Business Adviser

Are You a Rural-Based Business? These 3 Challenges Might Be Holding You Back

A rural-based business has its fair share of perks, strong communities, beautiful surroundings, and often less competition. But it also comes with a unique set of challenges. At CMC, we work closely with rural-based SMEs across the UK, and we’re seeing three persistent challenges affecting non-agricultural businesses. Whether you’re running a manufacturer, service provider, trades […]

Strategies for SME Owners: Coping with Economic Uncertainty in 2025

Running a business, regardless of industry, always comes with its challenges. With 2025 bringing its own economic uncertainties, staying prepared and adaptable is crucial now more than ever. Whether it’s market fluctuations, unexpected obstacles, or opportunities for growth, having the right strategies in place can make all the difference. Within this article, I’ll be exploring […]

Good Governance – Why It’s Just as Important for Marketing and Digital Agencies 

When you hear the term “governance,” it’s easy to imagine boardrooms full of executives at massive corporations. But here’s the reality: good governance is just as vital for marketing and digital agencies as it is for industry giants. Governance for Marketing and Digital Agencies – What Does It Mean? Think of governance as the framework […]

When to Sell My Business Based on the 2024 Budget Changes 

At CMC Business Advisers, we understand that selling a business is a significant and often emotional decision for SME business owners. Drawing on our many years of experience, we’ve created this guide to help you navigate the recent 2024 budget changes and make the best choice for your unique situation. The options we outline here […]

Navigating Access to Finance for Small Businesses in the UK 

A Guide by CMC Business Advisers. For small businesses in the UK, securing the right type of finance can be one of the biggest challenges they face. Whether it’s raising capital for expansion, covering cash flow gaps, or investing in new equipment, having access to finance is crucial. Yet, many small firms still struggle to […]

Crafting an Optimal Customer Journey 

I recently sat down with a client to assess the progress they have made on launching a new product. It is technically better than what is currently in the market, but we are getting little traction with the marketing. The outcome of the session was a review of the customer journey, I have found that a visualisation of the journey helps ensure all angles are covered.

Improve your business through Employee Empowerment 

As someone who specialises in working closely with business owners of small and medium-sized companies, I’ve seen the transformative power of employee empowerment when it comes to enhancing operational efficiency. Most owners recognise the pivotal role that their team play in driving growth, innovation and sustainability, and that by adopting a culture of responsibility, innovation and continuous improvement, they can unlock the full potential of their workforce.

But how do you do this?

Why Employee Training and Development is Important

In my role as a business consultant dedicated to supporting small and medium-sized businesses, I recognise the critical importance of investing in employee training and development within this dynamic business environment. Working closely with business owners and their teams, I’ve witnessed firsthand the impact a thoughtfully designed training programme can have, not only on individual employees but also on the overall operational efficiency of the business. Let me take a moment to explain….

Building a Strong Brand for Long-Term Success! 

If you are a small firm or a sole trader, you could be forgiven for thinking that branding is not for you. “Big names spend money on branding, small companies just get on with the job” is a typical response when I discuss branding with clients. 

Preparing Your Business for Sale: Tips and Strategies

Selling a business can be a complex and challenging process, most owners of SMEs will only carry out a sale once in their career. It requires careful planning, thorough preparation, and great execution to ensure a successful sale.

Business Exit Planning 

Starting and growing a business is a significant achievement, and it takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and passion to make it successful. However, there may come a time when business owners may need to consider leaving or selling their businesses. This could be due to many reasons such as retirement, illness, or a change in personal circumstances. Whatever the reason, exiting a business is a big decision that requires careful consideration, planning, and time. In this blog, I will discuss the various options available for exiting a business, the process involved, key considerations, and how long it is likely to take.

What can SMEs expect in 2023

More importantly, what can they do about it?

In the first few weeks of January, I have had a chance to meet with many clients and business contacts. Here are my musings on the situation and some suggestions on how you can manage the challenges you may face in 2023.

Has your business hit a plateau? 

Are you unsure how to break out of it? Within this article we explore the symptoms of a business plateau, what to do about them and ways to develop a new mindset that will help you move forward.

