Frequently Asked Questions
Most small businesses I have worked with believed they could not afford a consultant. Once they find out I really am able to provide value at a rate they can afford, they then wonder where to use my services. Here are answers to the most common questions that small businesses have asked:
» Why should I hire a consultant
» I'm a really small business, can I afford a consultant?
» How do I decide what to focus on?
» What can I do in advance that will save me money when I use your services?
» What is an operations assessment and how do I use it?
Why should I hire a consultant?
There are many reasons companies hire consultants. A consultant has the time to focus on getting you to your objective. He can pull from a vast knowledge base gained by working on many different types of projects and for many different companies. Whatever your reason is for hiring a consultant, remember that using a consultant is like adding a member to your staff without the risks and expenses associated with laying someone off at the end of a project.
Consultants are objective outsiders. They see the problems with a fresh eye and because they aren't personally involved in the day-to-day operations, aren't friends with anyone involved, and don't have an emotional attachment to the standard procedures, they can give you fresh, unbiased insights into your company.
When hiring a consultant, look at his or her soft skills as well as the functional knowledge. The reason I have enjoyed such success in my business is because I am able to quickly learn a customer's operation, I work well with difficult people, and I can relate to people at every level of the organization. I have proven, sought-after change management skills.
I'm a really small business, can I afford a consultant?
TML is a small business, so I understand operating on a budget. I have a reputation for providing exceptional customer service while always being mindful of my clients' budget. My rates are competitive and I am normally engaged on either a fixed deliverable or time and materials basis. The process of entering into a consulting agreement includes a free consultation where I find out what you need and you discover how I can help. From this informed position, you can decide where I can provide the most value. I can then provide estimates based on the information you have provided.
A fixed deliverable engagement is one where you decide on the scope of the project and define clear milestones and deliverables. The fees are paid during the project as these pre-defined deliverables are completed. Time estimates are used only for project planning and stringent controls are placed on both of us to perform our parts to complete each deliverable.
A time and materials engagement is one where we agree on a not-to-exceed budget for each deliverable. One advantage to this type of engagement is that if you don't use all of the time the deliverable was budgeted for, you don't have to pay the fee for the unused hours. You also have the option of adding hours to the budget without entering into another contract, simply by agreeing to a change order. This allows for greater flexibility and control on your part. Milestones and deliverables are still employed to guage progress, however, you will have the flexibility to change the scope of the deliverable and either have TML complete the extra work or complete it yourself.
How do I decide what to focus on?
Start by defining your goals. Most companies today are focusing on how to handle the growth their marketing plans will bring them. The question to ask yourself is, "what needs to change in my operation so I can take on more business?" Answers could include implementing software, adding staff, changing your production floor footprint, improving your order procurement flow, cross-training your staff, and many more.
If you are unsure what to tackle first, and just need some advice, I'm here to help. I've been in this position before as a senior manager and small business owner and can help you figure out a strategy that works for your business and buget. I've helped many small businesses grow by working with them to turn their vision into actionable milestones.
What can I do in advance that will save me money when I use your services?
What is the one area of your operation that keeps you from doing what you want to do? Is it handling customer calls, chasing down paperwork, checking on orders in your shop, expediting orders, driving all over the place handling issues? I can help you figure all of this out by conducting an operations assessment, or you can conduct the assessment yourself.
The person who knows your operation best is you and your team. By identifying a list of objectives and the issues that are keeping you from reaching those objectives, you will greatly reduce the amount of time it takes to develop the project plan.
What is an operational assessment and how do I use it?
An operational assessment is a study of an operational area that identifies the various processes employed by your staff. The goal is to identify areas where non-value added tasks or workflows are employed, where delays are coming from, where tasks are duplicated, where communication is insufficient, and where the customer's needs are not being met.
The operational assessment study will provide the hard data you will need to be able to validate whether a project is needed, or whether you can make the necessary changes yourself. It will also help you understand whether you can implement all of the changes in one project, or whether the project should be broken into a phases so you can build on the improvements produced in a previous phase.
Call me today to see how we can work together to prepare your company to grow.