Consulting For Dummies [Paperback]

Bob Nelson (Author), Peter Economy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0470178094 | ISBN-13: 978-0470178096 | Edition: 2

“Refreshingly irreverent and lucidly written…go for it whether you’re a wannabe or an old pro!” – James H. Kennedy, Founder, Consultant News, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies.

 

“Whether you are a novice consultant or a pro, Consulting For Dummies coaches you to outstanding success. It is crammed with practical, proven tips and techniques to attract clients and to deliver a quality project profitably while having fun.” – Bradley Zehner II, Ph.D., Professor, Pepperdine University, and Founder, Zetec, Strategy and Marketing Consulting, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies.

 

“This book is a revelation – a must read.” – Ken Shelton, Editor, Executive Excellence, on the first edition of Consulting For Dummies.

 

Product Description
So you want to be a consultant? If you have expertise people are willing to pay for and the motivation to work hard at this exciting and rewarding profession, Consulting For Dummies, 2^nd Edition, supplies the rest. Newly revised – with lots more information for aspiring and established consultants alike – Consulting For Dummies, 2^nd Edition is without a doubt the most current and comprehensive book available today on the art and business of consulting. In it, you’ll find everything you need to set up your consulting business, generate demand for your services, create lasting solutions for your clients, and succeed!

 

This friendly, practical, guide shows you how to get your business off the ground and running smoothly, with the latest on developing a marketable idea, running your home office, writing winning proposals, selling your services, and getting referrals. You’ll find expert tips on setting fees, keeping track of time and money, and building a business with new clients, including the latest on using the Internet to market your services and make a name for yourself. Discover how to:

 

• Start a successful consulting business
• Build partnerships with clients
• Handle financial and legal issues
• Set your fees (including advanced pricing strategies)
• Write winning proposals
• Understand and develop solutions for client problems
• Make great presentations
• Negotiate contracts
• Promote your business
• Implement your recommendations and make them stick
• Practice the ABCs of selling
• Reward current clients for referrals
• Troubleshoot common consulting issues
• Take your consulting business to the next level

 

Complete with savvy tips on how to improve cash flow, find new clients, and increase your business with existing clients Consulting For Dummies, 2^nd Edition, helps you get your business up and running fast. And if you’ve already got an established consulting business, Consulting For Dummies, 2^nd Edition, helps you take your business to the next level – building your client base and increasing your bottom line.

From the Back Cover
The fun and easy way to turn your expertise into income

This practical, friendly guide shows you how to get your business off the ground and running smoothly, with the latest on developing a marketable idea, running your home office, writing winning proposals, selling your services, and getting referrals. You get expert tips on setting fees, keeping track of time and money, and building business with new clients. So whether you’re a novice looking for your first client or an experienced consultant searching for new techniques to build your business, you’ll find the answers here!

 

Discover how to:

• Handle financial and legal issues
• Promote your business
• Write winning proposals
• Make great presentations
• Negotiate contracts
• Take your business to the next level

 

About the Author
Bob Nelson (San Diego, CA) is founder and president of Nelson Motivation, Inc., a management training and consulting firm based in San Diego, California. As a practicing manager and a best-selling author, he is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of employee recognition, rewards, motivation, morale, retention, productivity, and management. He is author of the bestselling book 1001 Ways to Reward Employees (Workman) — which has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide — and coauthor of the best-selling book Managing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, with Peter Economy (Wiley), as well as 18 other books on management and motivation.
Bob has been featured extensively in the media, including television appearances on CNN, CNBC, PBS, and MSNBC; radio appearances on NPR, USA Radio Network and the Business News Network; and print appearances in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and many more. He writes a weekly column for American City Business Journals and a monthly column for Corporate Meetings & Incentives, among others.
Dr. Nelson received his PhD in management from The Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management Center of Claremont Graduate University in suburban Los Angeles, and received his MBA in organizational behavior from The University of California at Berkeley. For more information on products and services offered by Nelson Motivation, Inc. — including speaking or consulting services — call 800-575-5521. Visit Bob at his Web site: www.nelsonmotivation.com.

