An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice Paperback - 2010 - 1st Edition

Do you relish your independence and autonomy? Are you looking for a job that makes use of your energy and expertise? How about a career that allows you to avoid the incessant layoffs due to downsizing, mergers, and acquisitions?

Whether you're an experienced independent consultant, just beginning your career, interested in consulting part time, or tired of working for other people, An Insider's Guide to Building a Successful Consulting Practice is the reference for you.

This practical, comprehensive guide gives you everything you need to understand the economic realities of independent consulting; choose the right business model; develop and implement a marketing plan; market your services through writing, speaking, and networking; write proposals that lead to business; and much more.

Each chapter is self-contained and can be used as a reference to address a particular area of interest or problem. Every chapter also begins with a real-life story that focuses on a specific challenge.

In addition, the book includes a special survey, conducted by the author, of The Consulting 200(TM), a group of successful independent consultants. Interspersed throughout the book are their responses to such questions as:

- Why they went independent

- How long it took to recover full income from their previous job

- What types of insurance they purchased in their first year

- How they charge for their services

Bruce Katcher, Ph.D., is an industrial/organizational psychologist and founder and president of The Discovery Consulting Group, Inc., a management consulting firm based in Sharon, Massachusetts. He has consulted to more than 100 clients and authored the award-winning book, 30 Reasons Employees Hate Their Managers: What Your People May Be Thinking and What You Can Do About It. In addition, he offers training and mentoring to aspiring and experienced independent consultants. Learn more at CenterForIndependentConsulting.com.

Adam Snyder is a freelance business writer based in New York. He has been published in dozens of national business publications, written numerous business books, and is president of Rembrandt Films (www.Rembrandtfilms.com).