SMALL BUSINESS (REVENUE TO 20 MILLION) CONSULTING
& BUSINESS COACHING SERVICES
Small Business Consulting Services
Marketing Strategy Consulting
Means having an integrated and cohesive marketing plan that allows each marketing technique to support the others, thereby creating a synergy of branding and growth for your business.
Marketing Strategy Consulting Promotes Effectiveness & Efficiency In Your Business By:
Means having an integrated and cohesive marketing plan that allows each marketing technique to support the others, thereby creating a synergy of branding and growth for your business.
Marketing Strategy Consulting Promotes Effectiveness & Efficiency In Your Business By:
- Determining the continued viability of a paying market for your products and or services
- Crafting long-term and short-term marketing goals to support revenue requirements
- Defining marketing campaigns for optimal results
- Creating marketing strategies that give ROI
- Selecting powerful marketing techniques that showcase your products and services
- Choosing a brand and image that reflects the real YOU
- Designing marketing materials that are compelling
Designing An Internet Marketing Strategy (Content Marketing)
- Plan for a new website or a face-lift for an existing site
- Determine why your website is not bringing in business
- Discuss the use of SEO and paid online advertising, and walk step-by-step through the set-up process
- Determine where social media fits into your internet marketing mix
Business Strategy Consulting
- All businesses have a strategic plan, but in most small businesses the strategic plan exists only in the owner's head. By getting that plan down on paper (one or two pages, not in a big binder), the whole team can see it. They can make decisions independently and with confidence that those decisions are leading to the outcomes that the company is striving for.
Business Process Consulting
- Predictability is the essence of business success. Efficient processes that provide consistent, desirable results are what create predictability. These business systems are independent of any one person’s particular skill or knowledge, and work in concert with the business’ goals for growth and sustainability. Finding that structure and measurement can improve all of the processes that a business needs to succeed. Imagine being able to predict your sales for the next quarter, knowing how much marketing activity is needed to achieve a desired number of leads or knowing week-by-week how much capacity you have for new business and whether you need to hire more people?
Sales Consulting
- We work with companies to determine the parts of their sales strategies and organizations that need to be enhanced, improved or developed. We have expertise at identifying customer needs, developing effective value propositions, creating marketing strategies and the customization of specific selling tactics and methodologies to increase the effectiveness of your overall selling efforts (force). Our recommendations are always practical. That’s because of the gained deep expertise over the last three decades in sales and marketing. We focus exclusively on sales and related marketing solutions. We understand how at times changing one piece of a sales or marketing operation will impact other pieces.
- Sales Process Development
- Sales Analysis
- Sale Process Road Map/Critical Sales Activity
- Sales Training for Individual and Groups
Employee Retention
- People are the most important component of any business. We support the development of a great team through the development of effective job descriptions, performance management tools, leadership development programs, recruiting and hiring profile assistance, policy and procedure development and by customized training programs for your employees.
Customer Service And Client Retention Consulting
The fundamental purpose of a business is to get and keep customers. The goal is to satisfy customer/client needs at a profit. Your company can only benefit from a strong customer service culture. Some of the benefits include:
The fundamental purpose of a business is to get and keep customers. The goal is to satisfy customer/client needs at a profit. Your company can only benefit from a strong customer service culture. Some of the benefits include:
- Satisfied customers are converted to loyal customers.
- More sales come from existing customers.
- Your customers become advocates, creating word of mouth advertising.
- Reduced employee turnover.
- Increased revenue.
Franchising (As A Growth & Expansion Strategy) Consulting
Making sure your business is an excellent candidate for franchising:
Making sure your business is an excellent candidate for franchising:
- Confirming there is a wide market for your concept.
- Having a point or points of differentiation.
- The concept be is able to be duplicated.
- The concept is able to be sold.
- Prototyping
- Documented systems
- A protected trademark
- Marketing materials
- Franchise Disclosure Document
- Selling your system
We would like to invite you to discuss your business and find out more about all that Smith Business Consulting Group can do for you,
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
Small Business And The Business Consultant
In today’s business environment consultants are performing valuable services for companies that would otherwise be without access to much-needed expertise. Two simple definitions of a consultant are: “One who gives expert or professional advice” and “An expert who gives advice”. The key words are expert and advice.
