Instead, consider an independent consultant.  If the idea sounds a bit scary, you're not alone.  It's natural to be suspicious.  It's this fear of the unknown that makes the process especially trying.  To make matters worse, there are many scam artists who masquerade themselves as wolves in sheep's clothing.  These unscrupulous invidividuals lie in wait for their next victim to devour.  There are many stories of unsuspecting clients who have been taken for thousands of dollars and delivered a sub-standard product.

So just how do you find a reputable consultant without mortgaging the farm?  The answer is suprisingly simple, but you have to do your homework.

The key to choosing the right consultant starts with a few simple keys.  The old familiar addage is true, "knowledge is power".  The more you know, the better your chances of avoiding the scams.  First, carefully study the consultant's credentials.  In most cases, they will be presented online on the consultant's website.  This will give you an important first impression of his or her professional skills.  If the presentation is not clear or badly arranged, it can be a sign of someone who is inexperienced or unorganized.  Next, study the details listed including experience and capabilities.  Look for something that indicates experience relevant to your job requirements.  And, finally, contact several potential candidates and ask some tough questions.  Email is acceptable, but voice-to-voice phone calls are preferred.  Hearing the invidividual's voice will first assure you that he exists.  Second, you'll get a feel for his personality.  Does his tone indicate humility or flamboyance?  Confidence or insecurity?  Patience or impatience?  If he makes you feel as though your call is a nuisance, then you've just gotten a valuable piece of information. If this individual is too busy to listen to you, then it's even less likely that he'll have the time for your project.  But this scenario will likely be the exception rather than the rule as most consultants will be eager to greet new potential clients.  After all, they are the source of the his livelihood.   

Be forthright in your phone conversation.  Remember that this is a two-way street.  The consultant is interested in knowing a little about your project and what kind of client you are.  Briefly explain your project and a few of its attributes.  This will give the candidate a feel for what you are looking for and help him to determine if he would like to pursue the job. 

Be sure to ask how the consultant charges for his services.  Most likely, the answer will be one of two possibilities:  hourly rate or flat fee.  The more flexible consultants will offer both methods, depending on the type of job being performed and its duration.  For obvious reasons, the flat-fee is desired in most cases because you know the costs up-front.  For a short-term job where a clear objective has been defined, a flat-fee may be the preferred method.   But there can be cases where an hourly rate makes sense such as projects of longer duration or where the end result may not yet be clearly defined.  There is no hard and fast rule here.  The bottom line is that you can and should have a say in the process.

Here are questions you should ask each willing candidate.

• Can you provide a detailed resume?
• How long have you been a consultant?
• Can you provide a list of recent clients?
• What jobs have you done which qualify you for my project?
• When are you available for my project and how long?
• Do you provide free price quotations?
• Do you charge a flat fee or by the hour?

Finally, let me take a moment to discuss an important issue regarding contractor status and the IRS.  The IRS has strict rules to determine whether an individual is an independent contractor or an employee.  An employee has benefits and legal entitlements whereas an independent contractor does not. In general, an individual is an independent contractor if the organization for which the services are performed has the right to control or direct only the result of the work, and not what will be done and how it will be done or the method of accomplishing the result.  If an independent contractor is paid $600 or more, then he must be provided a 1099 form at the end of the year.  (The 1099 form is the contractor equivalent of a W2 for employees.) 

Finding a good consultant does not have to be a impossible task.  In fact, it can be as simple as 1-2-3 if you follow these simple recommendations:

• Study the information listed on the webpage
• Look for relevant experience and capabilities
• Contact propsects and ask tough questions

Kenneth Delahoussaye is a software consultant specializing in realtime software and embedded firmware applications.  He is the owner and founder of Kadtronix, a company which provides design services.  For information regarding his qualifications, click here.  To contact him by phone or e-mail, click here.