Galerie » what you promise to do for the client

With layoffs and downsizing becoming more and more frequent in today's job market an increasing number of people are parlaying their experience and know-how into a small consulting practice. Consulting can be a wonderful and fulfilling field but to be successful you have to be much more than a well-paid business advisor.


In part 1 we covered how to set up Nike Cortez LA Sale , market, and qualify leads for your consulting business. In part 2 we will cover how to write proposals, contracts, and build better relations with your clients.


Once you've met with a prospect, identified problems, and convinced the prospect that you have something to offer Nike Cortez Kenny III Sale , you will try to sell him or her specific solutions. Your solutions should be presented in a proposal that, if the client accepts it, forms the basis of the contract. Knowing how to write a good proposal is one of the most important things a consultant must know to succeed. Poorly written or poorly organized proposals will destroy any chance for a contract.


While every proposal is different, all proposals should contain certain key things:


* Background and definition of the problem. Review what caused the client to call on you, and what specific problems your work will solve.


* Scope of the assignment you propose. Explain what you are going to do to solve the problem. It's more important here to also pinpoint what you will not be doing. Don't leave the boundaries of what you intend to do fuzzy or the client will never be satisfied with your work.


* How will you be doing it. Give details on how you'll conduct the assignment. You should include specific information but still keep it general so that the client understands it can't be done without you. Also include how and how often you will be reporting to the client on the progress of the project.


* Deliverables. List what you will be producing during the course of the assignment (plans, seminars Nike Cortez Kenny I Sale , programs, designs, etc.) Also specify who will retain ownership of what you produce (for example, whether the client can conduct seminars based on the program you conceived during the project).


* Fees and costs. Make an estimate of how much the client can expect to pay, broken down into fees and reimbursable expenses. For example, ?Fees are estimated not to exceed $25 Nike Cortez Flyleather Sale ,000, and reimbursable expenses are estimated at $4,000.?


* Resources needed. These include on-site desk and computer equipment, access to materials, and specific personnel resources and the roles the people are to play.


* Schedule. Pinpoint when the project starts and when you expect the assignment to be completed if started on time.


Use graphics and illustrations in your proposal because they help to convey a lot more information. Don't stop your marketing efforts after you've submitted the proposal. Follow up with calls, letters Nike Cortez Flyknit Sale , and e-mails to be sure the proposal has been received, and ask prospects if they need more information. Don't hesitate to check periodically on the progress of the proposal evaluation.


One of the most important questions a consultant can ask is, ?How much should I charge?? Fees compensate your time, effort, and know how. But they must also cover your overhead, expenses Nike Cortez A.L.C. Sale , benefits, and time spent on marketing between assignments.


The fee structure you choose depends on the project. If you can estimate accurately how much time you are going to spend, then you can ask for a fixed price plus expenses. If the time you will spend on the project is unpredictable or variable, then bill by the hour to ensure that you are paid for your time.


Never start a project without getting a signed approval from the client. There is too much money, too much time at stake, and too many details to cover. Never base the agreement on a handshake http://www.cortezshoesonsale.com/ , no matter how friendly you are with the client.


A contract can take on one of three forms. One option is to include a letter of agreement in the proposal for the client to sign. It should clearly indicate that the signature signals approval for the contract. You can also have a separate contract, preapproved by your lawyer, for the client to sign. Or, in some cases, clients will draw up their own contract. It's very important in this situation to let your lawyer review the agreement.


Here are some important points that should be included in every contract:


* Payment and billing terms. Specify how frequently and how much you will be paid. In slow economic times, payments tend to be delayed Cheap Nike Cortez Sale , so you may want to indicate an interest charge on payments delayed over thirty days.


* Scope of work. As in the proposal, be careful what you promise to do for the client. If the limits of the project are too broad or fuzzy, you could be responsible for years of follow-up work at no fee.


* Duration. Some projects, especially if you are dealing with the public sector, can be delayed suddenly, even in the midst of your assignment. By specifying a duration in the contract Nike Cortez Sale Clearance , you protect yourself from unforeseen delays and stoppages of fees. But you are also reassuring clients that they will see results in a reasonable time frame.


* Guarantees. Be careful about what you guarantee in terms of project results. Guarantee only that which you have control. Don't guarantee increases in productivity even if you're working on a productivity-improvement assignment. There are too many other factors over which you have no control.


* Ownership. In the contract, even more than in a proposal, it is important to specify who owns materials you develop during the assignment. For example, will training materials you develop in conjunction with a training project be owned exclusively by the client, or can they be used by you for future training assignments.