A consultant is external to the client business. They specialize in a particular area and have a body of knowledge and experience beyond that of the client’s own personnel. When the consultant is employed on a specific assignment they are applying that knowledge and experience for the client’s benefit.
Consultants help others to achieve their business goals and are paid a fee for their services. They are called in as needed and depart when their task has been accomplished. It is an arrangement that suits both sides of the equation by enabling consultants to stay up-to-date with their specialized body of knowledge and not requiring them to work outside their field of expertise.
These are just some of the situations where a consultant’s services might be called upon by a business:
1. The business needs expertise in a specialized area but doesn’t possess it.
2. The need for the expertise is temporary and doesn’t justify a full-time position.
3. The business has inadequate expertise internally.
4. There is a lack of internal unity on a subject and the consultant is brought in to provide expert advice that leads to a conclusion.
5. The business wants to distance itself from the consequences of a decision.
6. The business wants the consultant to analyse an internally-made decision with the aim of predicting its consequences.
It is easier to select a business consultant if you know what results and "deliverables" you want. Deliverables are the components of the finished product (the plan) that you expect the consultant to complete. Clearly state what needs to be done. Specify what you expect to be produced (e.g. a business plan). This initial effort will save time.
A consultant is external to the client business. They specialize in a particular area and have a body of knowledge and experience beyond that of the client’s own personnel. When the consultant is employed on a specific assignment they are applying that knowledge and experience for the client’s benefit.
Consultants help others to achieve their business goals and are paid a fee for their services. They are called in as needed and depart when their task has been accomplished. It is an arrangement that suits both sides of the equation by enabling consultants to stay up-to-date with their specialized body of knowledge and not requiring them to work outside their field of expertise.
These are just some of the situations where a consultant’s services might be called upon by a business:
1. The business needs expertise in a specialized area but doesn’t possess it.
2. The need for the expertise is temporary and doesn’t justify a full-time position.
3. The business has inadequate expertise internally.
4. There is a lack of internal unity on a subject and the consultant is brought in to provide expert advice that leads to a conclusion.
5. The business wants to distance itself from the consequences of a decision.
6. The business wants the consultant to analyse an internally-made decision with the aim of predicting its consequences.
It is easier to select a business consultant if you know what results and "deliverables" you want. Deliverables are the components of the finished product (the plan) that you expect the consultant to complete. Clearly state what needs to be done. Specify what you expect to be produced (e.g. a business plan). This initial effort will save time.
We would like to invite you to discuss your business and find out more about all that Smith Business Consulting Group can do for you,
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
Click On Photos
Business Coaching With Smith Business Consulting Group
Business coaching is about making improvements and changes so that you and your business perform at a much higher level, continually growing. These areas of growth occur both on a personal level, the way you run your business and ultimately the profits you generate. Business coaching helps to get the most out of your time, resources and investments.
The process of business coaching identifies areas for improvement, usually by asking many inquiry type questions so that clarity is first gained and then the most effective way forward is identified. A plan of action is then formulated ready for the business owner to put into practice on a consistent basis. Coaching is a process which is action-orientated. Its not for the coach to tell you what to do, instead the coach helps you to identify what to do.
During the business coaching, new skills may be introduced and existing ones developed, along with the providing of training, guidance, support and motivation. The overall goal of business coaching is always focused on enabling growth, efficient productivity and increasing profits in order to make the business more successful and the business owner more fulfilled.
Business coaching covers all the parts of running a successful business, such as leadership, achieving targets, sales, marketing, communication skills, planning, accountability, management, team building plus much more. Although part of the business coaching may include some training, it is mainly focused on helping business people to realize potential and identify goals, while simultaneously providing the support that you and your organization will require to achieve them. The role of business coaching is to help you realize what you want to achieve, discover the best way to reach your goals and provide support and encouragement along the way.
