Welcome!

• Without a business plan, what will you use to guide your business through the years or to apply for financing should the need arise?
• How do you know if your business is doing well?  Have you even set goals?  Do you run Key Operating Indicator (KOI) reports?
• How do you know if you are setting your profit margins correctly?  Do you plan to continue working forever?  Did you consider your personal goals in those numbers, too?
• What if you were unable to work for a period of time?  Who would stand in for you?  Would they know how you run your business?
• How do you store and organize your paperwork?  Do you have written policies and procedures?
• Do you use vendors, suppliers, sub-contractors?  Do you have contracts with them?  Are you getting the best pricing and service?

 

Manager and Employee

 

You and the people you choose to represent your business are you greatest asset.  If you hire the right people, and create a encouraging, rewarding work environment, their loyalty to you will increase creating higher productivity and profitability.  Whether you have employees now, or plan to add them in the future, there is a lot to consider.

• What is your management style?  Are you consistent?  Do your employees respect you?  Fear you?  Take advantage of you?
• Do you have a training program?  Training manuals?
• Does every know their role?  Can everyone fill in for everyone else?  Do you cross-train?  Do you work as a team? 
• Do you sell your services or products proactively or do you wait for the customer to come to you? 
• How do you recruit?  What does your hiring or interviewing process look like?  Do you have applications?  Do you drug test?  Check references?
• Do you have an employee manual?
• Do you offer benefits?  Are you considering offering benefits in the future?  What can you afford?
• How will you counsel employees when there are problems?  How will you reward and recognize them when they excel?

 

Your Most Valued (Non)Employee

 

So, your business is growing or you have a one time project or event that is a bit too much for you to handle by yourself.  You don't want to hire anyone on a permanent basis as this is just a temporary increase in work load.  You can't afford the enormous prices charged by those exclusive firms.  You are concerned about bringing in a temp who probably won't have the expertise you need to work independently to get the job done, on-time and on-budget.