Tips for a Prospective Consultant
Question: I would like to start my own programming consulting business. Can you point out some sources of information regarding rules, laws, taxes, start-up costs and marketing? I have limited capital and resources.
--Zac Flowers, Los Angeles
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Answer: Programming comes in all flavors, so first you’ll need to focus on one particular area of expertise for your consulting clients. Hone in on what exactly you plan to offer, who your target client is, who your competitors are and how they’ve established their niche and what it is that has made other businesses in this field successful.
Go to a library with a large business resource section and spend some time researching such things as corporate status, advertising and marketing, and writing a business plan. If you want to be successful, you need to put in the time to understand what it takes to run your own business.
Any large bookstore will have many good books on entrepreneurship for beginners and many others on becoming a consultant. Study back issues of the Harvard Management Review and the Harvard Business Review for more advice.
Contact the Institute of Management Consultants at (800) 221-2557 or send them an e-mail at office@imcusa.org. This organization provides a place for consultants to meet like-minded people and get information on consulting. It also maintains a resource library, organizes special-interest groups, puts on conferences and workshops and publishes a code of ethics for consultants.
Do an online search on computer programming consultants and take a look at some of the home pages of other consultants in your field to see how they are doing business.
To be a successful consultant, you must be able to get out there and find clients, selling yourself and your expertise, so be clear on who you are, what value you can offer your potential clients and how much your services are worth before you go any further with your plans.
--Tenny Mickey, managing director, Human Resource Project Group, Los Angeles
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Q: I am aware of the fact that there are grants available to women, and I would like to receive further information on this. Is the information available on the Internet?
--Cleo Jones, Los Angeles
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A: While you may not find grants to start your company, there are many resources, including loan programs and financial management assistance, targeted specifically at women who want to start their own businesses.
Start off by contacting the Los Angeles chapter of the National Assn. of Women Business Owners, at (310) 352-4974. NAWBO-LA provides training, education, corporate connections, networking, certification, scholarships, awards and direct discount programs for female business owners and start-ups.
You should also check with groups such as New Economics for Women, 303 S. Loma Drive, Los Angeles, (213) 483-2060, and Women at Work, 50 N. Hill Ave., Suite 300, Pasadena, (626) 796-6870. While Women at Work exists primarily as a job search and career counseling center, the agency sponsors a workshop twice annually for women interested in starting their own businesses. The agency is holding an open house to celebrate its 20th anniversary Jan. 21 from 4 to 7 p.m.
The Small Business Administration offers numerous programs to assist female entrepreneurs, including loan programs targeted for women. For more information about the SBA’s services, call (818) 552-3203.
--John R. Tumpak, director of public affairs, Los Angeles district office, SBA, Glendale
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If you have a question about how to start or operate a small business, mail it to Karen E. Klein at the Los Angeles Times, 1333 S. Mayflower Ave., Suite 100, Monrovia 91016 or e-mail it to kklein6349@aol.com. Include your name, address and telephone number. The column is designed to answer questions of general interest. It should not be construed as legal advice.