The intention behind business coaching is to make your business effective and competitive and for you as a business person to feel successful. With the help of business coaching, you formulate a plan or strategy, identifying the steps required and start taking these steps to achieve the targets you have for your business.
Business coaching is a collaborative partnership, offering support, encouragement and a flexible structure so that you achieve more than you would on your own. It's a unique, ongoing relationship, focusing on you and what you most want. The approach is holistic in that it develops the whole person - emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually.
The role of the business coach is to keep the coaching focused on clearly defined goals, challenging thinking, beliefs and assumptions, offering constructive feedback and keeping you on track to do what is needed for success. The business owner when being coached is responsible for taking action, considering and finding ways to deal with potential obstacles, and reporting their progress.
The process of business coaching identifies areas for improvement, usually by asking many inquiry type questions so that clarity is first gained and then the most effective way forward is identified. A plan of action is then formulated ready for the business owner to put into practice on a consistent basis. Coaching is a process which is action-orientated. Its not for the coach to tell you what to do, instead the coach helps you to identify what to do.
During the business coaching, new skills may be introduced and existing ones developed, along with the providing of training, guidance, support and motivation. The overall goal of business coaching is always focused on enabling growth, efficient productivity and increasing profits in order to make the business more successful and the business owner more fulfilled.
Business coaching covers all the parts of running a successful business, such as leadership, achieving targets, sales, marketing, communication skills, planning, accountability, management, team building plus much more. Although part of the business coaching may include some training, it is mainly focused on helping business people to realize potential and identify goals, while simultaneously providing the support that you and your organization will require to achieve them. The role of business coaching is to help you realize what you want to achieve, discover the best way to reach your goals and provide support and encouragement along the way.
The intention behind business coaching is to make your business effective and competitive and for you as a business person to feel successful. With the help of business coaching, you formulate a plan or strategy, identifying the steps required and start taking these steps to achieve the targets you have for your business.
Business coaching is a collaborative partnership, offering support, encouragement and a flexible structure so that you achieve more than you would on your own. It's a unique, ongoing relationship, focusing on you and what you most want. The approach is holistic in that it develops the whole person - emotionally, physically, intellectually and spiritually.
The role of the business coach is to keep the coaching focused on clearly defined goals, challenging thinking, beliefs and assumptions, offering constructive feedback and keeping you on track to do what is needed for success. The business owner when being coached is responsible for taking action, considering and finding ways to deal with potential obstacles, and reporting their progress.
We would like to invite you to discuss your business and find out more about all that Smith Business Consulting Group can do for you,
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
Small Business Technology
While the Great Recession convinced many big corporations to improve efficiency and reduce spending, small businesses have historically known the value of operating “lean and mean.” Many have never had another option, and have always had to accomplish more with less. Fortunately, technology is making it easier than ever for small-business owners to work smarter and more efficiently – and continue growing their businesses.
Payroll management – is one of the most significant challenges for small-business owners. Managing payroll solo can be costly for a small business – more than $2,600 per year on direct labor alone, Mistakes can boost costs, especially if an SBO runs afoul of tax laws and requirements, and ends up facing IRS penalties.
Outsourcing makes processing payroll easy for SBOs. It allows them to remain in control of their own payroll, while doing so affordably, accurately and efficiently. The system pays employees, automatically pays and files payroll taxes, and handles all necessary calculations and reports. Mobile apps allow SBOs to run payroll on the go.
Virtual meetings – allows users to create a “virtual meeting” with up to 25 attendees in remote locations by combining visual and audio access. Using their own hardware, attendees can see and hear each other and also view the meeting leader’s PC screen – a plus if the meeting includes a presentation.
Marketing – can be one of the biggest cost challenges for small businesses. Technology allows users to design email marketing campaigns and distribute to user-generated mailing lists. Campaigns can incorporate graphics and other user-friendly elements.
CRM-every business, small and large, needs to have some method to keep track of, and manage, their customers and contacts. While for some small businesses using a simple contact manager is sufficient, many find that those lack the additional bells and whistles that allow them to create better interaction between their business and customers or potential customers. This is where a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system comes into play.
