Business Plan Consultants
Whether you are starting a new business, expanding or reconfiguring an existing business, merging with another business, or planning an exit, you’ve come to the right place. We offer professional business planning services to three groups: established businesses; nonprofits and government agencies; and startups. Many of our clients begin with a feasibility study before engaging our business plan consulting team.
Startups
Startups are usually characterized by bold visions and big ideas but limited capital, small teams and limited resources. The main challenge for most startups is not the end game, but rather how to get there from here. We help entrepreneurs chart a course, and navigate through calm seas, rocky shoals, and high winds.
Established Small Businesses
Established small businesses are different. They have something to lose. The business plan has to transition the business from the old to the new, without breaking all the things that already work. That means it pays to take the time to really understand the inner workings of the business — the organizational structure, departments, teams, management, staffing, operations, workflow, policies and procedures, marketing and sales, etc.
Nonprofits, Counties and Municipalities
Nonprofits, counties and municipalities differ from for-profit businesses in many ways. They are mission oriented rather than profit driven. They usually have very diverse groups of stakeholders, such as members, volunteers, associations, and boards. They also have very different financing mechanisms and funding sources. But they still need a “business” plan.
Our Business Planning Process
Our proven business planning process is intense, thorough and collaborative. We work closely with you to understand your goals and vision, and then help you develop a clear roadmap for your business for the next few years.
For established organizations we make sure we understand the history, the mission, the stakeholders, and the external factors affecting the organization. We call this step “discovery.” It often involves surveys, interviews, facilitated discussions, and focus groups.
Unlike many of our competitors, we expect — even demand — several iterations. We understand that the first version is rarely perfect. If you are not happy with our work, we aren’t either.
We question assumptions, perform independent market research, and explore and propose alternative ways to help you achieve your business objectives.
Strategic Advisory Services
While business planning is not the same as strategic planning, without a coherent strategy a business plan is just a roadmap to nowhere. Strategy underlies every aspect of every organization: financing, growth, marketing, sales, operations, management and staffing, etc. The underlying strategy does not have to be complicated, but it does have to be clear and realistic. We make sure every plan we work on is built around a solid strategy.
Beyond Business Planning
If you need to raise capital, we’ll evaluate your business plan from the viewpoint of a prospective investor or lender. Our experience allows us to quickly spot problems and fix them long before you meet with your first investor. Beyond the business plan, we can also help you prepare a pitch deck and other presentation materials.
Experience Matters
Our senior consultants have decades of experience working with businesses and nonprofit organizations across a wide variety of industries, sectors and stages. Our clients range from one-person service industry startups to large manufacturing and hospitality business clients with hundreds of employees and multi-state operations, to counties, municipalities and other nonprofit organizations.
Collaborative and Engaging
Although we are far from being the most expensive, we are also rarely the least expensive. If you are looking for an experienced consultant who will treat you with the attention and respect you deserve, then you have come to the right place.
We’ll work closely with you to understand your goals and vision, research your markets and competitors, and help you develop your business plan. Although most clients hire us to write a business plan they often find that the process they go through developing a plan is ultimately more valuable than the documents themselves.
Business Planning for Success
You can throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, but it’s a risky strategy and it rarely works. You can have AI write your business plan, but bankers and prospective investors will see the difference. A custom business plan based on accurate and targeted market research, realistic assumptions, and conservative financial projections by no means guarantees success, but it definitely shifts the odds in your favor.