consulting Firm 51Chapter 5: Getting a Grip on Legalities, Finances, and Ethics 71Chapter 6: Setting Your Fees 89Part III: The Short Course in Consulting 107Chapter 7: Defining the Problem and Writing a Winning Proposal 109Chapter 8: Collecting the Client Data You Need 127Chapter 9: Problem-Solving and Developing Recommendations 137Chapter 10: Tell It Like It Is: Presenting Your Recommendations 147Chapter 11: Implementation: Making Your Prescriptions Stick 159Part IV: Selling Your Consulting Services 167Chapter 12: The ABCs of Selling 169Chapter 13: Getting the Word Out: Promoting Your Business 185Chapter 14: Building Business and Referrals through Current Clients 199Chapter 15: Building Business with New Clients 211Part V: Taking Care of Business 229Chapter 16: Contracting for Business: It's a Deal! 231Chapter 17: Keeping Track of Your Time and Money 249Chapter 18: Communicating Your Way to Success 263Chapter 19: Troubleshooting Common Consulting Issues 277Part VI: Taking Your Consulting Business to the Next Level 289Chapter 20: Building on Your Success 291Chapter 21: Advanced Pricing Strategies 301Chapter 22: Enhancing Your Image and Reputation 311Part VII: The Part of Tens 321Chapter 23: Ten Ways to Improve Your Cash Flow 323Chapter 24: Ten Effective Marketing Strategies for New Business 329Chapter 25: Ten Ways to Build Business with a Client 335Index 341