Payroll management – is one of the most significant challenges for small-business owners. Managing payroll solo can be costly for a small business – more than $2,600 per year on direct labor alone, Mistakes can boost costs, especially if an SBO runs afoul of tax laws and requirements, and ends up facing IRS penalties.
Outsourcing makes processing payroll easy for SBOs. It allows them to remain in control of their own payroll, while doing so affordably, accurately and efficiently. The system pays employees, automatically pays and files payroll taxes, and handles all necessary calculations and reports. Mobile apps allow SBOs to run payroll on the go.
Virtual meetings – allows users to create a “virtual meeting” with up to 25 attendees in remote locations by combining visual and audio access. Using their own hardware, attendees can see and hear each other and also view the meeting leader’s PC screen – a plus if the meeting includes a presentation.
Marketing – can be one of the biggest cost challenges for small businesses. Technology allows users to design email marketing campaigns and distribute to user-generated mailing lists. Campaigns can incorporate graphics and other user-friendly elements.
CRM-every business, small and large, needs to have some method to keep track of, and manage, their customers and contacts. While for some small businesses using a simple contact manager is sufficient, many find that those lack the additional bells and whistles that allow them to create better interaction between their business and customers or potential customers. This is where a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system comes into play.
More Technology Secrets To Build Your Small Business
Move your business to the cloud. For front-office management tasks, many small-service companies still juggle a combination of paper, spreadsheets and calendars to stay organized. This archaic system can present many issues -- everything from searching through endless file cabinets for documents to making it tricky to share information. Utilizing cloud services can help alleviate many of these hassles.
Ditch pricey point-of-sale (POS) solutions. Tablets and smartphones with free or premium apps can now replace full-blown POS systems, letting small retailers accept more than cash. For example, everyone from your local coffee shop to your babysitter can use the tiny mobile Square card reader on their Android or iOS device to accept credit or debit cards.
Get on board with loyalty and rewards programs. Considering that a repeat customer has a higher lifetime value than a new customer, it pays to invest in customer loyalty. In the past, only big corporations had the resources to offer elaborate loyalty rewards programs, while mom-and-pop shops were left handing out paper punch cards, which would often end up lost in pockets, getting washed or trampled on.
Turn to inexpensive tools for back end productivity. Traditional accounting and HR software used to be expensive and require technical infrastructure, but today, business owners can take advantage of easy-to-deploy cloud apps to run efficiently with their limited resources.
Take advantage of marketing and sales plug-ins. By adding a simple plug-in app, small businesses can turn their basic Gmail service into something even more powerful. For instance, using Streak turns Gmail into a customer-relationship management tool, allowing businesses to track customers, active leads, deals and sales pipelines from the inbox.
Ditch pricey point-of-sale (POS) solutions. Tablets and smartphones with free or premium apps can now replace full-blown POS systems, letting small retailers accept more than cash. For example, everyone from your local coffee shop to your babysitter can use the tiny mobile Square card reader on their Android or iOS device to accept credit or debit cards.
Get on board with loyalty and rewards programs. Considering that a repeat customer has a higher lifetime value than a new customer, it pays to invest in customer loyalty. In the past, only big corporations had the resources to offer elaborate loyalty rewards programs, while mom-and-pop shops were left handing out paper punch cards, which would often end up lost in pockets, getting washed or trampled on.
Turn to inexpensive tools for back end productivity. Traditional accounting and HR software used to be expensive and require technical infrastructure, but today, business owners can take advantage of easy-to-deploy cloud apps to run efficiently with their limited resources.
Take advantage of marketing and sales plug-ins. By adding a simple plug-in app, small businesses can turn their basic Gmail service into something even more powerful. For instance, using Streak turns Gmail into a customer-relationship management tool, allowing businesses to track customers, active leads, deals and sales pipelines from the inbox.
We would like to invite you to discuss your business and find out more about all that Smith Business Consulting Group can do for you,
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
Click On Photos
Simple Employee Incentives For Small Business
Employees of small or start-up businesses need incentives too. In fact, they need it more than their counterparts at larger companies. Incentives for employees of small businesses can be performance-based and have little to no out of pocket cost. The secrets to the success of these programs are simple : creativity, utility, high perceived value and consistency.
