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Business Consultants
Small business consulting is a very crowded
field that includes practitioners
such as:
- the "Big 5" public accounting firms
- smaller public accounting firms
- consulting firms of various sizes
- individual practitioners
Likewise, the types of consulting
available
include:
- strategy
- business planning
- marketing
- operations
- information technology, programming, website
design and maintenance
- finance
- employee benefits & compensation
Some consultants, consulting
firms, or consulting
practices specialize in certain
types of
consulting (per the above list)
or certain
types of small business. Others
do not. If
you feel that you need a consultant's
expertise
to help with your business, consider
these
criteria:
- The consultant should have a track record
of expertise and achievement with businesses
in your industry. You do not want to give
your consultant "on the job" training
at your expense. Instead, you want a consultant
who knows all the right questions to ask.
- When you hire ("engage" is the
usual term consultants prefer) a larger firm,
make sure you know precisely who will work
with you. Larger firms are prone to sending
inexperienced staff where they can. Also,
be sure that if you pay the higher fees charged
for the time of senior staff that you actually
get their time.
- A consultant who also has broad experience
outside your industry could be even better.
Such person might be more inclined to "think
outside the box" and develop creative
solutions than someone who just works within
your industry.
- Get references. See how satisfied they are
with what the consultant did for them.
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