Business Consulting & Strategy Solutions
In the wise words of Benjamin Franklin, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” While it may sound like a cliche, nothing could ring more true when it comes to starting and growing a successful business. Without proper planning, you may find it difficult to get your business off the ground, experience stagnant growth or suffer financial loss and waste.
Look at your business plan as a map – you can see where your business is currently located and the destination you want to reach. Strategy, on the other hand, refers to the vehicles you’ll use to get there. In other words, strategy and planning is all about deciding how you’ll get your business to where you want to be. It also allows you to factor in some of the roadblocks you may experience so you can find solutions to avoid breaking down. Without strategy and planning, you may find yourself going around in circles when you could’ve taken a much easier route.
We have a range of exclusive services and packages from business coaches, consultants and business development experts. These offers are designed to help you start, run and grow your business – whether you want to create or improve your business plan, develop strategies, boost cashflow or develop an exit strategy. To help you choose the right solutions and packages for your business, we’ve put together some information on the types of offers available on SavvySME.
What are small business strategy and consulting services?
Small businesses hire consultants to provide objective advice, recommend solutions for problems and work on strategies for business development and growth. Hiring a consultant is a cost-effective way to get expert advice and solutions for specific areas of your business that you may be struggling with.
What are examples of consulting services?
Some examples of the types of business strategy and consulting services you’ll find on SavvySME include:
- Business planning
- Business ideas
- Starting a business
- Research and development
- Strategic partnership
- Competitive market
- Business coaching
- Succession planning
Business Planning
Business planning packages are designed for startups and small businesses. They help you map out your growth and are essential if you want to apply for grants or business finance. A business planning package typically includes an in-depth analysis of your market, competitors and industry trends to create an overview of your business, targets, startup costs and cash forecasts.
Business Ideas
For some entrepreneurs finding ideas is easy and monetising it is the tricky part, while for others, getting inspired for ideas is the biggest challenge. Being able to come up with business ideas is important, but it’s really what you do with an idea that defines whether your business will be successful or not. Business consultants can help you flesh out your ideas, analyse their market viability, assess your funding options, develop a marketing strategy and more.
Starting a Business
Starting a business is likely one of the most stressful and exciting things you’ll ever do. There is a lot to consider – from choosing your business structure and registering for tax, to writing a business plan and applying for finance. Consultants and coaches offer services and packages to help startups get set up and tick all the legal boxes so that you can start your business with confidence.
Research and Development
Once your business is in operation and is generating a profit and has a healthy cashflow, you need to turn your attention to research and development (R&D). Business consultants can help you ensure your business has processes in place to stay competitive and to increase its hold on the marketplace. The focus of your R&D will depend on your goals, market position and other factors, but it could include:
- Brand development
- Product design and development
- Market research
- Acquiring new assets
Strategic Partnership
Creating valuable partnerships in business is one of the most important aspects of business development. Business consultants can help you build mutually beneficial partnerships with other businesses in a way that brings added value to both parties by combining your competitive advantages and allowing you to deliver higher quality goods or services at lower prices.
Competitive Market
When you operate within a competitive market, it can be increasingly difficult to reach and attract new customers. Business consultants can help you determine, review and predict market trends and how they may affect your business now and in the future. They can also recommend new ways to attract prospects and what you can do to gain a competitive edge.
Business Coaching
Business coaching is a great option for business owners that are looking for more holistic advice and guidance from someone who ‘get it’. A business coach works with you to develop a holistic plan of personalised advice and actionable feedback to help you accelerate your professional skills, business growth and overall success as a business owner. Business coaching packages can be tailored to your needs and goals.
Succession Planning
At some point, most business owners wish to move on from their business whether it’s for retirement, the pursuit of a new business venture, financial motive or other reasons. Succession plans are crafted to allow business owners to leave their businesses smoothly. Some businesses create their succession plans when starting the venture, and others wait until they are actually looking at moving away from their business to begin the process.
How do I choose the right strategy and consulting services for my business?
To choose the right services and solutions it’s important to reflect on any issues you may be experiencing or any areas of your business that may not be performing as well as they could be. If you have identified a specific issue, then you may be better off hiring a consultant as they usually have expertise in specific areas of business such as marketing, finance or operations. On the other hand, a business coach may be a better option for more rounded and holistic packages to help you align your business with your personal and professional development. They work with you to bring out the best of you as a business owner.
Other considerations include:
- The results you want to achieve
- How much you can afford to spend on a business strategy or consulting package
- Terms and conditions (read them carefully to ensure you know what you’re signing up for)
- Culture and personality fit
- Client reviews and testimonials
Don’t miss out on the latest offers to start, transform or grow your small business. You can also reach out to other business owners in the community for advice and recommendations.
