When is advice free and when should you charge for it?
A question is often asked as to when to charge for information. This is not an easy question to answer as it really depends on the situation. If you are doing a speech for non-profit, then your advice can be pro bono (at no cost). I would have no difficulty sharing my expertise with such an organization but I do draw the line when a profit organization asks for the same privileges. Non-profits are exactly what their name say, and even though they do have money to spend in some areas, some free advice is good. The advice, however, should be given through formal channels. You should ask to work with their board of directors to see what help they actually need and then offer your services.
Remember that each person in a non-profit also has a job in the community and may want to use your services or book you for an event as a speaker. The rule of thumb is to make sure you do not give the farm away when giving free advice. If you do, there is nothing more you can give to the business people in that organization. You should temper what you give so that the organization can move forward but watch out for those organizations that tend to ask more than you can give. It is the additional information that you can charge for.
There will always be a fine line between giving free information and being exploited. If you are exploited, you will know it and the experience will give you a bad taste for non-profit organizations. Not all organizations are run that way, give freely of your advice and make sure they use the information for what it is intended.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.blueprintbooks.com
limousine Ackley .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareCONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR INTERN: Specify the number of hours the... Read More
You need to be visible to attract customers, right? But... Read More
We all know that a building has to have a... Read More
Franchising companies often use Business Broker to help attain sales... Read More
Just when the entire state was kissing Wichita goodbye, economically... Read More
It's a commonly quoted statistic: 80% of all small businesses... Read More
I believe the number one reason why a business will... Read More
At one point or another, almost every business runs short... Read More
Microfiber cleaning towels have been around for about ten years... Read More
All cities have a purchasing office and/or a procurement officer.... Read More
Sexual Harassment is a disturbing part of employment life in... Read More
Opening a carpet cleaning business is a great way to... Read More
You bet a name is important. Many small business owners... Read More
When you go into business for yourself, there are many... Read More
The current lack of industry leaders represents an exceptional opportunity... Read More
Business card size works well for invitations to special events.What... Read More
SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the... Read More
As an Investment Representative you've worked hard to build trust... Read More
Why do you need an account plan?When you first decide... Read More
Don't you find that there are so many decisions you... Read More
You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together,... Read More
Hogwash!That's what I say to people who tell me that... Read More
If you run a pressure washing company in a rural... Read More
Running a business on the net these days can be... Read More
There are many little details that go into making sure... Read More
shuttle from O'Hare Alexander ..Now that winter has passed, the annual ritual of spring... Read More
How to do itPeople skim through newspapers and magazines and... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
IntroductionIt is widely recognised that Email and the Internet is... Read More
Aside from the fear of losing a spreadsheet or research... Read More
When you feel like you're always busy working on your... Read More
This is the tale of two business plans with very... Read More
1. TargetYou are not all things to all people. Decide... Read More
Last year, trillions of dollars transferred hands on the internet... Read More
One of the best marketing strategies a business or organization... Read More
Many years ago, I had warned the carwash industry of... Read More
Think of your business as a living, breathing, organism. It... Read More
The current lack of industry leaders represents an exceptional opportunity... Read More
We very much like what we see in Lubbock, TX... Read More
If you are in the pressure washing business and are... Read More
There are many choices when thinking about a small business... Read More
"Order Now!" "Your Business Will Fail If You Don't Have... Read More
The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all... Read More
Q: A friend told me that as a woman of... Read More
Recently one of my customers told me the chaos swirling... Read More
As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
One of the critical success factors for service-related businesses is... Read More
Sometimes the simple businesses are the ones, which make good... Read More
Would it help you as a real estate investor to... Read More
People will always stress that having a well researched business... Read More
Small Business |