Is there a market for what I want to do or have experience in?

How do I get started and what are the priorities?

How do I learn the basics of the trade?

What is my support network? Who can I call on as colleagues?

How do I price a job and assess risk?

How do I put together a decent proposal?

What about the legalities and tax/financial considerations?

Is being a consultant a good idea for me personally?

Will there be an impact on me, or my family, if I go ahead?

We addressed just these questions when we set up ARA consulting a few years ago. Also, for many years, we acted as career consultants helping many of our clients decide on new career paths, including starting consultancy practices. As a result, we feel that we are perhaps uniquely qualified to provide help and support to those wanting to investigate and try this option.

Our Approach to Helping You

Over the following paragraphs we give an overview of the NoviaNet approach.

We recognise that we need to balance your wish for greater independence and freedom from bureaucracy against the necessary practicalities of a different style of working, such as the need for colleagues, professional sounding boards and for appropriate access to basic procedures and administrative support. So, we endeavour to provide sufficient structure to help you get your business profitably under way in the shortest possible time (and with the minimum of sleepless nights) while not intruding on what is to be your enterprise, which you will run as you decide. And, to reflect the widely differing needs of our clients, we aim to be highly flexible in how we tailor our services.

We use our skills and resources to enable you to undertake the journey - from your initial enquiry to the launch of your consultancy business - with confidence and professionalism.

Throughout the process you will understand the costs and risks associated with taking the next step. Our support at each phase would be agreed with you and our remuneration terms clearly established from the very beginning. Together these steps ensure there are no hidden costs or surprises and we can all focus on the job at hand. Our experience shows that some people will decide early on that the consultancy route is not for them and we have built in an appropriate means of discontinuing at minimal cost, should this arise.

Phased Approach

We have grouped the options available into three main phases to assist understanding but these are very flexible and can be modified or supplemented to meet specific needs and previous experience.

Phase 1

We assist you in making the decision as to whether consultancy is right for you. This will be a complex decision but two of the key variables will be:

the viability of the business you have in mind (which itself will depend on market demand, the relevance of your skills and experience, and resource availability)

personal considerations (lifestyle preference, personality, support from other stakeholders, financial position, domestic responsibilities, etc.)

Workshops and / or individual sessions will enable you to gather information, consider the evidence, and conclude whether you wish to pursue this option.

Phase 2

This phase surrounds the planning and establishment of your consultancy. Largely working on a one-to-one basis, the focus is on testing the viability of the proposition and planning the steps to launch the consultancy. The steps will include:

validating the market demand

positioning the service offering

producing a marketing plan

determining the resource requirements (e.g. people, finance and premises)

putting together a business plan

touching base with functional experts and financial / legal specialists

establishing an administrative system to control and monitor the operations

Phase 3

Phase 3 evolves seamlessly from the earlier stages as your consultancy is launched. Some of the issues begun in the second phase are continued here - an example being the need to do marketing 'for real'. In addition, systems are put in place to monitor and review progress across all the key activities. Using an agreed review schedule, coupled with a helpline to address unforeseen events, we will support your fledgling consultancy during its formative period. By acting as a sounding board on proposal writing or client presentations when actually required, our expertise is available to you precisely when you need it, providing a unique and individually focused learning opportunity.

Next Steps

To find out more about the NoviaNet approach to starting your consultancy business view the Contact page and take the first step by organising an initial exploratory discussion without obligation.

Other helpful Information

Publications

You may find the following books helpful, but note that very few offer guidance on the specific subject of consultancy.

"Your Own Business: The Complete Guide to Succeeding With a Small Business" by Phil Stone, How To Books

"Setting up and Running a Limited Company" by Robert Browning, How To Books

"Start Up and Run Your Own Business" by Jonathan Reuvid & Roderick Millar, Kogan Page

"The Which Guide to Starting Your Own Business" by Anthony Bailey, Which

"The Sunday Times Guide to Starting a Successful Business" by Michael Morris, Kogan Page

"Starting a Business in Britain" by Brian O'Kane (Virgin Books)

"Starting your own Business" by Jim Green, How To Books (Reprinted 2001)
ISBN 1 85703 652 2

"Starting you own Business" by Peter Hingston, Dorling Kindersley
ISBN 0 7513 1413 7

"The Small Business Handbook" by Philip and Sandra Webb, Prentice Hall ISBN 0 273 65432 2

One book that offers good advice on consultancy start up is the following, but it is not always in print:

"Start and run a Profitable Consulting Business" by Douglas A Gray, Kogan Page

Key Links

The following is a selection of websites that may prove useful to you. Please advise us if links have changed or you encounter new ones that could be useful to other potential business starters.