Business Adviser

How the ‘Quiet’ Robotic Revolution could Damage your Customer Relationships 

There is a growing groundswell of opposition to the way that businesses are quietly paying lip service to customer relations whilst installing systems that are infuriating to ordinary people and frustrating, because there seems to be no redress. Worse still, smaller businesses have followed this trend and there is a real risk that they could damage the customer goodwill upon which they depend.

Preparing yourself for selling your business 

The best-prepared and most successful business strategies can fail at the final hurdle if the seller has not thought about the aftermath. The stress of emotional wrench can nullify all the good work getting to a position of securing best value for all your hard work over the years.

Embracing Business Opportunities Amidst Economic Challenges 

In the past few weeks, I have been moving house and it’s given me the opportunity to find out how small businesses are coping with current economic challenges. I have had several SMEs calling to examine some projects and provide quotes. Leaving aside any invidious comparisons about their professionalism, I was struck by one little nugget of POSITIVE information, which on the face of it may be dismissed as insignificant.

How to deal with unexpected business setbacks

Business Advisers naturally talk about planning for growth…

However, when things go wrong, you need to react quickly to eliminate the impact of negative developments. Recent personal experiences (during a house move!) made me reflect on the importance of taking immediate action at the first sign of trouble. Within this blog I take a look at two examples, purely illustrative, pointing to the sort of quick action required in any emergency.

Think Small to Build Big….  

An approach small business owners should definitively consider if they want to build a strong team and successful business culture.

Within this article I reflect on lessons I have learnt from past success stories, including that of a well-known family run business very close to my heart. It looks at why business culture and communication methods are key to the success of any business and offers tips to help.

How to attract a talented team into your small business

It is often said that a business’s most important asset is its people. So how come so little attention is paid to building a talented team when considering major strategic changes?

Within this article I explore this in more details and look at how to address the challenge of attracting a good, talented team. Read on to find out more.

A quick guide to contingency plans

Do you have a contingency plan for your business? If not, you should! In this article, Tony Maynard one of our experienced Business Advisers, explains the ins and outs of why it is so important for SMEs to have one.

Is your small business coming or going since lockdown?

Is your business anticipating a speedy recovery as lockdown lifts? Don’t get caught short as many have done following previous economic downturns, use this simple checklist to help you avoid the common pitfalls.

It’s good to talk – A simple guide to communication for small businesses

Talking about communication, or lack of it, I was once the Non Executive Director of a small company and observed a silent row developing between MD and Technical Director – by email… Because the two men were only a few feet and one partition away from each other, and I was fifteen miles away, I […]

Why do a contingency plan?

Business gurus always say that every business requires a contingency plan that anticipates all life’s little uncertainties. All too often, the listener nods sagely… But if such advice is being properly followed by most, how come so many businesses fall by the wayside when the going gets tough? The answer, sadly, is that many business […]

Are you managing your business?

or is the business managing you? Most business owners believe that they are managing their business well, and many are. But it is all too easy for ‘the boss’ to feel that, so long as he is giving the orders, he knows what is going on and all will be well…Until things start to go […]

Don’t try to sell your business on your own! Get the right team

Time and again, business owners will say that they don’t want to spend more than they have to when selling their business. Business advisers are seen as a costly, necessary evil, and they will do anything to cut those costs with a ‘spot of DIY’. They should ask themselves: How often do you sell your […]

Why should I consider marketing investment for my small business?

It is a key question for cash-strapped small businesses and there are many reasons advanced for not embracing marketing investment, for example: ‘I know my customers and they know me. My marketing is all about having good relationships’ ‘I cannot afford to invest in something where I have little idea of the value I get […]

How to profit from profitability

Sounds odd, doesn’t it? But it’s amazing that business owners sometimes do not know what profit is. And how crucial is that in attaining your Business Plan objectives? Much has been written on the subject, but they tend to plunge into technical accounting terms all too quickly. We hope to clarify more within this blog. […]

How to get full business selling value

Much has been written about business and exit planning – but business selling is like selling a house. You don’t have much experience and can go horribly wrong as a result. You improve your prospects when you ‘know the ropes’ and are being well-advised. ‘Maynard’s three immutable laws of Business Selling’ You won’t find them […]

3 Simple Things to Remember when Looking for Investors

The preparation of an effective business plan that is designed to appeal to investors is vital in securing those first meetings that enable investors to have confidence in you and your business. If it is well crafted it will attract investors into more discussion. But if there is something even slightly wrong, the investors will […]

How Effective Change Management will Result in Success

Adopting Change Management Processes in your Business Plan Post-Brexit blues Those small business owners who coped well during the last recession could be excused for believing that it was just a question of getting back to the status quo. However… …many have had a rude awakening after the Brexit referendum. Even before this, their markets […]

How Confident Leadership Will Enable Your Business to Succeed

‘Leading from the front’ All too often business owners/managers believe that strong, confident leadership is all about projecting personal ego and controlling all aspects of the business. But as the business grows it is essential to develop a confident management team that demonstrates professionalism to a growing customer base. Morale can be sapped at a […]

How to manage cash flow through difficult times

Watch your cash flow at all times – good and bad Every business will experience tough times. Small businesses are especially vulnerable because their management resources are usually thin, and they lack the tools to predict difficulties, and identify available remedies. It is important to try to look ahead and see the ‘potholes’. What if […]

A Small Business Guide to the Do’s and Dont’s of Branding

The noisy marketplace For us as consumers, the brand name is like a calling card; a badge of instant recognition. It says a lot about who you are, what you do, and why your business is so special. Some examples I just had a look around my local marketplace in Wallingford: Some good ones: Pizza […]

Strategic recruitment for business growth

Right person, Right place, Right job, Right time Faced with a fast-changing market, it is easy to regard a replacement strategy as a recruitment strategy. But it is an easy option that ignores the challenges and opportunities ahead. All too often, the question of replacing team members is seen as just a case of ‘same again’. […]

The Difference between Overselling and Overtrading

Many businesses are now seeing economic recovery take root, but this is by no means good news for all. If a small business has cut back on everything during a recession, it can experience sever problems when things start to pick up. This is why many businesses fail when you would have thought that all […]

Three Simple Things to Remember When Looking for Investors

The preparation of an effective business plan that is designed to appeal to investors is vital in securing those first meetings that enable investors to have confidence in you and your business. If it is well crafted it will attract investors into more discussion. But if there is something even slightly wrong, the investors will […]

Back to the future – how community spirit will add value to your business

We recently ran some articles on the importance of succession planning to add value and to protect against the impact of serious physical health decline of its owners. But what about that other key aspect of corporate wellbeing – the sense of community spirit? As mentioned recently, my family originated and developed a strong confectionery […]