DO I have what it takes to start my own consulting business?I'm 29 years old. I have seven years experience in the IT world, filling various roles such as Consultant and Network Administrator. While in these roles I also managed various projects. I decided to mvoe into something different and for the past year I've been working for a non profit organisation in a general management role. I don't have a degree, but I do have a few IT industry qualifications, and general management experience. Advice?

Only you can answer this question. You can do whatever you put your mind to. It is hard work starting your own consultancy from scratch, it takes time, dedication, effort and is a risk. It may take numerous years to build up a good client base. What will be your competitive advantage, it wont be IT as there are many brilliant consultants and IT firms out there with more experience than you. Are you targeting a particular market, customer etc. You need to think about all these. What about family? Have you got one, are you looking to start one? There are massive implications. You can also forget your social life for a good few years. But believe me, anybody who tells you that you cant, is afraid of ambition. Best of luck!

I would agree with all of what B says. It's a hell of a task, but potentially very rewarding (financially and otherwise). But you will need to be very confident that you can sell yourself. What is it that you have that means 'clients' should listen to you? What would be your USP? Perhaps you could do some associate work and build some more consulting exp before going officially solo?

I considered doing associate work. It will probably be the way to go initially. Maybe it'll also be easier onb my family life.B, thanks for the advice. You made me think more about the whole work and life balance aspect which I was silently trying to ignore. Money is important, but not if it means being at home less and my wife and son not having me around. I'm not willinbg to do that. Do you think there's a way to get that balance right if I started my own business?

Yes, start a business from home! And if it works you can then expand it. What business? That is the challenge... look at your skills and experience, read loads, talk to a lot of people and think, think and think. If you are creative and have good business acumen you'll come up with an idea, you will make a business plan, as an exercise just for fun in the week-ends, show it to friends and see what happens! In the meantime keep your job and your family happy.

I may slightly disagree with Yes on this. When starting a business you make a big sacrifice and it is often at the expense of family, friends, social life, finance etc. Starting from home is a viable option, if your home is conducive to producing ideas etc. Your going to have many many mettings, phone calls etc, is the home the ideal place? Personally i dont think so, but if you havent got the finances to get an office it may be your only bet. But I think you need to be aware that balancing a start up and a family properly, especially as you have a kid, is extremely tough, nothing is impossible but this is close. You wil be diverting a lot of time and finance from your family. Again, this may be a small issue depending on your financial status, but at the same time it could also be a big gamble..'only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatness'. With the will, determination, creativity and energy as always anything is possible. On a more personal note, remember above all that your family is what matters most!! Bets wishes

I have read all the replies and comments to your question and would like to throw in a few from someone who has done what you are proposing (although not in IT). First thing is that I agree generally with what advice the others have mentioned. There are a couple of important additions that noone has yet mentioned. 1)Are you able to bring any clients/ jobs with you? 2) How can long can you survive without a regular salary? 3)Have you ever worked from home before? 4) Can you sell youself? Reasons for questions are 1) It is unfortunately true that your best clients when you worked with a big company may not want to know you as an individual consultant or new company. This may be down to their Purchasing Dept or perceptions of risk. 2) I set up a new consultancy with a partner 3 years ago and we are still not drawing regular salaries. A lot of earnings goes back into the company in terms of insurance, marketing, etc etc. 3) Working from home is a MAJOR change and can be soul destroying in not interacting with fellow workers on regular basis. This does however work off after some months but your family need to be prepared for it. Also, you have to be able to "go to work" and not just popping of to the shops or doing something for the home. 4) Doing and selling are very different. Have you thought how will get opportunities and have you personally got the selling confidence to turn these into paid work. All that said, it is all about "Work - Life balance" and having the confidence in yourself to 'go for it'. An alternative to the 'full on' approach is to work as associate to several companies and/or to work through agencies but again the question of a regular salary looms large for many people, plus lots of such jobs will be "away from home" by their nature. Try it for a while and see -you can always go back to the 'rat race' later if it doesn't suit you. Good luck.

I agree - I took a year out to do web consultancy. What I did was good but, and its a big but. The doing is only 10% (the bit I really enjoyed) the remaining 90% was getting the business (the bit I wasnt that hot on). Now after another four years in operations management I am now desperate to go back into consultancy but this time not with the web but in some form of turnaround/operations field. I wont make the same mistake twice and I am looking very deeply into partnerships and the like first. I made myself a promise last time that I wouldnt take a "greenfield" business up again but would build something up on a part time basis first and see how it goes and find the right niche to make it financially viable. Its a long term project but I know from previous experience that however tempted I am - I wont throw myself in just yet. I also initially thought the prospect from working from home would be great. Thats a mistake for me. I was in the wifes domain and it is very difficult to maintain at the office type disciplines when at home especially when you can be disturbed so much more easily. My adice would be You MUST do lots of homework first. Best of luck with whatever you do. Ciao.