Setting yourself up as an IT contractor isn’t as difficult as it sounds. All you have to do is have an idea and also, the skills and confidence to make it happen. Experience is one of those things you build up along the way. As long as you know enough about information technology to answer practical questions, solve your customers’ business problems when they arise, and provide solutions, you can do it on your own as an advisor. Information technology, in particular, is very important because the world we live in
relies heavily on it to do business.
When someone hires a company for a job, they want to make sure that they are hiring a company that is reliable and knows what they are doing. It’s going to be really important to figure out exactly how to set up and establish yourself as an IT consultant / contractor – that’s why we’ve put together this informative list to help you through the process:
Check your competitors
The first thing to do is research your competition. You need to know exactly what they have to offer and the techniques they use to convince people to sign up with them. You should also keep up to date with their marketing techniques and the promos they are launching. Knowing what they are doing will make it relatively easier for you to come up with a plan to outsmart them.
Be a one stop shop
You are sure to win the hearts of most business owners, especially the big dogs, if you can provide them with all the IT consulting services they need, be it online advertising, creating a website, using cloud solutions or something very different. Regardless of the service these companies are looking for, make sure you stay up to date with all the cutting-edge, latest IT solutions available.
Focus on marketing and making contact
In order to grow, you need to find ways to reach new customers. Your exact marketing plan may vary depending on your specific offer. If you work with businesses in your area, consider some local classifieds and also attend events and conferences to make new connections in person. If you work with clients online, you can put your sign up in content marketing social media. Fortunately, with platforms like LinkedIn, it’s never been easier for contractors to connect with clients and colleagues.
Create your own legal entity
You must register your company with the relevant national agency and provide information such as your company name, address, director (s), stock and shareholder (s) etc. However, it is important to note that there are key differences in the employment laws of different countries. There may be circumstances unique to your country that require you to settle in a certain way to get the most benefit.
You will also need to act as an independent company, even when using a recruiter, and promote yourself appropriately, for example by creating your own website to promote your IT services.
Invest in your own equipment
As a contractor, you need your own equipment. List the items you will need based on the IT services you plan to offer and make those investments before you officially get started.
Finally, speaking to an experienced recruiting consultant can be a very useful way to gain an expert perspective on the job market for IT contractors. If there are many permanent offers for a particular position that fall under your skillset, you can assume that contract offers will also be prevalent.