As an entrepreneur, I am very slow to hire (employees can be a challenge) yet I don't have time to do everything.
How do I manage? I automate, outsource, and bring in consultants.
When should you consider bringing in a consultant?
Sandra Bekhor, President of Bekhor Management explains...
"Any business that is planning for change or already experiencing it can benefit from the advice of a business and marketing consultant.
As examples, a consultant can offer valuable assistance to a business that is responding to a trend in its industry or a new competitor in the marketplace. A company may want strategic advice regarding a new product or service or specialized skill. The make up of an organization may need review to support expansion plans.
Business or marketing consultants help companies and professionals to effectively build their businesses by addressing these issues head-on.
More generally, consultants offer many services that are tailored to the requirements businesses have at all different stages of their growth cycles. Typical consulting projects include business planning, strategic planning, marketing, branding and public relations.
Each of these categories has many sub-sets – for example marketing projects include website development, organizing speaking engagements, creating media kits and business presentations and managing launches and other events.
The work of a consultant can help transform business objectives into tangible lifestyle, professional and financial plans. For most companies, there is no time like the present to begin that process."
I bring in a consultant when I don't have the skill set (I'm honest with myself on this one) to handle the business critical task and I can't hire "just anyone" to do it. With a cash hungry start up, it is sometimes painful on the pocket book to pay the fees but I remind myself that it can be even more painful if I mess up that task.