I noticed that a lot of people on HN have side-businesses that operate in the form of a consultancy. What do you do as a consultant? Is it always programming? or are there other niches you can carve out and create a business for?
Security consulting. More specifically, I help companies adopt data-driven approaches to collection and analysis + help security companies with their threat intelligence products.
If you get really good at a specific product, there is usually someone out there that needs some help. For example Checkpoint firewall, or another IT Security product...
statistical consulting. Clients so far have ranged from finance startups to soft drinks companies. Programming is more of a means to an ends than anything.<p>Finding your niche is easy. Finding clients in your niche is like climbing Mt. Everest