How to Give FREE Advice and Make Money

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

high-end home cleaning Des Plaines ..
In The News:

X Square Robot unveils Wall-OSS open-source AI model that helps robots adapt to unpredictable real-world tasks beyond narrow scenarios.
Airport workers report surge in fake lost luggage claims as scammers retrieve discarded baggage tags containing passenger names and travel information.
Unlike robotaxi competitors, Tensor focuses on consumer-owned self-driving cars that adapt to highways and urban roads with full redundancy systems for safety.
Medicare scams cost $54 billion in 2024 as fraudsters target beneficiaries with fake calls demanding payments and personal information to steal benefits.
Scammers create fake Evite invitations that mimic legitimate event emails, requiring users to verify senders and use antivirus software for protection.
The new Apple Watch hypertension feature passively monitors blood pressure patterns over 30 days using sensors to detect chronic high blood pressure signs.
Chrome extension spyware disguised as a free VPN service highlights security risks after it captured private browsing data from trusted sites.
New research shows how fatty acids in cooking oil can safely dissolve and recover silver from circuit boards without harmful chemicals or environmental damage.
The Fox News AI newsletter gives you information on the latest AI technology advancements, and about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Anthropic investigates alarming AI abuse case where hacker automated entire cybercrime campaign using Claude, stealing sensitive data from defense and healthcare firms.
TikTok, Meta and YouTube restrict Charlie Kirk shooting videos with age gates and warnings while X faces criticism for allowing continued circulation.
Cybercriminals use fake troubleshooting websites to trick Mac users into running terminal commands that install Shamos malware through ClickFix tactics.
San Francisco startup Fable launches Showrunner, an AI platform dubbed the 'Netflix of AI' that generates animated episodes from text descriptions with Amazon support.
Apple raised iPhone prices for some models despite receiving tariff relief from President Donald Trump, with the new lineup starting at $799 for the base model.
A two-story 3D concrete printed home in Western Australia demonstrates faster construction methods that could reshape American housing amid rising costs.
Credit scores remain important during retirement for insurance rates and housing applications, while seniors become prime targets for identity theft and financial scams.
Scammers now send unexpected packages with QR codes that redirect victims to fraudulent websites or download malicious software to steal sensitive information.
Meeting AI tools record private conversations alongside work discussions, creating privacy risks that can be managed with proper settings and awareness.
Hotel privacy concerns are valid but rare, with methods to detect hidden tech using smartphone flashlights, mirror tests and scanning apps.
Improve your Wi-Fi speed and reliability with 10 simple router optimization tips that don't require special apps or expensive subscriptions.
A Columbia University breach exposed names, Social Security numbers and academic records of nearly 869,000 people, with notifications beginning in August.
Rental car drivers use AI-powered apps like Proofr to protect themselves from unfair damage fees as major companies deploy automated inspection tools.
Fox News' AI newsletter brings you the latest on technology advancements around artificial intelligence.
OnTrac data breach between April 13-15, 2025, exposed personal information of over 40,000 people including Social Security numbers and medical records.

How to be Annoyed and Make Money

When do annoyances in a relationship become too much to... Read More

Do You Want Your Own Fully Programmable ERP? - Part 2

In the first article we mentioned the main characteristics that... Read More

When and Why YOU Are the Best Writer for Your Business Plan

WHEN you are operating or planning a small business that... Read More

Pressure Washing Companies; Pricing Dock and Deck Cleaning

If you own a Pressure Washing Company and wish to... Read More

432 Page Franchise Report by the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission is upgrading the franchise law and... Read More

The SBAs Savviest Program

Forget everything you've ever heard about the U.S. Small Business... Read More

10 Filler Activities for the Summer Business Slowdown

Summer is a time for the outdoors, for that well-deserved... Read More

Arranging Your Fundraiser

When deciding to host a fundraiser for your company or... Read More

50 Ways to Save Money

There are countless ways to save your business money. Unfortunately,... Read More

Make Your Business More Profitable

More sales and more profit. Isn't that what you want... Read More

More Business Card Marketing

If you are worried about how many different business cards... Read More

Making Your Purpose Your Business Step #2- Getting From Point A to Point B

In my previous article, Step 1, your challenge for the... Read More

Business Scents - Do They Work?

You see it often in large shopping complexes. Customers seem... Read More

Should I Franchise or Not?

A reader of one of my online sessions asked should... Read More

Big Successes Never Happen Overnight

Treat your business as a serious, full-time business and be... Read More

Not Listening Can Hurt Your Small Business

Most small business owners seek advisors who can help them... Read More

Mobile Pressure Washing and City Contracts

Many mobile pressure-washing companies turn to government contacts to make... Read More

Asking the RIGHT Questions

Which questions do you need to ask to even get... Read More

How to Give FREE Advice and Make Money

When is advice free and when should you charge for... Read More

From Birth to Death

Your product is dying. With the same inevitability that we... Read More

The Workers? Compensation Situation in this Country is Nuts, Arnold in CA Takes Action

The Workers' Compensation situation in this country is unbelievable. Why,... Read More

Competition in the Market Place and Over Disclosure Regulatory Burden

The Federal Trade Commission is assisting competitor to cheat and... Read More

Franchise Company Operations Manual Sample Outline

Many companies wish to expand and a few wish to... Read More

Venus Transit - and Small Business?

On June 8, 2004, the world witnessed what no one... Read More

How to Use Graphs and Charts in Your Business Plan

Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should... Read More

house refresh service Glencoe ..