that the advice will bring in more money than it will cost or you require expertise you dont possess. Bear in mind that a consultant can only give you advice. If you dont follow that advice, then youve wasted your money and everyones time.     Make sure that you like the consultant as a person; you probably wont listen to advice from someone with whom youre uncomfortable. Ask the consultant to outline how he proposes to approach your problem and about how much his approach will cost you. Your consultant should be open to your feedback on his proposals. If you dislike most of what he proposes, youll be better off finding another consultant more in line with your thinking.     WarningConsultant or future employee? Sometimes people use consulting as a way to find permanent employment. Theres nothing wrong with that. Just make sure that you and your consultant communicate completely if you think thats an issue. You may or may not have any openings or interest in hiring the consultant. Youll want to be clear about the situation before you begin your work together.     1. SBA/SCORE     This agency of the federal government is organized specifically to help people like you. The primary purpose of the Small Business Administration (SBA) is to help small entrepreneurs find financial assistance. (This is covered in Chapter 4, Section F.) The SBA also runs a consulting service called the Service Corps of Retired Executives, or SCORE. This is an organized group of retired business executives who offer free consulting to any business owner.     Most SCORE consultants are genuinely interested in helping you prosper, and they have some valuable experience to share. The only cautionary note I offer is to make sure that you like the consultant and that he has some experience that will be helpful to you. For instance, some SCORE consultants with long, illustrious careers in big business may have little understanding of, or patience with, the problems of small business. If you dont feel the consultant assigned to your case is a good match, dont hesitate to ask for another.     For business owners on a tight budget, the help from SCORE can be invaluable. Make the nearest SCORE office your first stop in looking for help.     2. State and Local Agencies     Many state and local agencies offer advice and assistance in addition to their help with securing financing. In fact, counseling and consulting may be part of the package. Refer to Chapter 4, Section F5, for resources on how to locate them.     3. Private Consultants     To begin looking for a private general business consultant or a specialist, start with the local Chamber of Commerce, bankers and the service clubs like Rotary or Kiwanis to find people with long community ties and stability. Many class instructors and college professors supplement their income by doing private consulting; if you take a class from a person you like and want some personal help, ask. C. Books     The books covered in this section offer good information, take a helpful stance and are easily read