The Scary Step Up from One-Man-Band

[David Braziel]

Im an IT consultant and Ive been self employed now for over a year. In that year Ive had no problem getting work - ive done no advertising, no marketting and Im pretty much up to my ears.

But I feel like Im now hitting some sort of ceiling. I cant work many more hours (there arent many more hours!) and I dont feel I can put my rates up by much. Im spending more time than I would like to on stuff that someone a lot more junior could be doing but Im nervous about taking on employees.

It feels like Ive reached one of those decision points and I'd be grateful for any advice or suggestions from other small businesses who have been there themselves or are at the same point right now.

I feel like Im on that tipping point between being a freelance worker and running a business.

What do you all think?

David.

[anne marie mcewan]

Bingo - I am at exactly the same point, David. Like you, I need to spend less of my time doing stuff an assistant could do, hence the bootstrapping to amass a steady supply of spare cash to buy in this help.

I know what you mean about a ceiling, and feeling that you cannot put up your rates by much. I am carving myself a niche expetise so that I can charge premium rates - that's the theory anyway :-))

Re your nervousness about employing someone. I am looking to buy in freelance, ad hoc help. But where to secure quality people with the expertise you require, and willing to work freelace?

I am sure we are not unusual in the predicament in which we find ourselves. How can we all best help each other?

[David Braziel]

Hi Anne Marie

It helps a little just to know that there are others in the same boat! But a solution would be even better.

My feeling at the moment is that I want to work with other freelancers rather than go through the big step of employing someone. Id even consider some sort of partnership with a freelancer at the same level as me where we agree to collaborate and/or cover each other. (Holiday / Sickness cover is the other big concern for me right now).

But as you say how do you find the right person. At this stage the wrong person could be a complete disaster and could literally put me out of business.

[James Moss]

Ever thought about using a sub Contractor in a related field that complements your service?

Example, We provide Balanced Deployment Strategies for Business.

So we focus on how a business uses its assets involved with producing Documents, Copiers, Printers etc.

One of the areas Im looking at is offering my service to IT consultants or Large Accountancy Firms for them to provide to their clients.

Just an idea for you to ponder :-)

Best Wishes
James Moss
Blackfish Solutions
www.BlackfishSolutions.com

[David Braziel]

Nice subtle pitch James!

Im always interested in services and products to offer to my clients so I went to look at your website. Maybe Im being dense but after reading your post and then all of your website homepage ... I still dont know what it is you do.

Can I offer you my services - a communication / usability review of your site. 8->

Seriously - I would be interested to know what exactly you could do for my clients. Got any examples?

All the best

David.

[James Moss]

Sorry David Im a salesman at heart :-)

The site isnt complete as yet in terms of content etc but will be added too and developed daily as I get it fit for purpose.

Im an Ex IT / Photocopier Salesman who has gone Poacher turned Gamekeeper.

Put simply we look at how companies use their Printers and Copiers, we put together a strategy in terms of what to invest in , where to locate it and how best to use it.

It is far more indepth than this.

The outcome is 20% to 40% savings on their current costs.

I have done this for 18 years but always to show savings to justify spending on products from my employer.

In the Office Equipment and Printer worlds this issue is a hot topic.

We are unique as we are the only totally independant provider of this service.

If I tell you HP in the USA are investing in 2300 inhouse "consulants" to do this for their customers!!

Yes I would be interested in help developing the site just needs to be in prob 3 to 6 months.

My mainfocus is to get 10 clients signed up over next 3 months.

[David Braziel]

See now that sounds interesting - Id lie to know more - hae you thought of selling the service into the public sector? In my previous job I did a fair bit of work in that sector and I know they waste a hell of a lot of money on printing and copying through poor organisation.

Im afraid some of your marketting speak was obscuring the message. 'We give you a strategy to make the most of your printers and copiers and save you money' I'd have thought that would be a prety easy sell to most corporates. And if you can demonstrate very clear ROI then even easier.

Ive ben thinking recently about how the Consultancy business in general could be improved and I think if someone could develop a model that is based more on the bottom line (e.g. Ill do you an IT strategy and my fee is completely proportional to the ammount I either save you in costs or increase your sales) - then that would be a winner.

I cant critisize your website too much because my own is in a complete state of disrepair - but then I am not actively looking for customers at the moment.

I would strongly recommend that you simplify your site right down. Having empty sections etc. is a killer. Just have a single page well designed with your contact details and a simple description of your value proposition. Then tell them that more is coming.

Im about to do just that with my own site - but you know what they say about cobbler's children having no shoes.

All the best

David.

[Madelaine Kirke]

Could you use a virtual secretarial service to take on some of the routine tasks?

[David Braziel]

Hi Madeline.

I dont think so - so few of the tasks are genuinely secretarial - its small scale IT things, setting up printers, delivering computers, fixing simple problems, specifying and ordering stuff - that sort of thing.

Although someone to organise my paperwork as I go along so its not a three monthly headache when the VAT return comes in ... that would be nice too!

David.

[Barry Hopkins]

What sort of services are you after? Not that I am particulay in a position to help, but if you explained what would be your ideal employee and what they would have to do, it might bring some more suggestions? Just a thought.
My one and only employee handed her notice in today and I am not sure whether to replace her or soldier on for a while without! My business may now benefit from a partner with internet advertising sales experience. We have developed the business, but I lack the killer instinct, selling dedication needed and experience in selling. Without it I fear I will have to learn the hard way! I have the ideas, the set up, get up and go, the gut feeling this is right however feel I need someone to take on the selling side. Like you finding the right person will either be pure luck, or risky!. I have in the past had 45 employees and its no walk in the park!
My advice... Start looking, save up, and be very picky! The temptation will be to take on the first person to show interest, especially if you feel desperate.
Just my late night thoughts
Barry

[David Braziel]

Well Ive begun to take the plunge - Ive been speaking to a recruitment agency and this Monday I start interviewing people for the first time. (Actually Ive interviewed plentyof staff before but never for my own business!)

Wish me luck and if anyone has advice, suggestions or warnings about interviewing and recruitment please pass them on here.

David.

[Kelvin Jones]

Good luck David.

[James Moss]

Hi David

www.people4business.com

Maybe of use to you David Im seeing if I can get a telemarketing person here but you may find people to farm work out to and still keep taking on mre work my friend.