In IT consulting, you need a step-by-step plan to launch your practice. There are 21 steps that will take you through the first 90 days of beginning your IT consulting business.

Preparing for your gradual launch will lower the risk associated with starting a business because you will have already prepared.

Step One. Overcome Three of Your Weaknesses

Pick 3 of your shortcomings to overcome them within the next 90 days. They can be personality, business or technical skills....you choose.

For example, you can decide to work on technical skills and pick three products to learn a little more about or get some evaluations units or preview copies. If you want to pick 3 business skills that are weak for you and learn more about them. It could be credit card merchant accounts, negotiating skills, learning to delegate, etc.

Don't try to learn everything. Clients will hire you because you know how to get it done. If you don't know the answer, they expect you to find someone who does. Know which vendor or contractor to call who can solve the problem.

Step Two: What Size Clients Are Your Best Match?

Identify any niches or industry that you may have some experience based on where you did some IT consulting or worked in the field. To narrow down and focus on just one niche, you need to have a substantial amount of experience.

You need at least 500 - 1000 people that you can market your IT consulting business to. Only a small percentage of them are going to be receptive to the marketing and an even smaller percentage are going to be the sweet spot clients of yours.

First, decide what size clients you are best suited for and then look at how many natural industries you will target for your initial IT consulting marketing. Focus on the sweet spot now and worry about specializing later.

Step Three: Pick a Company Name

Pick a company name that says exactly what you do and makes you unique. If you want to convey a certain geographic area or you want to convey a certain specialty, put it in the name. Bounce the name off some people who can be more objective. Ask them if they can guess what it is that you do from the name. You will save yourself a ton of time and marketing aggravation over the years of your name says that already.

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