Rank: Forum user 
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What would be your top five tips for setting up your own consultancy? And what insurances would you need?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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In no particular order;
Get a good accountant
Watch every penny you spend
Know when to say 'no'
Be approachable
Always deliver
Mind you I can think of many, many more.
Insurances depends on what you 'doing', but as a minimum Professional Indemnity.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Ensure you have genuine consultancy skills (very different to enforcement and practitioner)
Ensure there is a market for what you can offer
Network with other professionals
Set realistic financial goals/fee structure
Stick to the IOSH Code of Conduct
plus all of Victor's
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Make sure you have a marketing strategy. It don't matter how good you are, you will earn nowt without clients. As above always deliver but no when you are out of your depth - thse two can clash!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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After nearly two years as a consultant, in addition to the excellent advice already given, I would suggest:
* spend some time with an obliging, established consultant & pick his/her brains
* decide if you want to be self-employed or form a Limited Company
* decide how much you will need to live on
* align your fees according to your client & what is expected of you
* realise that there will be fallow days or even weeks!
Re Insurances; Professional Indemnity & Public Liability as a minimum.
Good luck!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Echo Zyggys top point - spend some time with an obliging, established consultant & pick his/her brains - I spent a good year with a consultancy, working for peanuts but it turned out to be invaluable. In my situation I learnt a lot about myself, e.g. was I good enough & did I enjoy it. Additionally & with the consultancy I was with I learnt just how not to do it. 12 years on they're out of business and I'm turning it away.
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Rank: Super forum user
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All good advice above.
To get new business, create your own website. Apart from my very first client, all my business in the last 7 years came through internet-assisted enquiries. And I have never paid google-ads to get on their top-ten list. My customers tended to ignore the top lot (expensive?) and scrolled under that to find me, having just enter a search for our city/county + safety + consultant.
Looking at a google search now, and a little way down the page there's a Local Business Results map of our city and I am the 'A' on the map, first time I've been 'A'! :o)
John
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Rank: Forum user
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I would say;
network and netwrok more even with competitors; you may be offered associate work, I was and it gave me considerable work and experience
Defo indemnity insurance
I beleive an obvious but critical part of consultancy work is 'customer service' skills; if done right your customers will return to you and you can start charging realistic fees for your work.
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Rank: New forum user
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Good T's and C's is a good one to bear in mind. Always get them signed and returned before you do the work, It doesn't matter what you charge if you don't get paid!!
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Rank: Forum user
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The other thing that has been good for me is a lawyer who specialises in SME's and IR 35 issues.
If you bid for work that is on a day rate it may end up looking like employment so to run it past them may save a lot of heartache.
They may suggest amendments or the refusal of 'employee benefits' that could harm you in the long run.
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Rank: New forum user
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Well how timely
I have just logged on to post "what experiences and lessons can you share when setting up a consultancy business?"
Needless to say I have just had the dreaded "your job is at risk" meeting this week.
Certainly a shock to the emotional system and it will take time to sink in & turn this into a positive
I'm indebted to this discussion outlet
I will read all with vigour
Thanking you
Tony
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