This list includes books of value to consultants as they start up a consulting business, maintain and grow a successful practice, and when they need to turn-around an underperforming business.  It also includes books that deal with specific topics such as contracts, fees, legal aspects, marketing, proposals, selling, etc.

Most of these titles are in the Center for Consulting & Professional Practices library in the offices of William Mooney Associates. Many of them are on display during the “How To Build and Maintain A Profitable Consulting Practice” seminar sessions presented by William T. Mooney, Jr., Director of the Center, monthly throughout Southern California.

Books on Starting & Growing Consulting Businesses

Bellman, Geoffrey. The Consultant's Calling: Bringing Who You Are to What You Do. Jossey-Bass, 1990, 238 pages, ISBN: 1555422535.

Biech, Elaine.  The Business of Consulting:  The Basics and Beyond.  Pfeiffer & Co, 1998, 240 pages, ISBN: 0787940216.

Block, Peter.  Flawless Consulting:  A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, second edition. Jossey- Bass, 1999, 400 pages, ISBN: 0787948039.

Block, Peter and 30 flawless consultants: assisted by Andrea M. Markowitz.  The Flawless Consulting Fieldbook and Companion:  A guide to understanding your expertise.  Jossey Bass/Pfeffier, a Wiley Company.  2001, 440 pages, ISBN: 0-7879-4804-7.

Bly, Robert W.   The Six-Figure Consultant: How to start your consulting career and earn $100,000+ a year.  Upstart Publishing Co., Dearborn Financial Publishing Co., 1998, 336 pages, ISBN: 157410120X.

Cope, Mick.  The Seven Cs of Consulting.  Financial Times Prentice Hall, 2000, 240 pages, ISBN: 0273645110.

Franklin, Paul; Nicholas, Ted; and Shenson, Howard.   The Complete Guide to Consulting Success:  A Step-by-Step Handbook to Build a Successful Consulting Practice Complete with Agreements and Forms, 3^rd edition.  Dearborn Financial Publishing, Inc., 1997, 244 pages, ISBN: 1574100556.

Kintler, David with Bob Adams.  Streetwise Independent Consulting.  Adams Media Corporation, 1997, 378 pages, ISBN: 1558507280

Lewin, Marsha D.  The Consultant's Survival Guide.  John Wiley & Sons, 1997, 231 pages, ISBN: 0471160792.

Lewin, Marsha D.   The Overnight Consultant.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995, 234 pages, ISBN: 0471119458.

Maister, David H.  Managing The Professional Service Firm. The Free Press, 1993, 376 pages, ISBN: 0029197821.

Maister, David H.  True Professionalism:  The Courage to Care About Your People, Your Clients, and Your Career.  Touchstone Books, 2000, 224 pages, ISBN: 0684840049.  

Maister, David H, Green, Charles H., and Galford, Robert M.  The Trusted Advisor.  Free Press, 2000, 224 pages, ISBN: 074320414X.

Nelson, Bob and Economy, Peter.  Consulting for Dummies.  IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., 1997, 360 pages, ISBN: 0-7645-5034-9.

Norman, Jan.  It's Your Business:  A Practical Guide to Entrepreneurship. The Orange County Register, 1993, 170 pages, ISBN: none.

Norman, Jan.  What No One Ever Tells You About Starting Your Own Business: Real life Start-Up Advice from 101 Successful Entrepreneurs. Upstart Publishing Co., Dearborn Financial Publishing Co. 1999, 221 pages, ISBN: 1574101129.

Shenson, Howard.  Shenson on Consulting:  Success Strategies From “The Consultant’s Consultant.”  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1990, 200 pages, ISBN: 0471506613.

Tepper, Ron. The Consultant’s Problem-Solving Workbook. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1987, 323 pages. ISBN: 0-471-84682-1.

Tepper, Ron. The 10 Hottest Consulting Practices: What They Are, How To Get Into Them. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995, 210 pages, ISBN: 0-471-11000-0.

Weiss, Alan.  Getting Started in Consulting.  John Wiley & Sons, 2000, 272 pages, ISBN: 0471384550.  

Weiss, Alan.  Million Dollar Consulting:  The Professional’s Guide to Growing A Practice.  Revised edition.  McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1997, 292 pages, ISBN: 0070696284.

Weiss, Alan.  The Great Big Book of Process Visuals (Or, Give Me A Double Axis Chart and I Can Rule the World.  Las Brisas Research Press, 2000, 101 pages, ISBN: 1928611044.

Weiss, Alan.  The Ultimate Consultant:  Powerful Techniques for the Successful Practitioner.  Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, A Wiley Company, 2001, 267 pages, ISBN: 0-7879-55508-6.

Business Plans for Consulting Books

Berry, Tim. Hurdle: The Book on Business Planning. Eugene, OR: Palo Alto Software, Inc., 2002, 314 pages, ISBN:0-9664891-4-4 (paper).

