Drick Ward Consulting

Business Plans

Many successful small businesses were started with owner capital and never created a formal business plan.  At some point in the business life, it becomes necessary to construct a business plan that tells your story to others.  I can help the busy owner in creating a professional document or improving and updating an existing document. 

Exit Strategies

When do you want to leave your company?  Do you want to pass it on to other family members to continue?  Do you want to take the company public? Would you prefer to sell to a competitor or larger conglomerate?  You may have started the company without a plan for getting out or those plans may have changed due to other situations.  I can help you identify the options available, monitor industry trends, and formulate a plan to reach your goals.
 

Organizational Structures and Administrative Assistance

Family members, who know their industry, but are less familiar with organizational structures or effective administrative systems, often staff small firms.  As the company grows, you may need an outside opinion for structuring the company so it is positioned to meet the goals of your growth plans or exit strategy.  You may need simple administrative assistance such as mapping your customer demographics or transforming data from one application into another.  I can provide this assistance.
 

Strategic Plans and Alignments

Growth strategy in a new firm is often as simple as, “Get all the business we can handle.”  However, growing too fast can hurt a business if they are not prepared to meet customer expectations.  A methodical plan allows you to grow at a predictable pace and add staff, facilities, or inventory to reduce surprises and ensure smooth growth.  Often times, strategic alignments can be arranged with complimentary companies thereby increasing your ability to react to market changes, predict future demands, and increase revenue streams with little increase in effort.  I can help refine these plans and recognize opportunities, then work to develop them for your maximum benefit.
 

Technology Guidance

With technology changing at an increasing pace, it’s important to know what changes should be included in your operations so you can reap the most benefit from your technology investments.  Unless your business is a technology provider, keeping up with these changes can burden you unnecessarily when you should be focusing on your core business competencies.  Having an outsider review your technology utilization can save you time and money as well as prepare you for system integration with other providers up and down your supply chain.  I can review your current situation and offer advice on developing trends that will impact your future growth.

Business Systems

A successful business needs more than a good idea, product, or service; it needs a system.  If you left your business today and came back a year later, would you return to find it more profitable than when you left?  If not, you need a plan to develop your business to the point that it can successfully grow without your constant supervision. This is what sets apart the self-employed from the true business owners.  You are the industry expert; I can help you document and develop your business systems so you have the freedom to focus your energies where they will produce the most effective return.

Tell me more about your business development needs.