Monthly Archives: June 2017
Do I Need a License to Consult???
Some times yes … sometimes no… sometimes maybe… Here is a quick overview:
–If you are a business consultant, you probably don’t need a license other than possible tax licenses. There are no licensing boards for business consultants.
–If you are a professional consultant, however, you may need a license before offering your services to the public. In certain professions it is mandatory – don’t even think of practicing medicine or law without a license.
In other professions like engineering or accounting, while legally mandated it is not always enforced. But don’t use the title PE (Professional Engineer) or CPA (Certified Public Accountant) unless you are licensed – you will invite the wrath of licensing boards.
Nevertheless, I often encourage my engineering colleagues to pursue a PE license. The following comment expands on why I do so. This was in response to a rather heated discussion on an engineering blog on the necessity of a PE license.
Glad to hear of your success against some clearly overreaching bureaucrats.
I say that as a PE/EE. Did getting my PE license make me a smarter engineer? No, but it did provide credibility when I started a consulting engineering firm 30 years ago, just like a CPA does for an accountant. It also has opened more than a few doors.
The PE license is valuable if you work for a consulting firm. This happened to an electronics design colleague (PE/EE) some years ago. He obtained his PE as a personal goal, not needing it while working for defense contractors.
Laid off in a slump, prospects were grim. That is, until he inquired at an engineering consulting firm, where most of their PEs were in electrical power. The firm was ecstatic to hire a PE/EE with electronics experience, to handle building electronics systems. Thus began a new and satisfying career.
As such, I often recommend the PE license — you never know when it might be useful. (Says the engineer who was laid off twice before he finally wised up and started consulting.)
More details on the engineer above here. Remember, when consulting it is all about credibility and visibility. Licenses and other valid credentials enhance that credibility.
P.S. Will be slowing down for the summer. Have grandkid plans, and hope to get in some RV time too. Best wishes for your summer too!
© 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
Consulting Fee Study – 2017…
Here is a link to a recent fee study by Consulting Success.
While this blog focuses on general business consulting, technical consultants should find this of use as well.
FYI, typical fees at Kimmel Gerke Associates were project based. Typical projects were in the $5,000 – $20,000 range and up. Typical annual compensations exceeded our corporate salaries, plus providing retirement funding, profits, and tax benefits.
As such, we did better than staying “employed.” Plus we had a lot more fun and freedom.
Not bragging — just saying it can be done. But it doesn’t happen overnight or without some work. You first need to build “credibility and visibility.”
Never too soon to start the process, so ask “What can I do TODAY?” Best wishes…
Here are three posts to help you start…
P.S. May slow down here for the summer, but stay tuned as I continue to share thoughts on making your own JumpToConsulting.
© 2017 – 2018, https:. All rights reserved.
On Competitive Advantages and other Buzzwords…
Time for a mini-rant, against advice often promoted by those wanting to sell you something.
For years, it was very popular in marketing circles to identify your USP (Unique Sales Proposition.) Large management consulting firms and their MBAs loved the term.
Later, that morphed into the UBP (Unique Buying Proposition) as the marketers realized the focus should be on the customer, not the product or service. At least it was a start.
Today, I read yet another marketing blog post that emphasized more buzzwords. (Be Unique, be the Thought Leader, blah, blah, blah…) The post segued into Positioning, Differentiation, Branding, etc. It even offered a comprehensive course on the topics.
But does all this apply to the small consulting firm? Often not, in my opinion. In fact, I suspect the overemphasis on buzzwords may prevent some considering consulting from actually jumping in. Paralysis by analysis.
Consider a surgeon. Does he/she need to be unique — the only specialist in the field or the most highly renowned surgeon in the world? Of course not. The surgeon simply needs to be able to help the patient. Isn’t that what consulting is all about?
Like the overworked Thought Leadership term, these attributes are not be necessary to start a small consulting firm. All you really need is Visibility & Credibility. These can be easily achieved with a bit of effort and some simple lead generation techniques.
So don’t let the fear of not being Unique, Differentiated, or Positioned stop you. While the buzzwords may apply to large consulting firms, they may not apply to you.
Pick your niches, start your marketing, and jump in. Time better spent than mastering another buzzword.
<End of rant>
P.S. Still not sure? Jump in part-time as a side-hustle. I did that for almost ten years, which greatly facilitated my full-time JumpToConsulting thirty years ago.
© 2017, https:. All rights reserved.
