What will I be doing?

Everybody needs some good advice. If people describe you as knowledgeable and helpful, consider becoming a paid personal image consultant. As a personal image consultant you will offer clients advice on wardrobe planning and personal shopping and provide corporate clients with workshops and seminars on professional etiquette. Individuals who want to feel better about themselves may also seek your services.

What will I need to start?

You will be selling both knowledge and wisdom on a specific personal subject. You may be selling your ability to select clothing or help clients make good choices. You must also be personable. Friendly advice sells better than unfriendly information. So you'll need patience, diplomacy and some human psychology.

Who will my customers be?

Most of your customers, understandably, will be individuals. You will be offering them advice to help them present a better image--whether professionally or personally. Your customers will be those who don't feel their image is what they want it to be. Or your customers may be corporations who want to help employees project professional images.

You can also offer your personal image consulting services to groups through seminars and classes that you design or that are established by local colleges.

How much should I charge?

Personal image consultants earn an hourly rate of $30 to $70 or more. Well-known personal consultants who have written popular books on their topics earn much more. Most personal image consultants price their services by the value of the expected results. That is, a personal image consultant who helps enhance the image of corporate executives will charge more than for a similar service to new college graduates.

How much will I make?

Many people will be reluctant to use your services unless they have heard good things about you. Thus, it will require some time to develop your own image. Once established, you'll probably spend 20 to 30 percent of your time marketing your services.

Fortunately, overhead expenses for personal consultants are usually low. Advertising will be your largest expenditure. Otherwise, it's telephone, office supplies and taxes. Expect 20 to 40 percent in overhead expenses. Selling 1,500 hours of your time each year at $40 an hour with 25 percent overhead expenses offers you a net income of $45,000 for the year.

How can I get started?

First, become an expert in your area. If you consult on clothing or makeup, make sure you know as much as you can about these topics. Read, study, learn, try, ask.

Second, let others know you're an expert. If you have successfully consulted people, ask for a letter of recommendation or other references. Write an article about your topic for a newspaper or magazine and, if published, get copies out to potential customers. Check area telephone books for other personal image consultants and learn from them.

Contact the Association of Image Consultants (800-383-8831).

The SIC code for personal image consultants is 8742-03.

How can I use computers to increase profits?

Believe it or not, computers can help personal image consultants make more money. Computer programs are now available that make make-overs easy. A digital photo of your client is fed to the computer, then graphic programs can show the client with different hair styles, make-up, clothing, and jewelry. It's amazing. Search the Internet for more information.