Managing an Immigration Consulting Practice Presentation ...registration.iccrc-crcic.ca/admin/contentEngine/contentImages/file/... · Explore the Council’s requirements for managing

Version: 2018-001 January 18, 2018

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Where are we now 3/3

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Managing an Immigration Consulting Practice Course


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This course is designed to:

� Explore the Council’s requirements for managing an

immigration consulting practice

� Explore ways of applying the requirements through the

stories of practicing members

� Present resources that may support members in their

individual practices

Course Description


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This course consists of three modules:

1. Setting up an Immigration Consulting Practice and

Maintaining Competency

2. Building Goodwill and Reputation

3. Group Presentations

� Networking opportunities

Course Overview


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Course Schedule

Module Content/Learning Objective Time Allotted Suggested

Timeframe

Registration Networking Opportunity 15 mins 8:45-9:00

Opening Welcome and Course Overview 10 mins 9:00-9:10

#1 Setting up an Immigration Consulting Practice and


90 mins 9:10-10:40

BREAK Networking Opportunity 10 mins 10:40-10:50

#1 Setting up an Immigration Consulting Practice and


40 mins 10:50-11:30

#2 Building Goodwill and Reputation 30 mins 11:30-12:00

LUNCH Networking Opportunity 60 mins 12:00-1:00

#2 Building Goodwill and Reputation 45 mins 1:00-1:45

#3 Group Presentations 70 mins 1:45-2:55

Closing Wrap-up 5 mins 2:55-3:00


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� Course completion

� Attend entire course

� Contribute to learning process

� Member feedback

� Questions are encouraged

� Learning environment

� Interactive

� Undivided attention

� Mutual respect

� Respect diversity

Course Expectations

1. Are you:

a. a sole proprietor

b. a partner

c. incorporated, or

d. employed by other

Polling

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With respect to your immigration consulting practice, have you ever:

2. prepared a business plan? (Y/N)

3. prepared a budget? (Y/N)

4. registered a business? (Y/N)

Polling

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MODULE 1: SETTING UP AN

IMMIGRATION CONSULTING PRACTICE AND MAINTAINING COMPETENCY

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Module 1: Client Records Requirements

At the end of this module, participants will be able to:

� Assess whether they are meeting ICCRC’s requirements for

setting up an immigration consulting practice and

maintaining competency

� Evaluate strategies for seeking and giving help with respect to

the immigration consulting practice

� Apply factors for developing a business plan to their

immigration consulting practice

� Explore the considerations for registering a business

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Module 1 Objectives


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ICCRC’s Role

ICCRC’s mandate is to:

� Regulate RCICs and RISIAs

� Safeguard consumers

ICCRC fulfills this mandate by managing:

� The profession’s entry-to-practice standards

� Professional requirements, and

� A rigorous complaints and discipline process

http://www.iccrc-crcic.ca/home.cfm


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ICCRC’s Role

ICCRC does not:

� Advocate to government beyond matters of consumer protection

� Act as a membership services organization

� Regulate the agents, employees, staff, etc. of RCICs

� Advise members outside of its mandate (e.g., legal issues, taxation, immigration law, etc.)

� Provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events


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Two Lenses


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Review the list of ICCRC’s requirements for setting up an immigration consulting practice

Which requirements have you met?

Activity

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ICCRC’s Requirements

Activity

What strategies might you use to seek help with your immigration consulting practice and to give help to other immigration consultants?

Activity

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Activity

Shared experiences—seeking and giving helpActivity

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Video


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How might preparing a business plan help your immigration consulting practice?Discussion

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Discussion

Describe the business and what makes

it unique

Set goals for the business:

• Short-term

• Long-term

Assess the feasibility

of starting

a business

Describe the legal

structures (e.g., sole

proprietorship / corporation, etc.)

Describe the accounting

structures (e.g.,

Model 1 or 2, etc.)

Anticipate one-time

only and regular

costs

Seek

funding for the

business

Preparing a Business Plan

Preparing a business plan may help:goes here

Plan the administr-

ative set-

up of the business

Articulate the

business mission

and model

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Shared experiences—business plan and budgetActivity

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Video


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Which factors might strengthen your business plan and/or planning process?

Activity

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Activity


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Understanding Costs

Fixed Expenses

e.g., salaries, office

expenses/ supplies,

telecommun-ications, rent,

insurance, membership

fees, etc.

Variable Expenses

e.g., commissions/

referrals, travel,

advertising, taxes, bad debt, etc.


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Fee Considerations

Market

Overhead costs

SpecialtyClient

Jurisdiction

Experience

Established Fee

Size of practice

Volume of business

Direct labour

Disbursements


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� Writing a business plan (possible structure):

� Cover sheet

� Table of contents

� Executive summary

� Organizational plan – e.g., description of business and

service, location, legal and accounting structures, etc.