Reimagine your business… now is a great time

As many businesses revisit their strategies to embrace a changing landscape, how is your plan coming along? It may seem a daunting task but here we outline 5 key questions to help you on your way.

Managing Volatility in Business

Is managing your business operations during volatile times causing you concern? If so, and you’re looking for ways to help you take control and remain strong, this checklist offers practical advice and some key pointers.

Family Succession: How to beat the odds

Is family succession on your business agenda? If so, have a read of this article where we take a closer look at what family succession actually means, why you should plan ahead and act now, along with 6 steps to ensure a successful transition.

How to develop a start-up mindset, again…

As we start to see the return of economic activity in the UK, what does this mean for SMEs? Within this blog we share some insight from our clients including managing the furlough effect, developing different plans and strategies and adopting a start-up mindset. What are your experiences?

Leadership in turbulent times

Are you struggling to navigate your SME business through this fast-changing environment? You’re not alone! Within this blog are five practical suggestions to help you be a good leader including looking after employees, managing cash flow and planning recovery actions.

Making Your SME Business Investment Ready

Do you hope to sell your business in the future? Here’s some practical advice to help get your SME Business Investment Ready. Includes 4 key principles that will help you grow and build value.

Sales strategy for growth

In my post last year, ‘Not all growth is equal’ I discussed the options for business growth. Comments from readers led me to look at sales strategy for growth.  Whether you choose new products to existing clients, product expansion, or new clients with existing products, market expansion, you will need a sales strategy. Establish your […]

Commercial Credit score, how it affects your access to finance

Your commercial credit score could be one way in which lenders and other companies you do business with assess your financial stability and set payment terms for you. Your commercial credit report says a lot about your business, determining how you appear to other companies and could be a deciding factor in whether or not […]

Growth options – not all growth is equal

Most small companies have plans to grow their business and increase sales and profits. However, there are several growth options that could be followed. The method a company uses to expand its business is largely driven by its financial situation, the competition and even government regulation. Some common growth strategies in business include market penetration, […]

Do Less Achieve More

“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything”  Warren Buffett I was having one of those ‘informal’ coaching sessions, read ‘down the pub’, with a neighbour who runs his own business. He was complaining of being no further on with his business than when […]

Do small firms need a brand?

If you are a small firm or a sole trader, you could be forgiven for thinking that branding is not for you. “Big names spend money on branding, small companies just get on with the job” is a typical response when I discuss branding with clients, in this post I aim to answer the question […]

Value Proposition take 2: How to create the ideal value proposition

Following on from my earlier blog on the subject of value propositions, here I take a look at what makes a good value proposition, remember, your value proposition is the number one thing that determines whether people will bother reading more about your products or engaging with your business. How to craft your ideal value […]

What is your value proposition?

Your value proposition is the number one thing that determines whether people will bother reading more about your products or engaging with your business. The less well known your company is, the better value proposition you need. When reviewing marketing plans with my clients, the main conclusion was that missing or poor value propositions is one […]

Marketing strategy can prime your business for growth

Having a solid marketing strategy is critical for success. All too often great ideas fail because they’ve been marketed to the wrong people at the wrong time, or too much investment has been piled into an area with a low rate of return. With that in mind, here are five sure-fire ways to avoid the […]

Will my firm benefit from an apprentice?

Many of our clients ask, how will my firm benefit from an apprentice? The Government has promised 3 million new apprenticeships by 2020, funded by the recently introduced apprenticeship levy. Employers today are waking up to the benefits of apprenticeships. This can either be employing a new member of staff as an apprentice or encouraging […]

Sales lessons companies learn the hard way

For most companies, if you’re not out selling, you’re probably not winning. Unfortunately, selling successfully to other businesses is often easier than it looks. There are several sales lessons or hard truths companies are likely to encounter at some part of the sales cycle. Here are five of the most important  sales lessons… Selling cost […]

Advantages of Business Budgeting – Part 2 Strategy then budget

Your strategy must led the business budgeting process In my first post on business budgeting I discussed the advantages of a collaborative approach setting out your budgeting process. I know from personal experience that a lot of staff in many companies view a budget as a bother rather than as a useful tool. If this is […]

Advantages of business budgeting

All organisations need a financial blueprint to help them manage their revenues and costs on a continuing basis, and most companies prepare some form of a plan that covers their next financial year. Many employees, even those in finance, often view the budgeting process as a chore that gets in the way of them doing […]

Get the best value for your business

To achieve the best value for your business, focus on what the buyer is looking for Let’s start with the assumption that you look for a trade buyer, i.e. someone in your industry, rather than a private equity house for example, because a trade buyer will almost certainly pay best value for your business. This […]

Control your Social Media, or, how not to let it control you!

