Small Business Owners - What Should You Look For In An Offer Made By Business Consultants?

Guest post by: Lalitha Brahma
Become an Author

Free PDF Download
Entrepreneurs Why Do You Blog? - By Lalitha Brahma

When I ask Small Business owners what they would look for, when hiring Business Consultants, I get one of the following answers:

My business is not very big at this time, to hire a Business Consultant.

When I need a Business Consultant, I will think about it.

The thought of hiring a Business Consultant scares me about the cost associated with it.

As a Small Business owner I too can relate to this feeling. Now you have two options. The first option is to ignore the thought of hiring Business Consultants at all. The second one is to start thinking about the services YOU want your Business Consultant to provide, that will FIT YOUR needs. Typically you want to have a very clear understanding on the OFFER made by Business Consultants to service your company.

First of all you must consider hiring Business Consultants as an INVESTMENT and NOT cost. You must get HIGHER value on the investment made, which means YOUR Return on Investment (ROI) must be high. To receive a high ROI, your Business Consultants must be in a position to address the following concerns or questions that you may have BEFORE hiring:

1. NATURE OF SERVICES:

Complete details of services which are offered. What type of support/commitment do the Business Consultants require from YOU? There should be NO surprises. Will the services be delivered by phone or email or personally? How soon will you receive the services? Is there a guarantee? Will you get 24/7 customer support?

2. YOUR INVESTMENT (cost):

How much will be the cost (INVESTMENT)? Would the payment be required monthly, quarterly or yearly? Will you be in a position to cancel their services any time with no further obligation?

3. BELIEVABILITY:

Do you have proof that the Business Consultants are established for a reasonable period of time? Are there testimonials on the quality of their services? Is there a trial offer?

4. BENEFITS:

In addition to addressing the concerns 1 to 3, to make it worthwhile for YOU, there is one more question and that is that is "WIIFM"-What's In It For Me? In other words, how will their services BENEFIT YOUR Company?

Action Exercises:

WARNING: When you get caught up in day to day activities of running your business, you tend to ignore these points, as they seem trivial. However doing the following exercise will help you in making a sound investment of hiring Business Consultants for YOUR business.

Here are three things you can consider doing:

Write down a list of areas of business where you need help. Example of such areas could be Incorporation, Accounting, Taxation, marketing, sales, investment etc.

Write down the nature of services in each area that YOU want your Business Consultant to provide. Using Yellow Pages, call the Business Consultant in the area of specialty, interview him keeping in mind the aspects mentioned above and make a sound INVESTMENT.

Start your business in Johannesburg but hire your advisor in Cape Town

The Real Truth about Business Plans What the Consultants Dont tell You

Why Use a Franchise Consultant?

How Your Price Attracts New Consulting Clients

Are You the Fireman or the Arsonist

Why an Outstanding Resume is Not Enough to Get an Interview: Reason 6

Why You Need a Business Development Consultant to Succeed in Business

WHAT MAKES A MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT GREAT? Part II of III

W is for Why is my marketing not working?

Small Business Owners - Why Should You Have Business Consultants And Attorneys In Your Team?

Roles of Franchise Brokers and Consultants

How To Start A Business: Ask Franchise Consultants.

Increase Sales Means You Must Confront Those 800# Gorillas

Find A Niche Market That Really Gets You More New Business

How Organized Is Your Business? Part 1

Get Started in Direct Sales and Get Financial Freedom

Computer & Internet Franchises You Can Start In Your Pajamas

Only 6% of Small Business Owners Have Acquired Commercial Real Estate

Do You See Through Your Client's Eyes?

Small Business Consulting

Home > Home-Based-Business > Lalitha Brahma > Small Business Owners What Should You Look For In An Offer Made By Business Consultants > Google +

Free PDF Download
Entrepreneurs Why Do You Blog? - By Lalitha Brahma

About the Author: Lalitha Brahma

RSS for Lalitha's articles - Visit Lalitha's website
Lalitha Brahma helps Consultants and Small business owners improve their bottom line by inspiring and moving them to action.Lalitha Brahma, CEO of Elbee Services, LLC, coaches home-based business owners, consultants, and small business owners through inspiration and motivation with an eye fixed on improving their bottom line. With a 21-year history as an Indian Nationalized Bank Management team member and in Corporate America, she accomplished the smooth transition from employer-dependency to successful, independent entrepreneur.
Lalitha's passionate coaching process provides individuals and business owners with the knowledge necessary to transform their lives and their businesses. Her personalized coaching focuses on profits not revenue, and enables people from all walks of life to go from employer-dependent paycheck to life-altering, self-sufficient, profit-pulling entrepreneurship.

Is your Regular paycheck stopping you from exploring the ENTREPRENEUR in you? If you answered "Yes", go ahead and sign up for her FREE Ezine to learn the secret of breaking the Regular paycheck barrier at http://www.elbeeservicesllc.com

Click here to visit Lalitha's website.

More from Lalitha Brahma
A Guide To Copywriting

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.

Share this post and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Small Business Owners - What Should You Look For In An Offer Made By Business Consultants?

Related Articles

Related Forum Posts

Share this article. Fund someone's dream.


Name:
Email: