The Concise Guide to Becoming an Independent Consultant (Paperback)

~ (Author) "There is nothing about the services provided by typical consultants that distinguishes them from other contracted-for services, such as those provided by an interior decorator,..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

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.

See all Editorial Reviews

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.com Sales Rank: #895,583 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 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

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

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

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.