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
best cleaning company Highland Park ..Canon City, Colorado is known for it's 6 Prisons; State... Read More
The story is told of a tiger chasing some goats... Read More
Too often in business we get trapped into reviewing our... Read More
Most pressure washing companies never look into some of the... Read More
On Monday the Department of Corporations in California revoked franchise... Read More
If you run a pressure washer business you need complete... Read More
The FTC Franchise Rule maybe changed, as the Federal trade... Read More
Do you operate your business as a series of projects,... Read More
Auto detailers are often asked to clean boats and detail... Read More
What does buying a fat pig have to do with... Read More
A Mattress Cleaning Business might be just for you if... Read More
There's been a recent rise in the number of elderly... Read More
Why Alliances FailWhen do you know an alliance is falling... Read More
What is in an information plan?Before you even meet with... Read More
We hear a lot of talk about junk mail nowadays.... Read More
My colleague, Jane, recently lamented to me an all too... Read More
All franchises must meet the legal definition of a franchise... Read More
$37.4 million funded from venture capital today. $86.4 million funded... Read More
In the first part of this article I put forward... Read More
Increase your profit potential by identifying ? and avoiding ?... Read More
During the 1980 presidential campaign, candidate Ronald Reagan vowed, if... Read More
Having their own business is something many millions of people... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
Unfortunately for all buyers, each selling organization and their individual... Read More
If you are a non-operator owner of many work trucks,... Read More
high-end home cleaning Winnetka ..Since you own a business you probably have liability insurance... Read More
Take advantage of world politics today and start your own... Read More
Perhaps you are building a new home office or you... Read More
As a business owner, you already know how important it... Read More
We have all seen the mobile washing units cruising our... Read More
Every business regardless of size needs a "Business Image Manual"... Read More
In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
Database Problems in MarketingI have been working on a direct... Read More
Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality... Read More
If you are a franchisee of a large franchise system;... Read More
First, we need to define the different kinds of skip... Read More
1. Resolve to build a consistent network system.Since referrals are... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
You're a small business owner with a hot new product... Read More
We very much like what we see in Lubbock, TX... Read More
What is a Virtual Assistant?? A Virtual Assistant is that... Read More
I have to admit, I was curious. When I saw... Read More
Opportunities for home show businesses have never been more abundant.... Read More
Many investors and business ethics professionals are calling for more... Read More
Deciding to start your own franchise is just one of... Read More
Buyers want both online and local information about where to... Read More
"Inch by inch, row by row...that's the way my garden... Read More
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a... Read More
What types of companies do you want to align yourself... Read More
Small Business |