Do you want to build a lifestyle or build a business?
How would you define “success” in your business?
There are no right answesr to these questions, but there is a major difference and it can have a major impact on an owner’s satisfaction. Belowand right is related information from a survey commissioned by TB Bank and conducted by Environics Research. The results may surprise you (click here)
Introduction
Our clients come to us in all shapes and sizes, as individuals, families, and partners, and from all types of industries, but they seek our assistance for one reason: they are dissatisfied with their current situation. Typically they are unhappy with their work, feeling overwhelmed by the demands of ownership, or they want to see their business grow. Therefore, we have helped them:
- Accelerate and manage growth, often through acquisitions
- Reduce stress, anxiety, conflict or general dissatisfaction with business operations
- Implement strategic initiatives by providing professional services in areas where they may not have time or the expertise
If you are dissatisfied with the status quo and want to enjoy your work again and rekindle your passion for business, get control over your business, or shoot for the stars, we can help.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Acquisitions offer a fast-track to business growth. There is no quicker or more effective method for building revenue and profits. Using proven approaches, we can help you take your business to the next level with a comprehensive list of acquisition services, from target identification through post-acquisition integration.
Strategy and Organizational Development
Businesses that invest in organizational development are not only capable of growing quicker and performing better, they sell for a premium. However, few business owners have direct experience with these tasks, much less the time to do it, which is why we view this as a key component of our service offering.
There is a military saying that “amateurs talk strategy and professionals talk logistics,” which means the real challenge with execution involves linking strategy with organizational structure.
However, linking strategy with people and processes (organization) is a dynamic that has perpetually challenged companies large and small. So we go beyond business strategy(S. W. O. T., Force-Field Analysis, Positioning Statements) and select proven tools to address the human (i.e. Mission/Vision/Values, LMS, etc.) and structural influences (TQM, Resource, Lean, etc.) that are the key factors to successful execution.
Ownership and Management
If you are experiencing stress, anxiety, conflict or burn-out from too many hours, or are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of business ownership, we have proven tools to help you find relief and even renew your passion.
The first step is to identify the source of aggravation so you can define it and fix it; and experience tells us that the reason can usually be found on one of the following three levels.
- Individual: issues are related to the owner.
- Peer: issues related to multiple ownership, like in family businesses and partnerships, or to conflicts between ownership and management.
- Organization: issues related to business fundamentals.
Because working on business fundamentals when problems stem from the owner and/or management, there is little impact on business performance and ownership satisfaction. That is why we start with you, the owner, and work outwardly to align the operation of your business with your personal knowledge, skills, and purpose.
Service Outline
Below is a list of services in outline form.
Business Growth and Development
Business Acquisition
Identification
Investigation
Valuation
Deal Structure and Negotiation
Capital Acquisition
Loan Packages
Investor/Angel Financing
Organizational Development
Strategic Planning
Process mapping and measurement (TQM)
Resource Allocation
Human Resource Development
Conflict Resolution
Management/Leadership Development
Strategic Planning
Positioning Statements
Equity Management
Exiting Strategy and Business Brokerage
Business Valuation
Business Value Enhancement
Exit Strategy
Transition Planning
Business Brokerage
Value Business
Determine Price
Develop Documents
Implement Marketing Strategy
Qualify Prospects
Structure Deal and Negotiate Sale
Survey conducted by Environics Research
• Forty-two (42) percent of small-businessmen and women spend the most time on a typical day in operations/making the product or service. Sales and marketing consume the most time for 22 percent while 15 percent volunteer that they just hop from task to task. Comparatively few typically spend most of their time in planning and strategy (10%), finance (6%) or personnel (3%).
• One likely reason that so many small employers receive so much personal satisfaction from business ownership is that a majority (51%) spend most of their time doing what they like to do best. The most popular type of activity is operations/making goods or services (35%) and marketing and sales (32%). The two areas where small-business owners as a group would like to spend more time and apparently cannot are sales and marketing (32%) and planning and strategy (17%).
• Fifty-one (51) percent of small employers want to grow. However, most who want to grow have modest aspirations. Eight to 9 percent of all owners would like to become “growth” firms.
• Forty-three (43) percent of small employers prefer to remain the size that they are now. The most frequent reason for their preference is that they feel comfortable with the business as it is (44%). The lack of financial and/or human resources (22%), the risks expansion implies (14%), and a limited market (13%) are other frequent reasons. Three percent would like to contract.
• The average business owner spends 47.6 hours a week at work.