Creative employee incentives that offer your staff new and different rewards for meeting specific performance benchmarks are strongly motivating.The more creative the reward or program, the more "buzz" that's created and the more likely employees are to get involved.
Utility is also essential to success. If the employees can't use or don't see any value in the award, they're not going to be motivated to participate. For instance, a pen, calendar book or free subscription to a trade journal would be of little interest or use to most employees.
Unless the award in the program has a high perceived value, most employees won't bother to participate. Cash, gift cards and extra time-off are always well received by staff at all levels.
Finally, consistency is another key element in the success of any low cost employee incentive program. Don't run the incentive program randomly, or discontinue it for a month or two because sales are down. Keep it going. Employees need to be motivated and rewarded whether you're making money, losing money or breaking even.
Here are a number of now cost or low cost employee incentive programs that are both effective and easy to administer:
A Bonus Vacation Day
Everybody would like a little more time off. Earning an extra vacation day ... or "mental health day" is a powerful motivator.
Half Day Friday During The Summer
You can turn lazy, hazy Friday afternoons during the summer when business is slow into powerful employee incentives. Giving qualifying employees Friday afternoon off to get a jump on the weekend works wonders for both performance and morale.
Free Lunch
Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch. Taking an employee out to lunch ... or paying for an eat-in lunch one day from their favorite eatery is an easy, low cost reward.
Small Cash Bonus
Money always talks ... and says a lot. A small cash bonus of $50 or $100 is always appreciated and needed by employees at all levels.
Free Coffee and Danish For A Week
All it takes is a pre-loaded cash card from Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Panera Bread, Gloria Jean's or other nearby coffee establishment. Free coffee for a week ... or a month if your budget can afford it is well appreciated and easy to administer incentive.
Annual Membership in Discount Buying Club
Who can't resist a bargain or saving money ... especially in today's economy. Offering an annual membership in Costco or Sam's Club is a thoughtful, useful and motivating incentive that costs very little but helps your employees' paychecks go a lot farther.
$25 Gift Card
Just walk into any chain supermarket or drug store and you'll find dozens of different gift card options including cash cards, gift cards for department stores, book stores, sporting good stores, food stores, computer stores, clothing boutiques and just every type of retail outlet imaginable. You can play it safe and give a cash gift card, or personalize the award by choosing the employee's favorite department or clothing store. Best of all, you can select cards in denominations of $25, $50, $75 and $100.
A Night At the Movies
Awarding a night at the movies to employees and their spouses can be very effective ... especially if the employee has been putting in extra evening and weekend hours. Most movie theater chains offer discount gift certificates or you can get prepaid movie tickets good at almost every movie theater in the country online at hollywoodmoviemoney.com. Tickets for popcorn and candy are also available.
A Night On The Town
Restaurant Certificates can be purchased online at big discounts for many restaurants around your town and across the country. Most are valid for both food and alcoholic beverages, although some restaurants have restrictions about weekend usage. You can also purchase the certificates in a set denominations that can be used at any restaurant of the employee's choice. It's an easy, economical and effective incentive program for all employees of all ages.
Toast To Success
A bottle of good champagne or wine ... possibly combined with a gourmet gift basked ... is a tasteful way of recognizing and rewarding accomplishment. You can either pre-purchase the award... or let the employee choose from a catalog or online.
Employee of The Month
Seemingly trite but proven effective, employee of the month programs still get results. You can easily custom tailor these programs to include ... a special parking space, lunch with the boss, a $50 reward card, and of course an award certificate.
These programs are so simple, you don't even need an HR person on staff to administer these programs. An office manager, marketing director or even the boss can easily take charge.
Finally, even in the smallest office, you need to promote the incentive program by emails, posters in break rooms and common areas and even a paycheck stuffer or attachment.