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� Writing a business plan (possible structure) – cont’d:

� Marketing plan – analysis, strategy, customer service

� Financial documents

� Supporting documents – e.g., résumé, credit reports,

copy of lease, contracts, legal documents, etc.

(Alternatively, see Appendix A)

Works consulted: Fattal, T. (2001). Managing a Successful Business in Canada. (pp. 138). North Vancouver, BC: Self-Counsel Press.Pinson, Linda. (copyright 2014). Anatomy of a Business Plan: The Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing Your

Company’s Future (8 ed.). Tustin, CA: Out of Your Mind…and Into the Marketplace.

How might developing a budget help you manage your immigration consulting practice?

Discussion

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Discussion


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Registering a Business

� ICCRC does not require members to have their own business (e.g., sole proprietorship, corporation, partnership, etc.)

� Business and residence addresses, telephone number(s), email address(es), name of the employer and the member’s official occupied position must be provided to ICCRC (By-law 2017-1 17.1)

� Membership is tied to individual member, not to the

business

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� Considerations:

� Register business with government

• Register with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and obtain a business number

• Obtain sales tax number, if applicable

• Register with Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB), if applicable

� GST / HST (or applicable tax)

• Register for, collect and remit GST / HST (as applicable)

• Consult CRA for more information


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� Considerations (cont’d):

� Federal payroll tax

• Set-up employee’s: income tax and Canada Pension Plan

(CPP)/Québec Pension Plan (QPP) and Employment

Insurance (EI) deductions

• Pay employer’s: CPP/QPP and EI contributions

� Jurisdictional requirements

• E.g., Quebec – register for TPS and TVQ (if applicable), apply

the Charter of the French Language when naming the

businessWork consulted:

Kerr, M. & Kurtz, J.A. (2011). Canadian Small Business Kit for Dummies. (pp. 120-121). Mississauga, ON:

John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.

What are additional considerations for registering a business?Discussion

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Discussion


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Break


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Review the list of ICCRC’s requirements for maintaining competency

Which requirements have you met?

Activity

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Activity

Shared experiences—maintaining competencyActivity

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Video

What is one requirement or strategy for maintaining competency that:

� you didn’t know before and

� might apply to your immigration

consulting practice?

Discussion

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Discussion


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Tools and Resources

� Appendix A–Business Plan Outline Sample

� Appendix B–Income and Expense Forecast Template

� Appendix C–Cash Flow Budget Template

� Appendix D–Quarterly Budget Analysis Template

� Appendix E–Profit and Loss (Income) Statement Template

� Appendix F–Five-Year Forecast Template

� Appendix G–New Hire Checklist

� Appendix H–Getting Organized Checklist


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Questions

MODULE 2: BUILDING GOODWILLAND REPUTATION

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Module 2: Record Keeping SYstems


� Apply ICCRC’s requirements to their efforts of building

goodwill and reputation

� Survey the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and obstacles

of their approach to building goodwill and reputation

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Module 2 Objectives

Review the list of ICCRC’s requirements for building goodwill and reputation

Rate how well you have met/are meeting each requirement

Describe the steps you intend to take to better meet the requirements

Activity

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Activity

Shared experiences—building reputationActivity

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Video


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Building Reputation

How to expand the client base?

How to maintain the client base?

How to attract the client?

Who is

the client?


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Building Reputation

Niche market/Familiar market

Local/Regional/National/International

Individual/Corporate


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Building Reputation

� Working pro bono� Participating on social

networks and internet forums� Writing articles/letters to

editor� Giving information sessions

� Teaching� Newsletter

Passive marketing strategies

� Branding (website, logo, business card, brochure,

letterhead, signage, email signature, invoice, etc.)

� Social media� Listed in phone book

� Word of mouth—referrals

Active marketing strategies


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� How to maintain the client base?

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Building Reputation

� Use best efforts� Meet all deadlines

� Conduct client affairs

efficiently and cost-effectively

� Communicate with client at

all stages of a matter

Provide excellent customer service (A.6.1)

� Engage an interpreter, as needed

� Maintain and enhance

knowledge and skills through training and development

� Focus on customer service and satisfaction

� Promote all of your services

� Expand your knowledge and skill base (e.g., new

category of representation, specialty, etc.)

� Offer incentives (no contingency billing)

� Address complaints quickly and thoroughly

� Encourage referrals

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Building a Client BaseBuilding Reputation


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Lunch


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Shared experiences—building goodwillActivity

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Video

What additional suggestions do you have for building goodwill?Discussion

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Discussion


S – Strengths (internal factor)W – Weaknesses (internal factor)O – Opportunities (external factor)O – Obstacles (external factor)

Internal factor – examines the core competencies and competitive advantages of the business as well as the gaps

External factor –examines the changes and trends in the marketplace to identify growth opportunities and challenges

Work consulted: Pinson, Linda. (copyright 2014). Anatomy of a Business Plan: The Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing Your Company’s

Future (8 ed.). Tustin, CA: Out of Your Mind…and Into the Marketplace.