Holtz, Herman. The Business Plan Guide for Independent Consultants. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994. 228 pages, ISBN:0-471-59735-X (paper).
  

Books on Engineering, Information Technology and Other Technical Consulting Businesses Books

Kaye, Harvey, Inside the Technical Consulting Business:  Launching and Building Your Independent Practice, second edition.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1994, 238 pages, ISBN: 0471597198.

Ruhl, Janet. The Computer Consultant’s Guide: Real-Life Strategies for Building A Successful Consulting Career. John Wiley & Sons, 1994. 276 pages, ISBN: 0-471-59661-2 (paper).

Simon, Alan R.. How To Be A Successful Computer Consultant, Third Edition. McGrqaw-Hill, Inc., 1994. 267 pages. ISBN 0-07-057618-1 (paper).

Coaching and Coaching Business Books

Brounstein, Marty. Coaching & Mentoring for Dummies. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., 2000, 336 pages. ISBN: 0-7645-5223-6 (paper).

Kelley, Dorcas. The Business of Coaching. Clarity In Action, Division of Kelley-Naumchik Consulting L.L.C., 2001. 218 pages, ISBN:0-9706086-0-8.

Kelley, Dorcas. The Business of Coaching Workbook: Step-by-Step Activities and Resource Guide. Clarity In Action, Division of Kelley-Naumchik Consulting L.L.C., 2001. 196 pages, ISBN:0-9706086-1-6.

Contracts for Consulting Books

Holtz, Herman.  The Complete Guide to Consulting Contracts: How to Understand, Draft and Negotiate Contracts and Agreements That Work.   Dearborn Financial Publishing, Inc., 1995, 242 pages, ISBN: 0793106702.

Shenson, Howard.  The Contract and Fee-Setting Guide for Consultants & Professionals.   John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1990, 264 pages, ISBN: 0471515388.

 Ethics and Legal Aspects of Consulting Books

Biech, Elaine and Swindling, Linda Byars.  The Consultant's Legal Guide.  Jossey-Bass, 1999, 320 pages, ISBN: 0787947636.

Ferrell, O, C., Fraedrich, John, and Ferrell, Linda.  Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases.  Fourth edition.  Houghton Mifflin College, 2000, ISBN: 0395959535.  

Evaluation of Consulting Projects

Phillips, Jack.  The Consultant's Scorecard: Tracking Results and Bottom-Line Impact.  McGraw-Hill, 2000, 400 pages, ISBN: 0071348166.

Financial Aspects of Consulting Books

Cottle, David W.  Managing for Profitability:  How Winning Professionals Earn What They're Worth.  Hightower Publishing Co., 1993, 208 pages, ISBN: 1883711002. 

Roditti, Esther C. Tax and Business Handbook for Consultants and Clients: A Guide for Doing Business as an Independent Contractor Under the Federal Employment Tax Laws. Independent Computer Consultants Association, 1998, 78 pages, paper. No ISBN number.

Urquhart, James R. III. The IRS Independent Contractors and You! A Guide to Help You Determine and Defend the Status of Your Workers. The Fidelity Publishing Company of America, 1993., paper. ISBN: 0-942496-10-8.

Weiss, Alan.  How to Maximize Fees in Professional Service Firms.  Summit Consulting Group, 1994, ISBN: 0910924007.

Weiss, Alan.  Value-Based Fees: How to Charge – and Get – What You’re Worth.  Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, A Wiley Company, 2002, 208 pages, ISBN:  0-7879-5511-6.

Management Consulting Books

Schaffer, Robert H. High-Impact Consulting: How Clients and Consultants Can Work Together to Achieve Extraordinary Results. Jossey-Bass, 264 pages, ISBN: 0-7879-6049-7.

Wong, Lily (editor). The Harvard Business School Guide to Careers in Management Consulting, 2001 edition. Harvard Business School, 226 pages, paper. ISBN:1-57851-323-5.

Marketing and Selling Consulting Books

Bosworth, Michael T.  Solution Selling: Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets.    McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing, 1995, 224 pages, ISBN: 0786303158.

Connor, Richard A. Connor, Jr.  Getting New Clients.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc.  1987, 306 pages, ISBN: 0-471-62778-X.

Floyd, Elaine. Marketing with Newsletters: How to Boost Sales, Win Members, Raise Donations & Further Your Cause With a Promotional Newsletter. EF Communications, 1991, 234 pages, paper. ISBN:0-9630222-0-2.

Harding, Ford. Creating Rainmakers: The Manager’s Guide to Training Professionals to Attract New Clients. Adams Media Corporation, 1998, 274 pages, paper. 1-55850-846-5.

Harding, Ford. Rain-Making: The Professional’s Guide to Attracting New Clients. Adams Media Corporation, 1994, 288 pages, paper. ISBN:1-55850-420-6.

Holtz, Herman. The Independent Consultant’s Brochure and Letter Handbook. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1995, 256 pages, ISBN: 0-471-59734-1 (cloth).

