Reviewed by Michael Haaren
http://www.ratracerebellion.com 

Given our prevailing time-starved lifestyles, concierge services would appear to have a strong future, and this book is likely all the reference you’ll need to prosper as a home-based concierge.

However, as the author points out (to her credit, as “how-to” books often go overboard on the “rah rah,” and downplay the tough parts of the task), these businesses are not for everyone. As she puts it, you must be the “[t]ype of person who can have a conversation with a post in the subway,” and you have to be willing to go the extra mile, too, at all hours, for your clients.  

Giovanni comes with impressive credentials. (Full disclosure: She is also the RatRaceRebellion.com Contributing Expert on the Concierge field.) She was a “meeting and event planner for over 20 years,” and is the Chairman of the Board and Interim President of the International Concierge and Errand Association.

She also has considerable entrepreneurship and advisory experience in concierge services, which comes through in cautions and guidance conveyed in grounded, pragmatic terms.     

The book covers the pre-launch areas that “newbies” will need -- types of business entities, getting an employer ID number, building a Website, etc. -- but also thankfully devotes one of the larger chapters to sales and marketing, which is where so many micro-entrepreneurs drop the baton.    

I would differ with the author on the weight given to business plans (I think many micro-entrepreneurs get bogged down in them, and should focus instead on a marketing plan and landing the first client), but many experts split on that issue, and admittedly there are good arguments on both sides.

All in all, an excellent roadmap for the aspiring concierge, of whom we expect to see many more in the near future, even as demand exceeds supply.