The Concise Guide to Becoming an Independent Consultant [Paperback]

Herman Holtz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 1999

One of the biggest names in the consulting business shows you everything you need to get started--and succeed!

Packed with expert advice, helpful tips, and industry secrets to successful self-marketing, this guide--an abridged version of the bestselling How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant--gives you the crucial tools and techniques you need to both survive and thrive in this highly competitive field. From founding your business to writing proposals to negotiating fees, The Concise Guide to Becoming an Independent Consultant has complete, up-to-date details on:
* Determining the right fields and services for consulting.
* The most common mistakes made by new consultants and the ten laws of survival.
* Finances, taxes, and potential legal issues for consultants.
* Marketing to the public sector, including federal, state, and local government.
* Proposal formats and rationales.
* Alternatives to formal contract documents and letters of agreement.
* Vital consulting skills necessary for draft writing and presentations.
* How to be a cyberspace consultant.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

One of the biggest names in the consulting business shows you everything you need to get started—and succeed!

Packed with expert advice, helpful tips, and industry secrets to successful self-marketing, this guide—an abridged version of the bestselling How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant—gives you the crucial tools and techniques you need to both survive and thrive in this highly competitive field. From founding your business to writing proposals to negotiating fees, The Concise Guide to Becoming an Independent Consultant has complete, up-to-date details on:

• Determining the right fields and services for consulting.
• The most common mistakes made by new consultants and the ten laws of survival.
• Finances, taxes, and potential legal issues for consultants.
• Marketing to the public sector, including federal, state, and local government.
• Proposal formats and rationales.
• Alternatives to formal contract documents and letters of agreement.
• Vital consulting skills necessary for draft writing and presentations.
• How to be a cyberspace consultant.

About the Author

HERMAN HOLTZ is one of America's leading experts on business and consulting. Holtz has been a consultant to such companies as IBM, GE, Dun and Bradstreet, Chrysler, as well as to the EPA, OSHA, and Georgetown University, and is the author of more than twenty bestselling books on consulting, marketing, and sales. Some of his most recent books include How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant, Third Edition; The Consultant's Guide to Proposal Writing, Third Edition; The Independent Consultant's Brochure and Letter Handbook; and The Business Plan Guide for Independent Consultants, all published by Wiley.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 4th edition (March 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471315737
• ISBN-13: 978-0471315735
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,137,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Herman Holtz updated for the late nineties, September 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Concise Guide to Becoming an Independent Consultant (Paperback)

Holtz's general consulting guide has been updated for the new millenium with this new concise edition. Notice it is concise, perhaps in deference to the whole notion of the lack of reading time our contemporary business environment. Nevertheless the book is packed full of advice about the nuts and bolts of consulting and the perspective is useful to experienced consultants as well as beginners..

I was struck by two issues that are emphasized in the book. There is lots of attention paid to the notion of continuous marketing. According to Holtz, most businesses fail because of a lack of a marketing strategy; they just don't have enough sales. The other emphasis is an in-depth discussion of consulting to government agencies at the local, state and federal levels

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not So Concise, January 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Concise Guide to Becoming an Independent Consultant (Paperback)

I have to admit that there was some useful information in the book. Especially in setting fees, importance of retainers, the current outlook towards the consulting industry. While Mr. Holtz does have a great amount of knowledge, that can be quickly seen in the text, I find his writing style lacking and even frustrating. Many subjects appear in the book multiple times - a rehashing of subjects he has already discussed. This, and the back and forth references of subject matter was disconcerting. I think that if the duplication of information was removed from the book, the nearly 300 page book would be about 25% smaller.

3.0 out of 5 stars Full of good info, but "concise"?, October 9, 2009

By 

TitanShane (Birmingham, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Concise Guide to Becoming an Independent Consultant (Paperback)

I find the title funny because this book is anything but concise... It has lots of good info but the author covers the same ground over and over in some places... Makes for a frustrating read... This book could have done with a good editor... If you can put up with the frustration, there is definitely something to be gained from getting this information.