How Small Businesses Benefit from Hiring Consultants

The pressure that small and medium-sized business owners face can be intense. Learning how to manage a business can be a challenge, and owners also often find themselves playing multiple roles like: CEO, COO, VP Finance, Head of HR, Director of Sales, Marketing, and more, all at the same time. With so many hats to wear, small business owners can quickly run out of capacity, and experience burn-out.

For business owners, hiring a consultant can be a huge time-saver, and create real growth, while removing direct pressure from business owners.

Consultants can help guide a business by providing expertise and an objective approach. There are consultants specializing in various industries and areas, including strategy and operations, human resources, finances, funding opportunities, IT, and sales and marketing.

Consultants work directly with business owners and executives to identify challenges, offer advice, and propose practical solutions with an achievable action plan.

Expertise

Consultants are valuable due to their knowledge, skills, and experience. Since consultants work with a variety of businesses, they may have a much broader and deeper knowledge of business trends, industry challenges, and new innovations, than internal staff.

Cost Savings

When a business hires a consultant, they only pay for the specific services required, when they are needed. This can provide substantial savings over hiring a salaried employee, with the same level of expertise, to complete similar tasks. Consultants are motivated to deliver timely results to help their clients and build a favorable reputation.

Objectivity

Consultants operate at an arm's length to business challenges; they are not emotionally invested in operations in the same way that business owners are, and they can more easily identify and address challenges, whether the issue is implementing new processes or technologies.

A consultant’s neutrality can be especially important for businesses run by friends and families, where dynamics could be emotional and key problems more difficult to discuss.

Choosing the Right Consultant

Especially for small businesses, it is crucial to select a consultant with a proven record of results. You might speak to other business owners and managers in your circle and see if you can get a recommendation.

Smart Squad can help. Contact us today to discuss your business and we will determine which consultant in our network can bring value to your business.