Business Model Question

**Mr. Bizness** · 06-02-2009 08:03 PM

I'm in the process of starting a small sales and marketing consulting company and would like additional input on the way I am thinking about modeling the business.

We all know times are tough and no one wants to spend additional money on marketing or sales initiatives. Most small businesses I've spoke with are more worried about maintaining, than anything. But why just maintain? There is still money to be made, you just need to know how to find it, and how to attract it. But with the owners and operators of businesses focusing on maintaining and keeping their head above water, they don't have time to come up with new strategies or determine how to improve on the ones they have in place.

In walks me.

Since this is a side project for me, and I will be seeking companies with flexible schedules, I will be able to be flexible with my pricing.

The model will be similar to a "Try before you Buy" service. I will meet with the business, whether it be in person, over the phone, or through email, and assess their current sales strategy. I'll then determine opportunities, and give a small amount of advice that they could then implement, for free. If it works for them, they will want more advice, right? This is where my costs come in.

I haven't hashed out pricing as of yet, but this is the high-level explanation of the concept

Again, the initial plan for this is not to rake in tons of money. I am simply looking to get my name out and if I can make a few bucks in the process, so be it. After all, from what I can tell, my costs will be minimal.

**Will** · 06-03-2009 09:14 AM

Do you have any qualifications or past success in business modelling for companies? Why will they want you (and want to pay you) to be on board? That is what they will ask, and what you have to know

I understand you will give free advice first and if it works they may respect you - though this ties in to my first sentence, why would they change their business plan (which will most likely cost them anyway) on your word, how can you convince them that you know what's best, even when it is free?

**Mr. Bizness** · 06-03-2009 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Will

Do you have any qualifications or past success in business modelling for companies? Why will they want you (and want to pay you) to be on board? That is what they will ask, and what you have to know

I understand you will give free advice first and if it works they may respect you - though this ties in to my first sentence, why would they change their business plan (which will most likely cost them anyway) on your word, how can you convince them that you know what's best, even when it is free?

Glad you asked. I have several years of sales and marketing experience, a Bachelors in Business and Marketing, and a Masters in Business Administration.

I currently work with small e-businesses all over the world to find solutions to make their businesses more profitable. I see a need for remaining brick and mortar businesses that have been on auto-pilot for many years and just don't have the time to step back and determine how to bring in more business. Just as Stephen Covey once said, “I don’t have time to sharpen the saw. I’m too busy sawing!”. The small businesses are the ones too busy "sawing", if that wasn't already obvious.

And from the people I've spoken with thus far, they are absolutely willing to take a few hours to learn how they can make more money, and if they don't, they didn't lose anything.

I'm not talking about changing their entire business plan, rather showing them things that they may have not thought of to bring in additional business. Promotions, referral programs, different advertising mediums that don't have to cost a lot, and others.

And to your statement, "how can you convince them that you know what's best". I don't need convince anyone that I know whats 'best'. If I get them to think of new ideas and ways to improve their business, thats all that matters. The word 'best' is abstract anyways, what does it mean? There will always be someone with a 'better' idea, given enough time and resources.

After all, the most successful businesses in the world all started with an idea, right? Its just getting to the idea that people need help with.

What would 'qualify' someone to give advice like this?

**Will** · 06-03-2009 11:29 AM

Well in this case nothing exactly really qualifies you to give advice, the thing that 'qualifies' you to give advice is whether or not people want to listen to you. You seem quite experienced so that is your qualification. In this sort of advisory position the thing that qualifies you is people's trust in you and their respect of your knowledge, so you need to show them you are the person to listen to I guess (maybe as you said by giving them a good free tip first up).