Hiring A SMALL BUSINESS Development Consultant – Mistake Or Opportunity?
I just finished searching the web for business and marketing consultants, and even as a specialist Business Consultant, I was left confused and skeptical. The profession seems to be filled with those who over-promise, have little experience, plus some who only want to sell you anything but knowledge based on experience. Fortunately, beneath the rubble, there are those who have spent a lifetime in business and who are practicing professional consultants with too much to offer the right customers. Since that is my business, I decided it may be time and energy to offer my observations on why you may want a professional consultant, and how you can benefit.
I am a small business Development, Strategic Planning, and Marketing consultant. I specialized in helping small to mid-sized companies review their current activities and providing Critical Analysis, Strategic Planning and Implementation guidance in my own areas of expertise. My goal is to help small business and mid-sized companies grow by understanding where they are today, where they want to go, and exactly getting there.
With the disclosure out of the way, let me provide my help with hiring a business consultant, what to look for, and what to expect for your time and money.
1) EXPERTISE: The single most important reason to hire an outside business consultant is to generate expertise that you do not already have in house.
A lot of people have a background in their industry, and several have experience in several industries. Some people even have experience with 10 or 15 products within that industry, but knowledge, experience and practical management of a broader selection of products, from over a hundred companies, and building marketing and distribution in diverse markets such as THE UNITED STATES, Europe and Asia is experience few folks have.
When you look for a consultant you want someone who has a breadth of knowledge and experience that exceeds everything you already have. Alongside bringing a fresh or different perspective to your analysis and strategic planning, a consultant should bring knowledge that’s outside the scope of your current environment.
By bringing in someone with an array of knowledge and experience in their specialization you supplement your present knowledge base. Most companies curently have excellent people on staff performing their duties in the areas of business development, marketing and sales. Limitations occur because of the ‘box’ where we work. You as well as your staff are running full speed ahead to keep up with the demands of your business. In many cases, you’re putting out fires as quickly because they ignite (if you are lucky). This environment dictates that you focus on the job at hand. When you and your staff meet, you are discussing real problems that need immediate solutions. There’s little time to research what other companies are doing and what is successful or not for them.
A consultant should bring an ‘out of the box’ perspective to your table as soon as they walk in the door. They may not understand the minutia of your business immediately, but through discussion plus some research they will bring new perspective and ideas to your problem solving and business planning process. Their expanded world view will open new doors of chance of your organization and offer ideas that have proven successful in other environments.
2) ECONOMICS: The second most likely reason to hire a specialist business development consultant is saving money.
Hiring the expertise you will need for every aspect of your business development process isn’t only impractical, but impossible.
Whenever we need professional expertise we either outsource or bring on new staff. Today, in this economy, hiring new staff is a luxury most small business cannot afford. Outsourcing is a wonderful alternative, and in the case of consultants, a highly affordable alternative.
Along with bringing immediate knowledge, consultants bring all the great things about outsourcing. Taxes and Benefits are the responsibility of the consultant and never carried as overhead by the company. Costs are controlled and will fit your allowance. Hiring and firing are as simple as picking up the telephone. No job search, no severance. Consultants are usually available when you wish them and expendable when you do not. For most that description is really a little uncomfortable, but a professional consultant is an independent business person (or company) who works at the pleasure of YOU.
In addition to all of the benefits of outsourcing, a specialist consultant brings immediate payback. Duplicating the expertise of a good consultant might require 3, 5 or even 8 different positions to be filled by experienced managers. Each position requires training and integration in to the organization. One expert not only provides the knowledge-base of those positions, but also hits the bottom running.
Finally, regarding an excellent consultant’s hourly or daily fee. https://www.newswire.com/news/scott-cooper-florida-based-ceo-says-miami-is-the-new-fashion-capital-20491894 is they are usually priced at the level of a senior partner in an attorney or regional accounting firm. In comparison with the expense of hiring that same expertise on a long-term basis, they are almost always a bargain.