Process Improvement & Culture

[Fruitman95]

Hi,

Me and a business colleague are thinking of going solo and starting a consultancy business specifically around process improvement.

Due to the price of consultancy were aiming to have a target market being start ups, companies that may not have the cash flow or money to pay normal consultancy prices.

Me and my colleague would support in setting up processes, creating a business repository and or feedback and advice on how to improve any processes in place

Would this be something that would be worth exploring? Keen to know thoughts. This is in no way a business pitch it's more to get and understanding of the appetite for a service like this

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Should that not be "My business partner and I"

How much experience do you both have in start up companies and their needs, and what is a business repository

How do you get paid

 

[fisicx]

There are thousands of consultants, agencies and businesses offering this and similar services.

Which means there is a lot of competition. The ones that make money are those better at marketing than they are at consulting.

 

[Mark T Jones]

The good news is that there is definitely a market for process improvement.

The less good news, as @fisicx has mentioned, is that there are a lot of players already doing it.

Which, in a nutshell means that you are going to have to differentiate your offering far more than the cliched and, frankly lazy, 'start ups'.

 

[LanceUk]

As a consultancy (and consultant/s) you wil lhave to up your written communication skills.. Even startups usually demand professional consultancies (and consultants).

I think, even if you target startups, you have to target a niche. Anyone can advise on the mechanics of a startup, but what are you going to offer a tech startup v. a ****** startup v. a pie making startup? Their markets are different, their marketing is different, and even the rules/regs around them can be different. Focus on sector/s you know would be a good start to establishing a name.. and then branch out,.

 

[stender]

What are your qualifications? Lean six sigma etc?

 

[JamaC]

Add other services that compliment that which you already do

 

[IanSuth]

As a consultancy (and consultant/s) you wil lhave to up your written communication skills.. Even startups usually demand professional consultancies (and consultants).

I think, even if you target startups, you have to target a niche. Anyone can advise on the mechanics of a startup, but what are you going to offer a tech startup v. a ****** startup v. a pie making startup? Their markets are different, their marketing is different, and even the rules/regs around them can be different. Focus on sector/s you know would be a good start to establishing a name.. and then branch out,.

This + 1

Imagine I am a start up - why should I trust you who may not know my sector with improving my processes ?

If you were to come along and say "you are in sector X, my partner and I have 20 years in sector X between us, we have mapped and reshaped the processes in y number of companies in sector X, on average saving £Z or Z% of time taken, we could do the same for you" then I might listen.

Not least at a fair % of startups are by people who leave a large firm thinking "I could x better myself", your marketing message is basically saying "no you can't , or at least I can do it even better" which isn't necessarily going to strike home

 

[Beautinow]

This is al about sales skills. My recommendation is to start freelancing first and see if you can sell yourself for related positions. Once you proof yourself you can, then you can start taking on projects in which you becoming the managing partner, and present your hired consultants to do the detailed work.