 

Peter Economy (La Jolla, CA) is a freelance business writer and publishing consultant who is associate editor of the Apex award-winning magazine Leader to Leader, and coauthor of the best-selling book Managing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, with Bob Nelson (Wiley), Giving Back with Bert Berkley (Wiley), The SAIC Solution with J. Robert Beyster (Wiley), as well as the author or coauthor of more than 35 other books on a wide variety of business and other topics. Visit Peter at his Web site: www.petereconomy.com and be sure to check out his blog at: www.theventureedge.com.

 

 

 

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The latest on using the Internet to market your services

The fun and easy way to make a name for yourself in this lucrative career field

So you want to be a consultant? This practical, friendly guide shows you how to get your business off the ground and running smoothly, with the latest on developing a marketable idea, running your home office, writing winning proposals, selling your services, and getting referrals. You get expert tips on setting fees, keeping track of time and money, and building business with new clients.

Discover how to:

• Start a successful consulting business

• Build partnerships with clients

• Handle financial and legal issues

• Make great presentations

• Negotiate contracts

• Promote your business

About the Author

Bob Nelson (San Diego, CA) is founder and president of Nelson Motivation, Inc., a management training and consulting firm based in San Diego, California. As a practicing manager and a best-selling author, he is an internationally recognized expert in the areas of employee recognition, rewards, motivation, morale, retention, productivity, and management. He is author of the bestselling book 1001 Ways to Reward Employees (Workman) — which has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide — and coauthor of the best-selling book Managing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, with Peter Economy (Wiley), as well as 18 other books on management and motivation.
Bob has been featured extensively in the media, including television appearances on CNN, CNBC, PBS, and MSNBC; radio appearances on NPR, USA Radio Network and the Business News Network; and print appearances in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and many more. He writes a weekly column for American City Business Journals and a monthly column for Corporate Meetings & Incentives, among others.
Dr. Nelson received his PhD in management from The Peter F. Drucker Graduate Management Center of Claremont Graduate University in suburban Los Angeles, and received his MBA in organizational behavior from The University of California at Berkeley. For more information on products and services offered by Nelson Motivation, Inc. — including speaking or consulting services — call 800-575-5521. Visit Bob at his Web site: www.nelsonmotivation.com.

Peter Economy (La Jolla, CA) is a freelance business writer and publishing consultant who is associate editor of the Apex award-winning magazine Leader to Leader, and coauthor of the best-selling book Managing For Dummies, 2nd Edition, with Bob Nelson (Wiley), Giving Back with Bert Berkley (Wiley), The SAIC Solution with J. Robert Beyster (Wiley), as well as the author or coauthor of more than 30 other books on a wide variety of business and other topics. Visit Peter at his Web site: www.petereconomy.com and be sure to check out his Free Book Project at: www.booksforfree.org.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 2 edition (May 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470178094
• ISBN-13: 978-0470178096
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Consulting

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beginner's Guide Worth Consulting!, August 12, 2008

By 

Andrew Shaffer "Author, Blogger" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Consulting For Dummies (Paperback)

Make no mistake: "Dummies" books are strictly for beginners, and "Consulting for Dummies" is no different. Despite their elementary approach to subject matter, the series is a wonderful introduction to many topics, including the wide world of consulting. Start here for an overview, and move on to bigger and better books after you understand the basics.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exactly as promissed, April 24, 2009

By 

Jesus A. Zuniga Martin "Chuch as a brick" (Mexico, D.F., Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Consulting For Dummies (Paperback)

Great as a checklist to get started without missing a thing and as a reference for the first year of operation. Useful even if you are not american. Good reminder of the compliance issues, the bussiness issues and the personal questions you must ask yourself before entering consulting bussiness.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST BOOK OUT THERE FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS!, January 8, 2009

By 

Novelist (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Consulting For Dummies (Paperback)

As the founder and owner of two small businesses, I have to say that this book has helped me tremendously. It addresses all the issues we consultants, freelancers, and small-product manufacturers have to deal with on a daily basis without resorting to lofty, B-school philosophies that sound good on paper but fail to generate results in the real world of working businesspeople. Kudos to Economy and Nelson for updating their book and listening to their reviewers! I'll be sure to purchase the updated edition as well!