Creative employee incentives that offer your staff new and different rewards for meeting specific performance benchmarks are strongly motivating.The more creative the reward or program, the more "buzz" that's created and the more likely employees are to get involved.
Utility is also essential to success. If the employees can't use or don't see any value in the award, they're not going to be motivated to participate. For instance, a pen, calendar book or free subscription to a trade journal would be of little interest or use to most employees.
Unless the award in the program has a high perceived value, most employees won't bother to participate. Cash, gift cards and extra time-off are always well received by staff at all levels.
Finally, consistency is another key element in the success of any low cost employee incentive program. Don't run the incentive program randomly, or discontinue it for a month or two because sales are down. Keep it going. Employees need to be motivated and rewarded whether you're making money, losing money or breaking even.
Here are a number of now cost or low cost employee incentive programs that are both effective and easy to administer:
A Bonus Vacation Day
Everybody would like a little more time off. Earning an extra vacation day ... or "mental health day" is a powerful motivator.
Half Day Friday During The Summer
You can turn lazy, hazy Friday afternoons during the summer when business is slow into powerful employee incentives. Giving qualifying employees Friday afternoon off to get a jump on the weekend works wonders for both performance and morale.
Free Lunch
Who says there's no such thing as a free lunch. Taking an employee out to lunch ... or paying for an eat-in lunch one day from their favorite eatery is an easy, low cost reward.
Small Cash Bonus
Money always talks ... and says a lot. A small cash bonus of $50 or $100 is always appreciated and needed by employees at all levels.
Free Coffee and Danish For A Week
All it takes is a pre-loaded cash card from Starbucks, Seattle's Best, Panera Bread, Gloria Jean's or other nearby coffee establishment. Free coffee for a week ... or a month if your budget can afford it is well appreciated and easy to administer incentive.
Annual Membership in Discount Buying Club
Who can't resist a bargain or saving money ... especially in today's economy. Offering an annual membership in Costco or Sam's Club is a thoughtful, useful and motivating incentive that costs very little but helps your employees' paychecks go a lot farther.
$25 Gift Card
Just walk into any chain supermarket or drug store and you'll find dozens of different gift card options including cash cards, gift cards for department stores, book stores, sporting good stores, food stores, computer stores, clothing boutiques and just every type of retail outlet imaginable. You can play it safe and give a cash gift card, or personalize the award by choosing the employee's favorite department or clothing store. Best of all, you can select cards in denominations of $25, $50, $75 and $100.
A Night At the Movies
Awarding a night at the movies to employees and their spouses can be very effective ... especially if the employee has been putting in extra evening and weekend hours. Most movie theater chains offer discount gift certificates or you can get prepaid movie tickets good at almost every movie theater in the country online at hollywoodmoviemoney.com. Tickets for popcorn and candy are also available.
A Night On The Town
Restaurant Certificates can be purchased online at big discounts for many restaurants around your town and across the country. Most are valid for both food and alcoholic beverages, although some restaurants have restrictions about weekend usage. You can also purchase the certificates in a set denominations that can be used at any restaurant of the employee's choice. It's an easy, economical and effective incentive program for all employees of all ages.
Toast To Success
A bottle of good champagne or wine ... possibly combined with a gourmet gift basked ... is a tasteful way of recognizing and rewarding accomplishment. You can either pre-purchase the award... or let the employee choose from a catalog or online.
Employee of The Month
Seemingly trite but proven effective, employee of the month programs still get results. You can easily custom tailor these programs to include ... a special parking space, lunch with the boss, a $50 reward card, and of course an award certificate.
These programs are so simple, you don't even need an HR person on staff to administer these programs. An office manager, marketing director or even the boss can easily take charge.
Finally, even in the smallest office, you need to promote the incentive program by emails, posters in break rooms and common areas and even a paycheck stuffer or attachment.
We would like to invite you to discuss your business and find out more about all that Smith Business Consulting Group can do for you,
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
contact us or (248) 553-7000.
SMITH BUSINESS CONSULTING GROUP
Business Development, Marketing & Management Consultants
Specializing In Start Up, Small And Mid Size Business Consulting
248-553-7000
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