Where to put consultancy work for clients

Small Business System
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I am starting up a small consulting business with a few fellow travellers, so I’m trying to figure out how best to structure our various working files. We’re expecting to be doing work including the following:

  • One-off research, analysis, policy recommendations, etc. for clients
  • Building and possibly maintaining community websites, forums, etc.
  • Developing & delivering bespoke training packages
  • Developing “off-the-shelf” training offerings to deliver to clients
  • Funded R&D projects, i.e. where we have an idea and apply for funding to do it, rather than being commissioned by a client
  • Larger projects combining multiple instances of the above (possibly being subcontracted or subcontracting to others)

My initial thought was that most of this would go under 50-59 Portfolio of creative outputs - Johnny.Decimal forum but I see that’s more intended for creative outputs for marketing & running the business (e.g. our own website, logo, etc). There are also 21 Products and services, 33 Customers & clients, and 34 Orders & jobs.

I note this is also somewhat similar to Folder structure ideas for multiple clients with recurring deliverables (accounting firm) . At the end of the day we get to choose how we organise our files, but I’m interested in schemes others have come up with for this type of work and your experiences, pros & cons, etc.

2

I’m currently thinking focusing on 33 and a templated layout based on the freelance designer example in 13.21 Expand an area • Johnny.Decimal for commissioned work, and building up a portfolio of off-the-shelf offerings under 21.

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You’ve got a bunch of stuff here and I think some will end up in some places and some in others. But you’ve got the right idea.

21 Products… is the place for actual products or services that you offer. This is your off-the-shelf stuff. I also store my product research here, because that’s what it relates directly to.

Whereas I’d be inclined to store some of those one-offs at 34 Orders & jobs. Including the larger jobs like ‘funded R&D projects’.

You’re right in realising that this isn’t what the 50s is for. This is handy, I needed a blog post for today! Give me 20 mins and I’ll post a link here.

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Ok, this makes sense to me, especially the workshop/shed analogy, and kinda solves the analogous problem I was having working out where to put creative projects in my personal system. I’m even tempted to rename 50-59 The Workshop! :joy: Thanks!

6

Ha, do it!