From time
to time as a small business owner you’re likely to bump up against a problem
you can’t solve yourself. That may be because you don’t have the right
experience or knowledge to correct it. Or it may be because you a perfectly
capable of meeting the challenge but can’t justify the time it will require of
you, given your many other responsibilities.
Tabling
that problem or challenge until a quieter time may not be an option if the goal
is to move the company forward. So how do you know when it’s time to hire a
consultant to find the solution, to remove a major distraction from your
business day, and perhaps to avoid a costly mistake?
Much like
an independent contractor, consultants come in on a short-term or project
basis. For an agreed-upon fee, they will agree to
The general
advantage of using a consultant is that you pay only for the information and
guidance you need. An example of a situation where a consultant might make
sense is when you need to create a marketing and advertising program. A
consultant can develop your advertising plan and then leave it to you to
implement it. However, the same consultant may undertake certain tasks within
the plan—perhaps having to do with creating ad messages or finding the right
graphic designer.
Some
day-to-day activities and situations may require short-term consulting help,
such as making a fix in a proprietary software program. Identifying,
purchasing, and implementing a comprehensive computer system, by way of
contrast, would require a software consultant on a longer term basis.
For better
cost control and a more reliable estimate, have a completion date in mind for
the project. An open-ended consulting relationship may create dependency while
becoming a financial drain. In addition, use caution when considering a more
generic management consultant, who may not be able or willing to specify the
work he or she is prepared to do to focus on a problem area.
To begin
the search for a consultant, tap into your own network for recommendations, then check references. You’ll want to know what problem the
consultant was engaged to solve, whether the work was completed on time and
within budget, and whether the consultant produced a quality product.
And for
other perspectives on your involving outside experts in your business, contact
SCORE “Counselors to