Social media has become a core marketing tool in just a few years. It allows even the smallest business to interact with a wider world, creating a dynamic online presence with real customer engagement. Consumer and business customers alike increasingly expect to find your firm on the main social networks. In the instant world in […]

Can you spot the difference between urgent and important?

“What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.” Dwight. D. Eisenhower The Difference Between Urgent and Important Urgent means that a task requires immediate attention. These are the to-do’s that shout “Now!” Urgent tasks put us in a reactive mode, which really helps when being chased by a saber-toothed tiger! […]

Keep Control of Your Business – It’s all in the numbers!

I was with a potential client first week back to work in January, they were certain that the business was failing, and the imminent end of the lease on the premises would be a convenient time to wind-up the business.  This decision was based upon emotion, and the natural reflective mood of the New Year. […]

Factors to boost business value

We all need to plan for the future — whether you want to sell your business next year or in 10 years. The value of your company will be partly determined by your industry. For example, cloud-based software companies are generally worth a lot more than printing companies these days. However, when we analyse businesses in […]

Exhibiting Success – Let’s do business

I recently exhibited at a local trade show, run by the local Chamber of Commerce, Let’s do business was a great opportunity to meet potential clients and to re-connect with past contacts. Trade shows are hard work but done well, they can deliver substantial rewards. Here are my tips to help you maximise your return […]

Director’s responsibility, a practical guide.

You’ve made the decision and jumped ship, you are your own boss, the company is all set and you are flying.  Exactly what was all that stuff about director’s responsibility that your accountant talked about… I do not aim to scare you off but being a director of a UK company comes with some heavy responsibilities. […]

Change is Essential for a Successful Business Growth Strategy

Do you want to grow your business and expand into new markets? What should you think about before committing to a strategy for successful business growth?

Raising finance – Where to start

When you are faced with raising finance for your business, be open-minded and think laterally about the sources of finance you consider. You could get funding from a combination of sources – selling shares, debt, grants and subsidies. Generally speaking, the overall structure should be designed such that the business can service any debt repayments […]

Crowdfunding leads the way for Small Business Funding

I am currently working with a small start-up firm, they are self-funded to date and have been looking at traditional forms of small business funding, banks, loans etc. They have plans to expand the business to a national level, needing only a modest level of funding these usual routes have proved impossible or expensive. We […]

Lead nurturing can develop a great ROI

Lead nurturing can take many forms in the age of social and mass media and telemarketing is right there on the front line. Often called inside sales, speaking to customers after they have engaged through other channels and assessing when they are ready to speak to sales. A well-executed telemarketing approach as part of a […]

Late payments are killing cash flow in small firms

In a recent survey, Satago Ltd asked 400 firms for the most common excuse they heard for late payment of invoices. “The cheque is in the post” did not actually feature – a sure sign of the death of the cheque perhaps, however they did compile a list of the top excuses for late payment. […]

Exit and Succession Planning

“Affairs are easier of entrance than of exit; and it is but common prudence to see our way out before we venture in.”  Aesop Author 620 – 560 BC Having established a solid business, which still has plenty of potential to grow further, how and when should you implement strategies for grooming the business for […]

Is your business investment ready?

Firstly we must ask ourselves what is ‘Investment Readiness’? A simple definition: – “Providing sufficient information, credibility and trust to an investor to motivate them to invest in your firm.” However before going outside your firm for money – you should make sure the funding you need is not already available within the firm. You […]

How can Elmer Wheeler help me sell my business?

Helping you sell your business In the 1930’s Time Magazine suggested that Elmer Wheeler was the most successful salesman in the world, a big claim, but one that had more than a grain of credibility. But can he help me sell my business? Who is Elmer Wheeler Perhaps Elmer’s best know saying was “Don’t sell […]