The Business Plan Guide for Independent Consultants

At last, a complete business plan guide just for independent consultants!

Unlike most general business plans books that focus on raising capital and applying for loans, this unique do-it-yourself guide concentrates on defining services and products. Written by Herman holtz, the nation's leading expert on making it as an independent consultant, it tells you everything you need to know to develop a realistic, workable business plan that prepares you for any contingency and helps guide your day-to-day decision making as your business flourishes and grows. Numerous illustrations and worksheets guide your every step and save you the drudgery of starting from scratch. From mission statementsand start-up decisions to identifying clients and products from marketing plans and rate structures to prospects for diversification and income projections, this book covers all business planning topics of crucial concern to consultants, including:

• Gathering data for your plan
• Working up a general outline
• Defining your products or services
• Market research and sales strategies
• Rate structures and income projections
• Worksheets to help you create objectives and set goals
• Sample business plan

0. Introduction
1. Why You Need a Business Plan
• What Is a Business Plan?
• For Whom Is the Plan Written?
• The Basic Elements
• A Major Reason for Writing a Business Plan
• How Big Should a Business Plan Be?
2. Mission Statements and Business Definitions
• Making a Start
• What Business Are You In?
• Developing Your Business Definitions
• The Final Mission Statement
• One Mission Statement or Several
3. Start-Up Planning
• The Importance of a Good Beginning
• Services to Offer
• Business Location
• Business Organization
• Choosing a Business Name
• Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, and Supplies
• Basic Marketing Materials
• Administrative Considerations
• Short-Term Goals and Objectives
• Estimate of Start-Up Costs
• Now, the Nitty-Gritty
4. Initial Commitments
• The Form of Organization: Choices and Considerations
• Side Effects of Decisions
• Planning the Next Phase
5. Market Analysis
• The Ultimate Niche Market: Too Good to Be True?
• Who Will Be Your Clients?
• Identify the Service
• Identify the Clients
• A Word About the Worksheets
6. Analyzing and Qualifying Markets and Segments
• Qualifying Your Prospects
• Qualifying Your Markets and Niches
• Refining Your Analysis
• Designing the Database
7. The Marketing Plan
• The Marketing Process
• A Marketable Service
• Reaching Your Market
• Next, the ""How To""
8. Planning the Presentations and Using the Tools
• It Is a Matter of Presentation
• What Motivates a Prospect to Become a Client?
• Using Your Sales Tools
9. Zeroing in on Your Market
• Market Research Versus Market Intelligence
• Gathering Market Intelligence
10. Rates and Pricing
• The Basic Variables
• Establishing a Pricing Policy
• What Your Rate Should Include
11. The Financial Side of the Business
• The Music of the Numbers
• Accounting Systems
• The Need for Start-Up Capital
• Working Capital
• Income Projection
• Cash Needs Calculation
• Summarizing Your Financial Data
• Where to Go from Here
12. A Sample Business Plan
13. Appendix: References and Resources

This is an excellent book about starting you own consulting business or just how to write a realistic business plan.

Holtz tells it like it is, and manages to give good advice while being entertaining.

Recommended.