More than just insurance “for a rainy day,” umbrella insurance is so named because it acts like an umbrella, adding additional coverage amounts over certain underlying policies. Also called “excess liability insurance,” umbrella liability insurance gives your company higher coverage...

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If you’re planning on using a subcontractor to perform IT work for one of your clients, you’ve got a lot at stake. Even if you carefully screen your subcontractor for experience and client references, if he makes even one critical mistake on the job, your client relationship and reputation...

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IT staffing firms know the importance of pre-screening job applicants and conducting thorough background and reference checks. But even staffing firms that screen with care can end up facing a lawsuit. All it takes is for one temporary or permanent placement to make a mistake on the job. And that, of...

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In the business of marketing consulting, some days the old saying, “what can go wrong, will go wrong,” holds true. While most engagements go according to plan, those that don’t can result in a disappointed client – or worse, a lawsuit. To protect against the high cost of a legal...

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It’s a small-business-owner’s worst nightmare: a fire or natural disaster wipes out your business’ headquarters, leaving you and your team with no computers, no office equipment and nowhere to work. Although the right property insurance policy would cover the physical losses and damage...

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There’s much more to IT staffing than just providing talent to meet a client’s short-term needs. Doing the job right requires a thorough understanding of what a client hopes to achieve, and then developing a valued partnership with a shared goal of helping the client accomplish those goals...

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Like any professional service, engineering and integrating software systems carries some risk. A minor miscalculation in a line of code can bring down an entire system, causing your client to lose time and money. That’s why quality control should be at the forefront of your mind throughout any...

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Because risk management and IT project management go hand-in-hand, experienced IT project managers never start a project without a risk-management strategy in mind. Often, at the heart of that strategy is a strong focus on quality control. Before the ink on your IT consulting agreement is even dry, it’s...

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When marketing consultants are hired for a project, it’s common for both the consultant and client to come up with new ideas along the way. But beware of “scope creep”: those little changes to the scope of a project that ultimately add up to a big change of direction – and a big...

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As a software developer, you know how important a good software license agreement can be. Without one, there’s nothing to stop the purchaser of your software from redistributing the products of your hard work with no profits to you. The agreement also protects you from being sued for unlimited...

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With almost any complex information technology project, there are bound to be scope changes along the way. Often, the difference between a successful project and one that gets bogged down by “project scope creep” is the way those scope changes are managed. As part of the project analysis...

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For some projects, a marketing consultant may need outside expertise or just an extra hand to get the job done. For engagements like these, hiring a subcontracted marketing consultant to assist with the project can help you meet your deadlines without having to bring a full-time employee on board. But...

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Scope changes are so common in IT projects that many IT project managers have learned to expect them and simply take them in stride. But there’s no reason to let “project scope creep” slow your implementation down. Starting out with a good plan for managing scope changes can help you...

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Often management consultants are hired to accomplish a specific goal, but before the engagement is complete, the project’s scope has expanded to include more than you or the client bargained for. Because scope creep often happens quietly, it’s easy for a management consultant to spend time...

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Many growing IT companies find that working with subcontractors a great way to keep clients happy and overhead in check. Without having to bring on a full-time employee, IT companies can hire independent contractors on a per-project basis, extending their company’s scope and geographical reach...

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Many IT project managers find that using subcontractors is an excellent alternative to hiring full-time staffers. IT project managers may choose to hire independent contractors to assist with one project, or bring them on-board on a long-term basis. Either way, using subcontractors gives clients the...

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For many small businesses, success goes hand-in-hand with the need for more employees. While growth is something to celebrate, adding people to your team also adds a new level of risk to your operation. Most small businesses don’t have a legal or human resources department to protect the company’s...

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In an ideal world, management consultants would be able to do it all. But in reality, no one can be in two places at one time. For some engagements, it makes good business sense to hire a subcontracted management consultant to assist with specific aspects of the project. Using subcontractors can be a...

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Once you’ve developed and installed software for a client, your work may not be done. In many cases, software developers provide ongoing software maintenance and support for their clients. Offering this service is an excellent way to build a longstanding relationship with your client while potentially...

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As a marketing consultant, you know that timing is everything. To keep your consulting engagements on track, you need a good project management strategy centered around a solid project timeline. But as many marketing consultants know from experience, developing and adhering to a timeline can be tough...

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It’s hard to find a talented independent contractor you can trust to represent your company when working with a client. Once you do find a good one, however, it's a person that you want to keep on your team for future projects. The downside is, your favorite independent contractor is more than...