Sheth, Jagdish and Sobel, Andrew. Clients for Life: How Great Professionals Develop Breakthrough Relationships. Simon and Schuster, 2000, 272 pages, ISBN:0-684-87029-0.

Sobel, Andrew. Making Rain: The Secrets of Building Lifelong Client Loyalty. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003, 238 pages, ISBN:0-471-26459-8.

Weiss, Alan.  How To Establish a Unique Brand in the Consulting Profession:  Powerful Techniques for the Successful Practitioner.  Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, A Wiley Company, 2002, 210 pages, ISBN: 0-7879-5513-2.

Niche Consulting Books

Boress, Allan S. and Michael G. Cummings.  Mastering the Art of Marketing Professional Services – A Step-by-Step Best Practices Guide.  New York, NY: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc., 2002, 422 pages, soft cover. ISBN 0-87051-401-6.

Falkenstein, Lynda.  Nichecraft:  Using your specialness to focus your business, corner your market, and make customers seek you out.  Portland, OR:  Niche Press, 2000, 294 pages, e-book, ISBN 0-9625747-2-4. (Also available in print form)

Koltin, Allan D. Marketing A Consulting Niche.  New York, NY: American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc., 2001, 435 pages, soft cover.  ISBN 0-87051-400-8.

Proposals and Presentations for Consulting Books

Holtz, Herman.  Proven Proposal Strategies to Win More Business. Upstart Publishing Co., Dearborn Financial Publishing Co., 1998, 179 pages, ISBN: 1574100882.

Sant, Tom.  Persuasive Business Proposals: writing to win customers, clients, and contracts.  AMACOM Division of American Management Association, 1992, 214 pages, ISBN: 0814451004.

Weiss, Alan.  How To Write A Proposal That's Accepted Every Time:  The Practitioner's Guide to Great Proposals.  Kennedy Information, LLC, 1999, 136 pages plus disk, ISBN: 1885922469.

Weiss, Alan.  The Great Big Book of Process Visuals:  Give me a double axis chart and I can rule the World. Las Brisas Research Press, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., 2000, 102 pages + CD, ISBN: 1-928611-0404.

Selecting, Hiring & Managing Consultants Books

Shenson, Howard L. How To Select and Manage Consultants: A Guide to Getting What You Pay For. Lexington Books/University Associates, Inc., 1990, 244 pages, ISBN: 0-660-21129-X.
 

(Book List updated 5/17/04)

 

DIRECTORIES  

This list includes directories of consultants and consulting organizations as well as professional societies and trade associations that will allow consultants to be listed, speak, write, and/or network with prospects and other professionals.

 The Directory of Management Consultants 2002, Tenth edition. Kennedy Information, Inc., 2001, 986 pages, ISBN: 1-885922-69-8 (published every two years) (Available from Kennedy Information, www.kennedyinfo.com, or 800.531.0007.)

 Consultant & Consulting Organizations Directory:  A Reference Guide to Concerns and Individuals Engaged in Consultation for Business, Industry and Government.  21^st edition, 1999, 2739 pp in 2 volumes.  The Gale Group, 800-347-GALE.  (Complete their listing form and receive a free listing in this leading source for locating consultants to management) (Available from The Gale Group, www.galegroup.com or 800.347.GALE)

 Directory of Orange County Networking Organizations:  A listing of over 700 trade and business organizations, 2002 edition. 2002. Susan Linn, 152 pages, ISBN: none. (published annually) (Available from Susan Linn, www.susanlinn.com or 949.786.1320)

 NTPA 2004 – National Trade and Professional Associations of the United States, Thirty-seventh edition.  Columbia Books, Inc., 1020 pages, 2002, ISBN: 1-880873-47-8. (published annually) (Available from Columbia Books, Inc., www.columbiabooks.com or 888.265.0600)

(Directory List updated 5/17/04)

 

NEWSPAPERS    

The Small Business Sections and Columns as well as the general business sections of these newspapers have outstanding articles and calendars of events of interest to consultants and entrepreneurial startup business owners.   Additionally, their news sections often have articles that quote consultants or report on events or issues that involve consultants.  They generally have their small business material scheduled on a regular basis; e.g., Monday for the Orange County Register. 

To go online to any of these newspapers or any other newspaper, daily or otherwise – large or small, in the world as well as magazines and radio and television stations country go to the American Journalism Review site (www.ajr.org) and select the appropriate category and geographical links to get to the link for any given publication.

Inland Valley Bulletin
Los Angeles Daily News
Long Beach Press Telegram
Los Angeles Business Journal
Los Angeles Times
New York Times
Orange County Business Journal
Orange County Register
Riverside Press-Enterprise
San Diego Business Journal
San Diego Union Tribune
San Fernando Valley Business J.
Torrance Daily Breeze
Thousand Oaks Star
USA Today
Ventura County Star
Wall Street Journal