Customer Rating: 
Summary: Good Book for Independent Consultants
Comment: Although a bit outdated (published in 2000), I still refer to this book occasionally. It is well-written and well organized and covers all of the basic topics that computer consultants need to know - marketing, pricing, finding a niche, setting up a business, and contracts and negotiations. It even has a chapter on marketing to the government, which is why I bought this book in the first place.
I hope that Peter Meyer updates this book soon. As is, it is still a valuable resource for computer consultants and worth the money.
Mitch Paioff, Author, Getting Started as an Independent Computer Consultant
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Just like Wonderbread - Bland, stale, and full of sawdust.
Comment: As a soon to be full-time consultant, I was hoping that this book would provide me answers for the few remaining questions I have. Based on the other reviews, it appeared this book would fill in those gaps, though now that I have read it, I am sorely disappointed. The most annoying aspect of the book is that the author's primary aim seems to be to show off his grasp of the various fields within computer consulting and especially the terminology and jargon. Seriously, if I REALLY need to know what an ATM switch is, I can look it up in Newton's Telecomm Dictionary. Likewise, I do NOT need a primer on IBM mainframes and PC-DOS which haven't been relevant for over 20 years. I just want to know about "Getting Started" - like the title says. The sidebars are littered with these mostly useless definitions. In addition, the book seems to offer very detailed information in the table of contents, though once you read a specific section you realize the oasis is only a mirage. There's a heading called "Examining Your Strengths" which instructs one to do this without any suggestions on how to do this and how to interpret the results and choose a niche, yet choosing a niche is one of the main points of the book. Much of the information can be useful, yet an equal amount is either so simplistic or so vague I started yelling out loud at the book. Often the author will state things like "research indicates" without even citing the research. A lot of the marketing advice seems regurgitated from bad 1990's marketing books; clearly NOT the authors strong point. If you want to read a mind-blowing 1990's book on marketing a service business, read Harry Beckwith's Selling the Invisible. Finally, the book is very dated, being a computer-related book published in 2000. The annoying little sidebar definitions become more annoying with their staleness. I could hardly keep myself from smiling/groaning at the mention that Y2K consulting is still a growth niche.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Its good, but I bought it too soon.
Comment: I have to agree with another reviewer here. The book had more information than I new what to do with at this time, since I am just considering a career change into the computer field. I know I want to be a computer consultant, but I got a bit intimidated by all the info this book has. Which is good, in general, but I guess I should have purchased it a bit down the line when I am close to completing my training. I took the advice of another reviewer here and bought "The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches," because it is the only programming/consulting book I've found that was written for those in the absolute beginner, from a technical perspective. I will keep this book and refer to it as I near completion of my training, so I can move into consulting as quickly as I can. I would have given it 5 stars, but as I said, I am too new to this field and could not digest it all yet.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Good for an expereinced IT person, but not for me.
Comment: I've either skimmed or fully read many of the consulting books around. This one is like a mix between Janet Ruhl' two books: "Janet Ruhl's Answers for Computer Contractors: How to Get the Highest Rates and the Fairest Deals from Consulting Firms, Agencies, and Clients" and "The Computer Consultant's Guide." It is useful for anyone considering consulting and how best to organize and handle their business, from many viewpoints. Though for a beginner in the IT field, actually, I am still in school, it is good for an overview, but I won't be able use much of it yet. At least I can better prepare for my entry into the work force. I read some other reviews here and they mentioned
"The Secret Path to Contract Programming Riches: An Expert Consultant's Step-by-Step Guide That Takes You from Having Little or No Computer Programming Experience, Virtually, Directly into High-Paid Contract Programming" being good for people just starting out in the IT field. Either way, I am going to read them all and I will review this book many times, because I want to be ready when I graduate and be a top notch consultant. In conclusion: this was a very infomative read into the consulting field and it opened my eyes to many options I never new existed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A good broad introduction
Comment: This book covers all the basics. It is a good "how to" on various levels, but also gives you the advantages and disadvantages of consulting - if you haven't made your mind up yet. But you may want to read other books for more in-depth coverage.I haven't been contracting for 10 years, but have a stong desire to again do the work I like, for people I like, when I like - and get paid for it. Consulting is different to contracting of course, and Meyer discusses many of the new skills needed, for example setting up, marketing and pricing (he strongly recommends flat rate pricing for example) - and the very important listening skills. After reading the book, I have made my mind up. I am ready to chuck my permanent job.
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