Moving business from single postings to operating a consultancy w multiple customers

[MeMeMe1966]

Has anyone any experience of this? Top tips. Things to look out for.

[northernladuk]

Wow... can you be any more generic? There is a lot to cover in all that.

Maybe you work most of it out and narrow it down to a couple of areas you are unsure of?

[northernladyuk]

Has anyone any experience of this? Top tips. Things to look out for.

Competitors.

[northernladuk]

Competitors.

You've got to be in it to have competitors don't you?

[northernladyuk]

You've got to be in it to have competitors don't you?

Not really. PC has competitors for the Valleys' Top Scroungers.

Edit: Actually I'm struggling to think of any.

[MeMeMe1966]

Wow... can you be any more generic? There is a lot to cover in all that.

Maybe you work most of it out and narrow it down to a couple of areas you are unsure of?

Ok.

I've only been contracting for 2.5 years but i have former colleagues in senior decision making roles in around 8 nearby organisations. These people rate me. I have some unique skills/knowledge experience that isn't prevalent in the market I operate in.

How do i turn what i do into a model where i don't just wait for the next call from an agency and take the role but rather move to a consultancy model with multiple customers and some staff.

I've thought through how i think it should go. Finalise the product offerings. Maybe offer free no-risk diagnostics lasting about 2 days in the beginning to get in the door. Phone up contacts and pitch myself over lunch etc.

To be honest I'm trying to get a feel for how it would go from someone who has done this already.

[northernladyuk]

Ok.

I've only been contracting for 2.5 years but i have former colleagues in senior decision making roles in around 8 nearby organisations. These people rate me. I have some unique skills/knowledge experience that isn't prevalent in the market I operate in.

How do i turn what i do into a model where i don't just wait for the next call from an agency and take the role but rather move to a consultancy model with multiple customers and some staff.

I've thought through how i think it should go. Finalise the product offerings. Maybe offer free no-risk diagnostics lasting about 2 days in the beginning to get in the door. Phone up contacts and pitch myself over lunch etc.

To be honest I'm trying to get a feel for how it would go from someone who has done this already.

Haven't done it before but am trying to get off the ground right now. Relationships are key but pitching over lunch probably won't cut it. You need to build this up and you should be catching up with potential clients regularly to get an understanding of what their pain points and needs are. You may have something you want to sell, but what you really want to sell is what your potential clients need to fix their pain. If you catch up regularly, then you are refining your understanding of what they need and also getting yourself placed in their mind as the solution.

That's my plan anyway. Don't intent to give away days' work for nothing as that's for the high cost operators but it may work for you. A bit of cnosultative sales is no bad thing though while you're meeting with potential clients.

I would be wary about bringing on staff at first because of the fixed cost. Better to take a smaller margin on a trusted contractor.

[blossom]

Ok.

I've only been contracting for 2.5 years but i have former colleagues in senior decision making roles in around 8 nearby organisations. These people rate me. I have some unique skills/knowledge experience that isn't prevalent in the market I operate in.

How do i turn what i do into a model where i don't just wait for the next call from an agency and take the role but rather move to a consultancy model with multiple customers and some staff.

I've thought through how i think it should go. Finalise the product offerings. Maybe offer free no-risk diagnostics lasting about 2 days in the beginning to get in the door. Phone up contacts and pitch myself over lunch etc.

To be honest I'm trying to get a feel for how it would go from someone who has done this already.

I personally haven't done it, but I've worked in a small consultancy that started this way.

Without knowing what you do, it's hard to say....do you actually have a tangible product (software of some sorts), or are you talking providing people consultancy services.

Generally, for you to expand, you would need to be able to put suitable bums on seats, so you'd be either taking on permies of your own (and charging them out at a hefty day rate compared to their salary), or you'd take on contractors and make a smaller margin on them. Badge them as your own, sell them out to your clients that sort of thing.

So while you might be well thought of by your decision makers, your relationships and reputation could quickly go down the pan if you don't have the right people working for you.

[northernladuk]

Ok.

I've only been contracting for 2.5 years but i have former colleagues in senior decision making roles in around 8 nearby organisations. These people rate me. I have some unique skills/knowledge experience that isn't prevalent in the market I operate in.

How do i turn what i do into a model where i don't just wait for the next call from an agency and take the role but rather move to a consultancy model with multiple customers and some staff.

I've thought through how i think it should go. Finalise the product offerings. Maybe offer free no-risk diagnostics lasting about 2 days in the beginning to get in the door. Phone up contacts and pitch myself over lunch etc.

To be honest I'm trying to get a feel for how it would go from someone who has done this already.

Still no help. TBH if you can't get passed this stage on your own I'd say you are going to struggle to get anywhere near what you want.

What are you selling?

[northernladyuk]

Still no help. TBH if you can't get passed this stage on your own I'd say you are going to struggle to get anywhere near what you want.

What are you selling?

That's a great question. Just while I'm answering that, let me pose something to you. We find that many people in your position struggle with a sense of inferiority to their beautiful successful wife. Does that ring true with you, or are there other pain points we might be able to work with you on?