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Independent Consulting: The Definitive Guide

by Elijah James

332 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #00-0208; ISBN 1-55212-542-4; US$27.50, C$31.95, EUR22.50, £16.00

Independent Consulting: The Definitive Guide is neither a manual on consulting exclusively nor a textbook on consulting exclusively. Instead, it is a combination of both. If you are interested in consulting as an accountant, the book does not provide you with the necessary accounting skills. It assumes that you are already appropriately qualified as an accountant. However, it does provide the consulting skills that will help to make you a successful independent consultant in accounting.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book This timely book is a 'must have' for anyone who is in the consulting business, or who is contemplating becoming an independent consultant. You may have specialized training in some field. You may have developed valuable skills over the years. This invaluable book shows you how you can use your acquired skills profitably as an independent consultant. This is an engaging book filled with tips that will help you succeed as an independent consultant. If you want to use your skills, know-how, and expertise to free yourself from an employer's control, this book shows you exactly how to do it, and make good money doing it. If you offer, or can offer, a service of any kind to anyone for a fee, Independent Consulting will show you how to make a good living from it. The book covers all the important aspects of independent consulting. In addition to pointing our areas of independent consulting that you can enter, Independent Consulting shows you how to: market your consulting services promote and advertise your business build up an active client base prepare an effective marketing plan price (charge for) your services write effective proposals write meaningful reports manage your consulting business plan and control consulting assignments deal with contracts You get all the above and more from Independent Consulting. It is truly the definitive guide.

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About the Author Elijah M. James is a prominent management, business, and economic consultant, and is the President of James Consulting Services (JCS) in Montreal, Canada. Dr. James has obtained the highest accreditation obtainable in the independent consulting field. A prolific writer, he has to his credit the publication of several books and articles in economics and related fields. Dr. James is a senior faculty member in the economics department at Dawson College, and a professor in the Master in Business Administration (MBA) program at Concordia University in Montreal. He has also taught at McGill University, and still lectures occasionally at John Abbott College.

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Sample Excerpt

Independent Consulting:The Definitive Guide is neither a manual on consulting exclusively nor a textbook on consulting exclusively. Instead, it is a combination of both. If you are interested in consulting as an accountant,the book does not provide you with the necessary accounting skills. It assumes that you are already appropriately qualified as an accountant. However,it does provide the consulting skills that will help to make you a successful independent consultant in accounting.

Independent Consulting:The Definitive Guide is designed for a wide readership. It will appeal specifically to the following:

• independent consultants in any field
• professionals and others who are contemplating entering the consulting field
• students in colleges and universities that offer a course in consulting
• people and organizations that use the services of consultants

The book will also serve as a useful reference for a variety of topics. Whether you are a seasoned independent consultant, a rookie, or a prospective independent consultant, you will find this book to be quite useful in many ways.

Special Features

1. Independent Consulting:The Definitive Guide is written in plain English. Technical jargon is used only where it is absolutely necessary.
2. The book combines textbook features with a "manual" approach to produce a good balance of theory and practice.
3. Significant amounts of illustrations are used throughout the book.
4. The author shares his experiences as an independent consultant with the readers as a means of illustrating certain points, with the hope that such experiences will influence decisions that independent consultants will have to make.
5. Each chapter introduces the reader to the material that will be covered in the chapter.
6. The summary at the end of each chapter serves as a quick review of the material presented in the chapter.
7. Each chapter contains an objective "self-test" so that readers can assess their comprehension and level of mastery of the material. Answers are provided at the end of each test set.

Independent Consulting:The Definitive Guide is conveniently divided into 12 chapters, covering the bare facts you need to know to run a successful consulting business. Chapters 1 and 2 introduce readers to independent consulting and the consulting business. Chapters 3,4 and 5 cover various aspects of marketing as they relate to the consulting business. Chapter 3 begins the discussion on marketing consulting services. Chapter 4 continues the discussion, examining certain marketing methods. Chapter 5 deals with the all important marketing plan.

The fee that consultants charge for their services determines their income. That is the subject of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 discusses proposal writing while Chapter 8 examines report writing. The consulting interview is the focus of Chapter 9 while Chapter 10 concerns itself with planning and controlling assignments. The final chapters (11 and 12) discuss managing a consulting business and consulting contracts respectively.

The dish has been prepared. The table is set. Help yourself to a hefty serving of Independent Consulting:The Definitive Guide. Bon appetit!!

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Catalogue Information

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