| One of the best things about being in the | | | | cheaper and more targeted then my other |
| Information Technology industry is | | | | attempts.The reason you want to use a |
| consulting. For purposes of this article I'm | | | | postcard is two fold. 1) It's cheaper 2) Its |
| using the term consulting in reference to | | | | easy to hang on to. When I used 8 1/2 x 11 |
| side jobs or moonlighting work. While full | | | | paper flyers I only could reach those with an |
| time Computer Consultants can also benefit | | | | immediate computer problem. Everyone else |
| from the tips in this article, I'm really | | | | simply tossed the ad. The idea it to get |
| writing at the IT Employee who works a | | | | them to keep your card for later so offer an |
| full-time IT job and then takes extra jobs | | | | incentive to this. Give them $10.00 off |
| for extra money on the side.So your working | | | | their first job or offer a free consultation. |
| your regular job and you want to earn more | | | | You want them calling you not the other |
| working for yourself. Here's a few ideas to | | | | guy.BillingOk here's my take on billing and |
| get started. First realize that its now | | | | getting paid. Judgment is the key. When you |
| almost impossible to function these days | | | | bill a business be sure to add to your |
| without a computer in your home. In fact | | | | invoice that payment is due upon receipt. |
| many homes now have 2-3 PC's and eventually | | | | Does this mean you'll get paid immediately? |
| they are going to break or will need to be | | | | Nope but if you leave it out businesses will |
| hooked together.Word of Mouth Is KingTo | | | | assume a Net 30 approach and pay you 30 days |
| start, get yourself some business cards that | | | | after receipt and that's no good. So put the |
| explain your services. DO NOT LIST YOUR RATE | | | | payment due upon receipt and see what |
| I made this rookie mistake and was tied to my | | | | happens. I give them 30 days anyway before |
| lowball rate once I was more established. So | | | | sending a second invoice with a clear notice |
| start by spreading the word at work. | | | | that this is a PAST DUE invoice. Most times |
| Hopefully your employer is tolerant of this. | | | | this clears things up. Now I should add that |
| To know the limits simply ask someone in HR | | | | I do have some customers that are |
| if the company has a policy regarding work | | | | inconsistent about how long it takes to get |
| outside of the job. If not you may be able | | | | paid but they do pay and furthermore I LIKE |
| to post a notice in the lunchroom or company | | | | working for them. Maybe they are the type |
| classified ad board. However if this is not | | | | that doesn't watch over my shoulder or gives |
| an option just spread the word among | | | | me the key to the place or lets me take stuff |
| co-workers you trust. Word of mouth is | | | | home to work on.My point is you be the judge |
| always the best way to bring in new business. | | | | where the hassle is worth the delay if this |
| Everyone knows someone with a broken | | | | occurs. Most important spell out your terms |
| computer and you just need to get people | | | | on the invoice and send reminders every 30 |
| talking. Once you get an opportunity, | | | | days. Now home users are different, you |
| provide more service than the customer | | | | should expect them to pay on the spot or very |
| expects. Remember these initial jobs are | | | | soon after. Just as the local PC shop |
| seeds so even if you don't make a profit, the | | | | expects them to pay before getting their |
| goodwill you earn will keep you working down | | | | stuff back you should too. Judgment comes |
| the road.The golden ring in doing this is to | | | | into play here as well. Some will ask you to |
| find someone who will recommend you to a | | | | stop by for one thing and then keep you |
| small or medium size business that does not | | | | longer than expected. DO NOT bring a |
| have its own IT staff.Why Businesses? | | | | prepared invoice based on what you believe |
| Because its steady work and businesses know | | | | the charge will be. It's always better to |
| that time is money. Businesses tend to pay | | | | tell them the cost and then e-mail them the |
| on-time, they don't keep junk on their | | | | invoice after you've been paid.Tax TipsIf |
| systems, and if a job runs over the amount of | | | | your serious about an on-going consulting |
| time you expect they are generally willing to | | | | business take the time to set yourself up |
| keep the clock running so long as their | | | | properly. This will pay dividends in |
| systems are fixed. Home clients on the other | | | | increased revenue and tax savings. Assign a |
| hand tie the money for the job with the price | | | | room in your house as your home office. This |
| of the PC. This works against us as PC's | | | | will let you deduct any costs related to that |
| become cheaper. Businesses assign a monetary | | | | office from your earnings as a consultant. |
| value to their time and data so these are | | | | There is no law your business has to make a |
| easier clients to work with. They also view | | | | profit so as long as you document the |
| hiring you as just another cost of business | | | | expenses you deduct you can do so even if the |
| and will not hesitate to let any employee | | | | expenses exceed your earnings. The benefit |
| call you in after you gain their | | | | here is that you get some tax savings from |
| trust.AdvertisingI've tried advertising in | | | | your regular paycheck from the loss of your |
| newspapers and never found it to pay off. | | | | business. Hopefully your business gets going |
| One of the best things I've done besides word | | | | and earns a profit but until this is the case |
| of mouth is to use my neighborhood. I put a | | | | you may as well do what you can to save |
| flyer in each newspaper box advertising my | | | | money. A few examples of things you can |
| services. The target here is the person who | | | | deduct are the insurance, utilities, and |
| works out of a home office. This is another | | | | internet costs proportional to the % of |
| attempt to secure a client whose time is | | | | square feet your office consumes. I've even |
| money. From here apply the same principle of | | | | heard that technically you can deduct dog |
| outperforming their expectations. Let them | | | | related expenses if you can prove the dog |
| know you appreciate referrals and provide | | | | also guards the home office. I don't |
| them with plenty of extra business cards. I | | | | recommend stretching anything however.Sales |
| once was hired to separate two businesses | | | | TaxGet yourself established as a business in |
| during a purchase. While one half was my | | | | your state so you can charge sales tax. I |
| client I made sure the other business owner | | | | know this sounds crazy but if your going to |
| knew the level of my service and went out of | | | | sell your time, why not sell the parts and |
| my way to ensure his systems worked as well | | | | mark them up 10% so you make more money. I |
| or better once I left. Of course I taped my | | | | used to require my clients to purchase items |
| card to each of his servers.A better way than | | | | and then call me to install them. Now I just |
| walking your neighborhood is to obtain a list | | | | make sure I trust they'll pay and order the |
| of the addresses in your neighborhood and | | | | items myself. This lets me increase revenue |
| visit and start a mailing campaign. Select | | | | and as long as you keep track of what you |
| the postcard mailing option and simply upload | | | | charged you simply pay the sales tax at the |
| your flyer, send them your list of addresses | | | | end of the year, couldn't be easier.Hopefully |
| and enter your credit card number. I've | | | | those tips will help you start a small |
| found that I can canvass a 300 house | | | | business on the side. From there you can |
| neighborhood for about $40.00 - $50.00 much | | | | grow or shrink the business as you see fit. |