Death Of A Business - 5 Threats to the Growth and Survival of American Small Business

For More About Solid Oak Consulting Check Out Our Story Below

 

 

Sustained Business Growth

Running a business is hard. Costs are rising, competition is everywhere — there just aren't enough hours in a day.

At Solid Oak Consulting, however, we're upbeat about business, because we enjoy a proven track record of working with business owners like you to achieve real business growth and long-term success.

Just What You Need

Our range of services fit smoothly within your operation:

  • In addition to traditional mentoring services, Solid Oak now offers eMentoring over the phone, via email and Instant Messaging.
  • Thinking about the future of your business? With our Growth and Transition Services you can position your business for its next life stage — or yours.
  • Are you looking for a trusted business advisor? See our Advisory Services for a hassle-free way to get an expert consulting partner.
  • Just need a little push toward your goals? With Executive Coaching you can get regularly scheduled progress follow-ups.
  • Are you frustrated with ineffective and expensive Marketing programs? Guerrilla Marketing is non-conventional and stresses time and energy not boatloads of money.
  • Already know where you want to go, but want your team to be rowing in the same direction? Change Management is the process to make that happen.
  • Regardless of the services involved, The Solid Oak Action Plan is a practical way to move forward in your business.

IT Management Advisory Services For C-Level Executives

Are you satisfied with your IT Organization and its results? Are your IT projects meeting your users’ needs and on-time and on-budget? Have you considered getting a “second opinion” to evaluate the use of best practices? Solid Oak Consulting can provide IT Management Advisory Services.

Risk Management

Sharing the guts of your business with an outsider means taking a risk. We understand that. But doing nothing is a greater risk that can cost you opportunities or even everything you've worked for. Contact us to discuss your situation.

 

Free One-Hour Telephone Consultation

For a Free One-Hour Telephone Consultation Contact us to schedule

or call to schedule at 708-524-0886.

 

Ask about our money back guarantee when we talk.

 

The Solid Oak Consulting Story

I established Solid Oak Consulting in 2003 with the strategic objective of providing Big 4 value and range of services to small and medium sized companies but for smaller business budgets.

Strategic Value of a Good Network

Key to this strategy is the establishment of a network of resources capable of a wide range of services with high quality and available on demand. To that end, I have assembled a network of over 5,000 local and global resources through my own local contacts, the Institute for Independent Business and the Institute for Management Consultants and others.

Target Market

My target market is privately held business enterprises with revenues of between $1M and $50M, but ideally between $1M and $10M. Since Solid Oak Consulting started, I have worked with over 100 business owners in a variety of industries including, consulting, technology, retail, healthcare and contracting.

Business Growth

The overall focus of Solid Oak Consulting is on business growth, particularly where a company’s growth has plateaued or been stymied. I work with owners who have a genuine desire to change and the energy to make change happen. Solid Oak Consulting is relationship based and typically works on a retainer basis with the business owner for 12 months or more. Since my focus is on business growth, I may work on any aspect of the business necessary for growth. This ranges from management, marketing, sales or any of 12 critical key areas.

Consulting Process

A consulting relationship often starts with a comprehensive health check of the business and the identification of the top obstacles to growth. These obstacles comprise the agenda for the start of the change process. Over time, as obstacles are overcome or eliminated, others are identified and added to the agenda.

I work with owners in one of 3 primary modes: as an advisor, as a consultant or as a coach. As an advisor or consultant, we meet face-to-face on a regular basis, often up to 16 hours per month. While as a coach, we work over the phone typically 2 to 4 hours per month.

The Business Advisor Role

A business advisor is a trusted person who provides perspective to the business owner on all aspects of the business. If specific resources are needed to help solve a problem or work on an issue, the advisor is the resource the business owner turns to first. In this role, the owner primarily relies on the advisor for maturity and experience, not specific expertise.

The Consultant Role

A consultant is a resource to the business owner who has specific areas of expertise to apply to business problems. For me, these include management of teams, guerrilla marketing, strategic planning and change management. As a consultant, I operate in a very “hands on” way with the owner, often doing key parts of the work required.

The Coach Role

A coach is someone who works with a business executive, often the owner, to help the executive reach certain goals important to him or her. By following an overall coaching process and holding the executive accountable for specific milestones, the coach helps the executive accomplish things beyond what they would do on their own.

The mode of interaction with the business owner, advisor, consultant or coach, depends on what the owner needs to accomplish, how fast they are willing to move and what role they need me to play in the change process.

Ideal Prospect

The ideal prospect for me is a business owner who is overly tied to the business. Perhaps, he or she hasn’t had a vacation in a long time. Perhaps they no longer have a personal life and their family doesn’t recognize them. All too often this type of owner doesn’t really own a business, they own a job. If they were not present, the business would virtually cease to function. Further, the businesses growth is limited to the energy level and ability of the owner.

Results

As a result of working with Solid Oak Consulting, owners typically find themselves back in control of their lives. They have a business that is achieving sustainable growth, perhaps doubling in size every 12 to 18 months. The owner has a more balanced life and can spend time away from the business without impeding its growth. And the business is highly valuable and desirable which allows the owner to decide when and how to exit.

Solid Oak Consulting helping your acorn business grow into a solid oak. sm

 

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