Going it Alone

Catherine and Richard have put together a clear and comprehensive 'how to' of setting up (or reviewing and expanding) a family mediation business. The accessible and well written content converts a daunting prospect to a manageable process covering every step from: deciding what kind of company, through analysing viability, business planning, funding options, choosing a name, finding a domain name, registering your company, setting up a bank account, payment systems, professional indemnity insurance, data protection, creating and managing a website and designing a logo to finding an office. With the trading aspects covered the book moves on to the mediation practicalities of identifying essential resources, client and mediator paperwork and some tips for engaging second parties. The penultimate sections address that most crucial element to the success of any enterprise: marketing; providing help galore on devising a strategy, identifying and reaching your target audience, getting the message right, understanding online audiences, finding third party referrers and using the media. The volume concludes with a proforma for 20-minute planning (yes, really - just 20 minutes) and another for a five-year plan. Peppered throughout with tips and tools this book is a little goldmine for all mediators for the marketing section alone.

Lesley Saunders, FMCA Mediator, PPC and Trainer