small business consulting

[dean08]

hi, just wondered if anyone new a consultant that works with small businesses. by small i mean a hairdresser, plumbers, builders who work for thereselves or have a small team with them. A consultant who can work with them to help them grow as a business. I see loads of consultants on the internet but thinking they don't deal with these sort of businesses...and i wonder if anyone knows how much they cost?!

 

[Findermonkey]

There are plenty of people who do this. Just go to a local networking event and you'll come across plenty of business coaches.

 

[RachelfromFirecracker]

There are plenty of people who do this. Just go to a local networking event and you'll come across plenty of business coaches.

I was going to say the same thing, I am a business coach/consultant and every networking event I go to there are at 2-3 other coaches there too!!

 

[Findermonkey]

I was going to say the same thing, I am a business coach/consultant and every networking event I go to there are at 2-3 other coaches there too!!

Well I should add that the last business coach I used I met at a networking event and he was very good. Really got our business moving in the right direction and is someone I still speak to on a regular basis. Its just a matter of finding a good one.

 

[David White]

These are not typically the types of business types who need sales consultants or regular business consultants as they don't have the time to do all the stuff they get taught. They are probably better looking for advertising/pr agencies to help them get a better reach.

 

[garyk]

I'd agree with David and you also want a business already spending money on advertising too, otherwise you might be faced with a business that wants to grow but wants to spend little or no money doing so.

 

[RachelfromFirecracker]

I also agree with David about doing some PR but a business coach could help the business work out where they want to go & help them put a plan together of how to get there, which is probably going to be about getting the word out there about the services on offer etc.

 

[businessfunding]

I'm not sure why this thread has gone down the marketing route as, in my experience this is not the key challenge facing the trades specified.

I do a restricted amount of start-up consultancy largely under the Government NEA scheme; by default a large portion of my clients are in the trades

Almost universally they fail to accept the differences between doing a job and running a business - as long as they are busy on site they feel they are successful.

As they get busier they take on a few people to be more 'successful'

Meanwhile little or no attention is paid to financials, legals, logistics admin etc and the business will fall over not through lack of demand but through cashflow or legal issues.

Marketing can be part of the solution - but certainly not the biggest part.

 

[Daniallouis]

There are few consultancy firm who can work and help small businesses to grow them towards better future Get A Bad Credit Business Loan is one of few who can provide assistance.

 

[businessfunding]

There are few consultancy firm who can work and help small businesses to grow them towards better future Get A Bad Credit Business Loan is one of few who can provide assistance.

Do you charge mileage?

 

[DesignerNick]

With business coaches do you get a refund if your business doesn't work due to their advice?

 

[Christine Hough]

When the government closed Business Link it put money into private consultants to help small/ new businesses.

The local one here (East Yorks) is Capability Mentors and I am sure there will be others set up across the country.

The cost to use these is minimal.