You are getting your consulting firm off the ground and are prepping your clients for the overhaul to make them top shelf companies. Before you roll up your sleeves and dive into the work ask yourself these important questions: What services will I offer than will separate me from other consultant firms? Do I have everything I need to get started? What is my niche in the consulting gig? Time to sit down and make a few notes of needs that must be met previously the work ahead.

Talk to a broker or an insurance agent: What types of insurance should your business have? Usually you will need health insurance, disability, and general liability. The type of consulting you do may affect the type of insurance you will be required by law to carry.

Get your business known. A website explaining your company, its offers and complete contact information is the way to go. If it is not in the budget yet for a website there are plenty of directories you can link your company's name and offers to. LinkedIn and ZoomInfo are excellent start up areas and they both have excellent reputations.

Get those business cards. In the consulting business you will attend meetings, have lunch dates and host seminars. After all is said and done, you will want to give your potential client your business card, even if it is a simplistic card stating your name, consultant and your contact information. Business cards are indispensable and a vital tool in this day and age.

Have small business experience or speak to a SBA accountant: You need to understand how to pay your quarterly taxes, how to create structure to your business and now what business expenses can and will be deductible.

Have a proper business phone line and office space. While it would be inexpensive to work from home, it is also the distractions of home that make running a business from it tenuous and annoying at best. A rented office space and dedicated land-line phone is the best course of action. An answering service or voice-mail handles the calls and logs them and does not put a strangle hold on your personal cell phone or land line. Most consulting firms find these simple steps affordable and effective to running a business.

Have a mailing address. Keep in mind the clients you take on will need to know about your business and you cannot very well have mail delivered to your residence if you do not have a mailbox or environment you can leave large packages at your door stop. Get a Post Office box from your local post office or FedEx and UPS also rent P.O. boxes as well.

Letting others know you are in the consulting business. Informing people you are interested in projects and ready to work with clients. Explain all details of what services you offer, the projects you are looking to handle and who your optimal clients need be.

NETWORK!!!: You can never say where your next project will be or which client will be the one that puts you on the map, so you must be in regular contact with your potential clients. Set a goal number of people you want to set lunch dates and phone calls for the week. Never stop networking even when you have plenty of work already.

Consulting work is difficult and time consuming. You are ready for the grind, so strut your stuff and don't be too surprised when people take notice for a job well done. Luck alone does not make a business. Diligence, standing by your work and going that extra mile will make you a success and give your clients everything they were looking for.