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
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..A Small Business Opportunities Magazine is one of the new... Read More
What types of companies do you want to align yourself... Read More
Don't you find that there are so many decisions you... Read More
One of the first things you will need to set... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
It is essential that you fully understand how the fuel... Read More
Ongoing support for a franchise system is omnipotent. A major... Read More
Many mobile pressure-washing companies turn to government contacts to make... Read More
Now that you have invested your time, energy and money... Read More
Self-cleaning glass has been talked about a lot, with such... Read More
We all know that a building has to have a... Read More
At first glance, this topic may seem a little repetitive,... Read More
Thinking of starting a business on line? If so there... Read More
How to identify future solutions and opportunities?Your power page, if... Read More
Whether your target audience is in your neighborhood or across... Read More
You can't imagine how many people ask me how I... Read More
Some things in business are relatively easy to measure ?... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
To maximum potential profits and dollars in a mobile washing... Read More
E-mail and Internet use are integral parts of the typical... Read More
Are you a home or small business owner and you're... Read More
Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure.... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is assisting competitor to cheat and... Read More
Some of the greatest words of wisdom for any man... Read More
As a specialist in getting restaurants open, it is surprising... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..In the book Women and Small Business author gives all... Read More
I love lists. I make them for everything. And I'm... Read More
Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More
How do you sponsor an event and get personal introductions... Read More
If you're organized, smart, capable and willing to work with... Read More
Motivational author and speaker Jim Rohn says that for a... Read More
What was your aim when you went into business for... Read More
Back when I owned an inventory-based business, one of my... Read More
Most of us remember going to at least one garage... Read More
You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together,... Read More
When working properly, computers enable small businesses to make big... Read More
Where do you look for the appropriate alliance?One of the... Read More
To have one of the popular in home daycare businesses.... Read More
Business checks are available in many styles and varieties. They... Read More
Over regulation of small business is so intense it is... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
The Workers' Compensation situation in this country is unbelievable. Why,... Read More
In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will... Read More
At first glance, this topic may seem a little repetitive,... Read More
Are you thinking of starting a small pressure washer business... Read More
Small businesses need Public Relations, possibly more than large corporations,... Read More
While I was hard at work last week, an everyday... Read More
Think of your business as a living, breathing, organism. It... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
My clients and many of my readers are small and... Read More
Small Business |