Rank: New forum user 
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This is general post to members who have taken the plunge and are working for themselves , after slipping into a cycle of moving companies every 4/5 years , I am considering going it alone - I am looking for any advice / guidance from members on how to start the ball rolling .
Maybe point me to past threads which have covered this topic .
regards
GF
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Rank: Super forum user 
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GF
I took the plunge just over a year ago. Obviously you need to consider how the work will come in. I am working on a full-time contract and therefore not a problem for me, plus I do some odd work for SMEs. If I was starting from a blank canvas I would try and get a position that only required 2/3 days a week and source other individual work or alternatively join an organisation as an associate. I guess it also depends on the type of industry(s) you intend to cover or whether it is as a general practitioner not specialising in any particular sector. Some type of work lend themselves better to consultancy work than others, but you do not indicate your own circumstances.
Ray
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The IOSH Guide on Consultancy may help - downloadable from 'Information and resources' above.
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Rank: Super forum user
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GF, it is a hard grind at the moment. Many consultants and freelance workers are struggling. As metioned you would be better trying to go contract/part-time with a view to finding other consultancy work until you have built up enough clients.
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Rank: Forum user
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It is worth looking at what areas you are strongest in and really marketing yourself there first to see how it is received. Like everything niches can do very well.
You need to set yourself apart from the others out there so give it some thought - and again also dont under estimate the contacts you have made over the years. Now is the time to give them a bell!!!
One piece of advice I would give however and it was a life saver to me was to get yourself some good accountancy advice. There can be tax issues if you get a lot of work with one company for a large percentage of the year depending on how you are registered (IR 38 seems to ring a bell). There are lots of good accountancy programmes on the market - Quickbooks, SAGE and dont doubt how much time they can save you if you want to maximise the time out working!!!
Really good luck - there are downsides but the upsides make it all worthwhile.
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Rank: Forum user 
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blodwyn wrote:
One piece of advice I would give however and it was a life saver to me was to get yourself some good accountancy advice. There can be tax issues if you get a lot of work with one company for a large percentage of the year depending on how you are registered (IR 38 seems to ring a bell).
What blodwyn is referring too is "IR35" - which is effectivly a ruling that means if you answer "yes" to a bunch of questions - available from IR35 then you would be subject to tax like an employee (even though you are not) and all the benefits would be benefits in kind = taxable! A good accountant will help you out with that and save you lots of hassle! Luke
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