Taking Your Clients With You

Taking Your Clients With You
by Takara Alexis

One important quality in becoming a successful consultant is your capability to network and get work from your contacts. Your former colleagues and bosses can pass you leads regarding clients, and bring you in to work on projects that are being done by your former company.

Taking your customers might pose legal problems if you've already signed an agreement not to compete or solicit customers of your previous employer. Still, many agreements aren't enforceable and others give loopholes that would allow you to work for your former employer's customers in specific instances. Having a business lawyer review your agreement will provide you with the information you want to stay away from legal troubles while starting up your new business.

Once you have given your notice, let your number one clients know that you will be leaving. The topic of what you will be doing will inevitably come up in conversation. This is a good time to explain what you will be doing and perhaps exchange telephone numbers and ask if you can keep in contact with your former client.

Soliciting clients during company time could be a dangerous thing for numerous reasons. While soliciting clients as an independent consultant is viewed as business competition, soliciting your employer's customers on company time is acknowledged as stealing. If your boss comes to know about this, you will probably be fired immediately. Many clients will look on your solicitation as trying to "steal" clients from your employer. After firing you, your former company may sue you for stealing clients.

Customer lists, pricing formulas and materials that are copyrighted should remain with your former employer because these are viewed as your former employer's trade secrets by law. Taking these type of documents from your former employer would bring you legal problems, including possibly being arrested for theft or being sued by your former employer.

Even if your clients tell you that they will give you assignments, that's not always promised. Don't keep calling the same clients over and over again to check on projects. It'll be viewed as a harassment and could spoil any chances of future work. Continue to work on getting assignments from a variety of contacts. It may take a while for you to find your first assignment. If you have saved money and planned ahead, you will have enough living expenses to allow you to continue your search for work. Be patient, and keep working to find projects to work on.