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Placing personnel at a client company to perform IT services can be a great solution for everyone involved. Your people get work, you get income, and your client gets the service it needs without the expense of hiring a full-time employee. But before your contractors report for their first day on the...

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Developing a project timeline is a cornerstone of any project management strategy. But as many IT project managers have learned, developing and adhering to a timeline isn’t easy. From technical glitches to human resource problems, unexpected complications can pop up at any time, quickly throwing...

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The project timeline is a cornerstone of project management. But as most system integrators and computer/software programmers know, developing and sticking to a timeline can be easier said than done. From technical issues to personnel problems, unexpected complications can arise at any time, throwing...

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A project timeline is a central component in any good project management strategy. But as many management consultants have learned the hard way, creating and sticking to a timeline is not as easy as it sounds. Depending on the type of consulting engagement, many project elements – from people to...

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Before beginning work on a consulting engagement, smart management consultants protect their business interests and reduce their liability with legally binding contracts, signed by their clients. During the initial stages of project development, management consultants may tend to rely on informal documentation...

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Before beginning work on any consulting engagement, it’s a good idea for marketing consultants to protect their business and reduce their liability by getting their client’s signature on a comprehensive marketing consulting contract. During the initial stages of project development, marketing...

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Before establishing a formal business relationship, wise IT project managers protect their business interests with appropriate legal contracts. During the initial stages of project development, IT professionals often rely on informal records based on e-mails sent back and forth with the client. While...

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Before engaging in a formal business relationship, system integrators and custom computer/software programmers need to protect their business interests with appropriate legal contracts. During the initial stages of project development, IT professionals often keep informal records by hanging on to e-mails...

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Developing even a simple web site can quickly become a complex job, so clarifying expectations at the beginning of the project is always a good idea. That’s why an experienced web developer's first move is to get the client’s signature on a comprehensive website development contract before...

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More than ever before, companies are hiring marketing consulting businesses with one important criterion in mind: “How can this marketing consultant help me get the most out of my marketing dollars?” With increasing pressure to maximize the return on their clients’ marketing investment...

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Why Clients Want Their Architects To Have a Strong Insurance Foundation If you're working in the architecture field, you've probably run into situations in which a client requires you to carry business insurance. Maybe you run a small architecture firm with a few employees, or perhaps you're a solo architect...

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Behind almost every web site development or graphic design project is a set of business requirements. The hard part is making sure that the site you build meets those business needs, 100 percent. It’s easy for a web site developer or designer to listen to what the clients say they want for their...

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Every management consulting project is driven by a business requirement. Often, management consulting businesses are called upon to meet those business requirements by enhancing the productivity, management, delivery or performance of a company’s information technology investment. Investing in...

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Congratulations! You’ve been chosen to do a software development project, and you’re almost ready to get started. But before you jump in, you need both your and your client’s signatures on a contract that clearly defines all aspects of the project. A good software development agreement...

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Every IT project is driven by a business requirement. For an IT project manager, the hard part is translating that business requirement into an end product that fully meets that business need. It’s easy for a project manager to sit in a meeting and listen to what the clients say they need their...

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Behind almost every IT project is a business requirement – but how do you ensure that the end product truly meets that business need? It’s easy for system integrators, computer programmers or software programmers to sit in a meeting and listen to what their clients say they need a system...

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If you’re in engineering, you’ve probably encountered plenty of situations in which you’re required to carry some level of insurance. Maybe you run a small engineering consultancy with a few employees, or perhaps you’re a solo professional engineer. Either way, you might wonder...

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If you’re a marketing consultant, you probably have at least one client company that requires you to carry some type of insurance. Maybe you run a small marketing or market research firm with a few employees, or maybe you’re an independent Internet marketing consultant or media professional...

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If you’re in the management consulting business, you probably have clients that require you to carry some level of insurance. Maybe you run a small firm with a few employees, or maybe you’re a one-person shop. Either way, you might wonder if you’ll ever actually use all that coverage...

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IT staffing agencies are familiar with their clients’ requirements for insurance coverage, and know that they have to have the insurance to get the business. But you may wonder if all that coverage is really necessary. The good news is that in almost all cases, the insurance coverage your client...

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Whether you’re working directly with a client or through a staffing firm, if you’re a systems integrator or custom programmer, you’ll probably have at least one client who requires you to carry some level of insurance. Maybe you have a few employees, or maybe you’re a one-person...

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