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SWOO Analysis


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Strengths

Weaknesses

Opportunities

Obstacles

Perform a SWOO analysis on your approach to building goodwill and reputation

Activity

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Activity


� Appendix I—Marketing Strategy Resource

� Appendix J—Components of Multimedia Marketing Strategy

� Appendix K—Marketing Strategy Checklist

� Appendix L—Effective Immigration Consulting Practice

Management Checklist

� Appendix M—Resource List

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Tools and Resources


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Questions


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MODULE 3: GROUP PRESENTATIONS

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Module 3: Shared practice


� Present concepts learned during the course which are applied to a real-life scenario

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Module 3 Objective

In small groups, discuss your assigned scenario, identify the main problems and formulate a solution that:

1. Addresses at least three (3) of ICCRC’s requirements

2. Protects the client

3. Ensures quality customer service and

4. Benefits the member

Group

Presentation

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When sharing the solution:

� Keep it to 5 minutes or less

� Involve all small group members

� Use whatever format you like (e.g., role play, information session, etc.)

� Use available resources (e.g., whiteboard, chart paper, online

document, etc.)

Group

Presentation (cont’d)

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Does the shared solution:

� Address at least three (3) of ICCRC’s

requirements

� Protect the client

� Ensure quality customer service and

� Benefit the member

Group

Presentation

(cont’d)

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Questions

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Member Feedback Survey

� Feedback for ICCRC on course and instructor

� Online survey – link e-mailed to you today

� Anonymous – be honest and constructive

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Wrap-up

Webinar Invitation

� Optional

� Online session – audio and data

� Headset with built-in microphone required

� E-mail questions on managing an immigration consulting practice in advance

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Wrap-up (cont’d)

Member Support

� E-mail your instructor with PME course-related questions

� [email protected] for all other queries

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Wrap-up (cont’d)


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Aylen, J. (2012). Starting & Running a Small Business For Canadians All-in-One for Dummies. ON: John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.

CIBC. (n.d.). Start with your Marketing Planning. Retrieved from https://www.cibc.com/ca/pdf/small-business/start-marketing-planning-en.pdf

CIBC. (n.d.). Ten ways to retain great employees. Retrieved from https://www.cibc.com/ca/small-business/managing-your-business/ten-wys-to-retin-gret-employees.html

Entrepreneur Media, Inc. (2014). Business Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide. Retrieved from http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessplan/index.html

Fattal, T. (2001). Managing a Successful Business in Canada. North Vancouver, BC: Self-Counsel Press.

Gray, D. (2010). Start & Run a Consulting Business. North Vancouver, BC: Self-Counsel Press.Grensing-Pophal. L. (2010). Employee Management for Small Businesses (3 ed.). North Vancouver,

BC: International Self-Counsel Press Ltd.Hodgetts, R.M. & Kuratko, D.F. (2008). Small Business Management: Essential tools and skills for

entrepreneurial success. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Kerr, M. & Kurtz, J.A. (2011). Canadian Small Business Kit for Dummies. (pp. 120-121).

Mississauga, ON: John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.Markowitz, E. (2010). 9 Tips for Doing Business Globally. Retrieved from

http://www.inc.com/ss/9-tips-doing-business-globally

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Works Consulted


McGuckin, F. (2001). Big Ideas for Growing Your Small Business: How to build profits and

manage growth. Toronto, ON: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.

Mohr, A. (2008). Financial Management 101: Get a Grip on Your Business Numbers. North

Vancouver, BC: Self-Counsel Press.

Nelson, B. & Economy, P. (2008). Consulting for Dummies (2 ed.). NJ: Wiley Publishing Inc.

Pinson, Linda. (copyright 2014). Anatomy of a Business Plan: The Step-by-Step Guide to Building a

Business and Securing Your Company’s Future (8 ed.). Tustin, CA: Out of Your Mind…and Into

the Marketplace.

The U.S. Small Business Administration. (n.d.). Accepting Cash Only. Retrieved from

http://www.sba.gov/content/accepting-cash-only

The U.S. Small Business Administration. (n.d.). Accepting Checks. Retrieved from

http://www.sba.gov/content/accepting-cash-only

The U.S. Small Business Administration. (n.d.). Accepting Credit Cards. Retrieved from

https://www.sba.gov/managing-business/running-business/managing-business-finances-accounting/accepting-credit-cards

Tuckwell, K.J. (2009). Canadian Advertising in Action (8 ed.). Toronto: Pearson Education.

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Works Consulted (cont’d)


Thank you!

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©2018 Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in

any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of the Council, except in the case of non-commercial use

of brief quotations accompanied by proper citation.

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Managing an Immigration Consulting Practice Presentation ...registration.iccrc-crcic.ca/admin/contentEngine/contentImages/file/... · Explore the Council’s requirements for managing