Have ever wondered how to be a consultant? This slide will guide you in your efforts to understand just what it means to be a consultant.

1. So, you want to be a consultant . . .
. . . (maybe)
Barrie Gillis
General Manager,
Global Consultant Exchange Services, LLC

2. What is a consultant?
• Independent
• Self-supporting
• Works via contract with client
• 1099 vs. W-2
o Not fulltime
o No direct supervision
o Independent Tasking

3. What does a consultant do?
• Provide expertise not present within client
• Writes/contributes to documents
• Develops/presents briefings
• May represent client to client’s customer

4. Typical Consultant Engagements
• Business Development
• Management
• Financial
• Contracting
• Subject Matter Expert
• Mentoring
• Direct Support

5. Why be a consultant?
• You are a self-starter
• Be your own business
• Choose when you work
• Keep more of the money you earn
(SBA: independent consulting
growing at 15% per year)

6. Why not be a consultant?
• Uncertain income stream (a good
year: 9 months of income)
• Extended work hours
• Need to be available
• May entail extended travel
• Manage your own “benefits”,
estimated taxes, etc.

7. How do I become a consultant?
• Financial planning / risk assessment
• Talk to your Family!
• Consider incorporating yourself (LLC, S-Corp)
• Acquire General & Professional Liability Insurance
• Assess your skills / experience / training
o Consider additional education / training (e.g.,
PMP)

8. How do I become a consultant? (continued)
• Pick your market(s)
o Where can you make the best / fastest contribution?
• Establish your labor rate
• Be prepared to negotiate
• Networking
o Talk to your friends / colleagues
o Join social media (e.g., LinkedIN)
o Participate in affinity groups (MOAA, business
associations, PTAC)

9. How do I become a consultant? (continued)
• Ally yourself with a consulting firm
1st Business Model:
o “ classic ” (been around for the last 30 years)
 Positives
 Immediate exposure to potential clients
 Assistance in finding engagements (The consultant firm markets you)
 Invoices clients on consultant’s behalf
 Provides tax documents (1099)
 May provide some “benefits”
 Negatives
 Depress your market value (30% - 90% overhead load to clients)
 May require exclusivity to the consulting firm
 May pick your engagements
 May require fees to participate

10. How do I become a consultant? (the end)
• Ally yourself with a consulting firm
2nd Business Model:
o “ Contemporary ” (an entirely new business model)
 Positives
 Web-based, uses social media technologies
 Immediate exposure to potential clients
 No Exclusivity requirements
 Negotiate directly with clients
 Consultant controls engagement selection
 No fee for consultants, ever
 Very low fee to clients
 No impact on consultant’s market value
 Invoices Clients on consultant’s behalf
 Provides tax documents (1099)
 Negatives
 None I can think of!

11. Questions?
Barrie.Gillis@GlobalConsultantExchange.com
703-489-5352