Keywords
Citation
Thornett, T. (1998), "Starting a High Income Consultancy", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 234-235. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmd.1998.17.3.234.2
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
This book attempts to describe the practical issues in starting up a high income consultancy. It demonstrates how to cost and market services, and describes how to get through the first six months.
The author explains why so many new consultants fail, and goes on to describe many practical issues involved in setting up in business. There are plenty of detailed explanations of all areas of consultancy. For anyone who has never considered setting up in business themselves, it paints a clear picture of the practical and financial implications.
However, it does not meet the expectations raised in the title; most of the advice would only be of use to someone who has never considered consultancy and is reviewing all options.
A readable book that misses the target, initially the book raises your expectations but it soon runs out of steam. The practical hints would be useful to someone who has never considered consultancy and wants to get an impression of this kind of work then consider this against other alternatives. I am not saying that the advice is bad; it just does not align with the title Starting a High Income Consultancy. In addition some of the advice is rather patronising, or even insulting, e.g. telling you when and how to wear deodorant and clean your teeth!
If you have just left university or have hit the “mid‐life crisis” and do not know what to do next, this book will explain the basics of consultancy. The important thing to remember is that it will not show you how to start a high income consultancy. If you read the book and become a high income consultant, you would have done it anyway!