Building & running a successful research business : a guide for the independent information professional / Mary Ellen Bates.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bates, Mary Ellen.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Information services industry.

Information services.

Information consultants.

New business enterprises.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (529 p.)

Edition:

2nd ed.

Other Title:

Building and running a successful research business

Successful research business

Place of Publication:

Medford, N.J. : CyberAge Books/Information Today, c2010.

Summary:

The essential handbook for every information entrepreneur, this is the indispensable guide to launching, managing, and growing an independent research firm. From beginning to end, this newly updated study navigates through every stage of the process—introductory procedures, conducting the company, the ideal marketing methods, and maximizing research. From making key decisions and closing the sale to maintaining good relationships with clients and tapping into powerful information sources beyond the Web, this first-rate collection of tips, tricks, and techniques is the key to building a successful information business.

Contents:

Cover ; Copyright ; Dedication ; Contents ; Foreword, by Amelia Kassel ; Acknowledgments ; Introduction ; Section One: Getting Started ; Chapter 1-What's an Independent Info Pro? ; What's This Business All About? ; So What Do You Do, Anyway? ; Focus, Focus, Focus ; Where Will I Find My Clients? ; Real-Life Examples ; Frequently Asked Questions ; Chapter 2-A Day in the Life of an Independent Info Pro ; My Typical Day ; Your Typical Day ; Issues We All Face ; Chapter 3-The Joys and Frustrations of Being an Independent Info Pro ; The Thrills of Being an Independent Info Pro

The Chills of Being an Independent Info Pro Chapter 4-Are You a Potential Independent Info Pro? ; The People Skills ; The Entrepreneurial Skills ; The Business Skills ; The Information Skills ; Where Can You Get Help? ; The Imposter Syndrome ; Chapter 5-Who You Are and What You Do ; Who Needs You? ; Offering What the Client Needs ; Think Globally, Not Locally ; Chapter 6-Understanding Your Competition ; Who Am I Up Against? ; Working With Your Competition ; Looking for Competition ; Making Yourself Competition-Proof ; Chapter 7-Structuring Your Business ; Incorporating or Keeping It Simple

Should You Partner With Your Partner or Your Pal? What Kind of Entity Are You? ; Hired Help or Ad Hoc Subcontracting ; Chapter 8-Before You Launch ; Business Plans and Other Pipe Dreams ; Who Are Your Clients? ; What About My Steady Paycheck? ; Just Do It! ; Chapter 9-Setting Up Your Business ; What's Your Name? ; Are You My Employer? ; Where Am I? ; Office Equipment Checklist ; Your Phone Number ; Your URL ; Paying Your Dues ; Chapter 10-You.com ; What's the Purpose of a Website? ; Choosing a Domain Name ; Creating Your Website ; What About the Content? ; Other Web "Homes"

Chapter 11-Business Apps for Info-Entrepreneurs The Basics ; The Nice-to-Haves ; Other Cool Tools ; Chapter 12-Work and the Rest of Your Life ; Living Abundantly ; Time Management, or "I Think I'll Take a Little Break Now" ; "The Info Pro Is In" or Not ; Creating a Good Office Environment ; Going on Vacation ; Business Coaches: Help, I Need Somebody ; Section Two: Running the Business; Chapter 13-Managing Your Clients ; Monogamy Versus Playing the Field ; Is Any Client Too Small? ; Let's Not Do Lunch ; Handling RFPs ; The Art of Proposal Writing ; Get It in Writing? ; When to Say "No"

Do You Like Me? Really? The Project From Hell ; How to Fire a Client ; Chapter 14- Money, Money, Money ; Financing Your Business ; Accounting 101 ; Billing and Collections ; Cash Flow ; Paying Yourself ; Paying the Tax Man ; Chapter 15-Setting Rates and Fees ; Setting an Hourly Rate ; Hourly Rate or Flat Fee? ; Estimating a Project ; Can You Get the Money Up Front? ; Recalibrating Rates ; Chapter 16-Subcontracting, or I'll Scratch Your Back If You Scratch Mine ; How Does Subcontracting Work, and Why Should I Share? ; The Challenges of Subcontracting ; Following the Golden Rule

Chapter 17-Ethics and Legalities

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 471-476) and index.

ISBN:

1-57387-906-1

OCLC:

694147649