Small businesses generally don’t have the necessary capital to hire full-time experts to work within their organizations. In the beginning, you will probably not have all of the necessary expertise either. Therefore, you may need to hire external professional services, such as marketing and management consultants, accountants, attorneys, engineers, graphic designers, technical consultants and others.
Some advisors, especially accountants and attorneys, are widely used by businesses of all sizes because of licensing and legal requirements. No business can function without maintaining financial records, filing required reports, paying income and other taxes, or having complete financial records for use in dealing with banks, suppliers, investors, etc. who need to know the financial position of your business. You may also need legal advice concerning the legal structure of your business, contractual arrangements with suppliers and distributors, leases, litigation protection, etc.
While the services of attorneys and accountants may seem obvious, it does not diminish the need to select individual advisors carefully. You should choose your legal, accounting or other business advisors with great care, including checking for adequate credentials and references. Engineers, technical specialists and management consultants, as well as anyone else who provides specific specialized advice, should be carefully screened as well. The expertise that advisors bring to you should be verified also. If you decide you need an advisor, the following is a guide for selecting an advisor and to using his/her services.
Advice may include general (legal, accounting, etc.) or specific (sales contract, audit, marketing analysis, technical consultation, etc.). By writing out your thoughts, you will be able to shorten your search time and reduce your costs.
Conduct personal interviews. Make your decision based on the following:
Potential advisors should submit a written proposal which outlines:
With the advisor, review and resolve any outstanding questions or ambiguities before agreeing to proceed or signing any contract.
Ask yourself if you got what you wanted and requested. Remember, this is a service you are paying for. You are allowed to be particular.
Obviously, some types of advisory work can be evaluated more easily and readily than others. An accountant dealing with financial statements and audits or other detailed work may require a longer period of time to evaluate than someone working on a short-term project, such as a lease or purchase contract. However, all advisory work can be and should be evaluated over time. Some projects may initially appear successful but fail in the long run. If you would choose to hire an advisor a second time, you have had a successful experience. If you would not re-hire the advisor, evaluate the situation to determine what went wrong and try to prevent the situation in the future.
Choosing and using professional advisors is critical to businesses of all types and sizes. A good working relationship with your advisor(s) can help determine the long-term chances of reaching your business goals. Experienced business advisors can assist you with contacts at banks and other financial institutions. An effective ongoing working relationship with your advisors can give you, the entrepreneur, a wealth of knowledge, experience, insight and contacts that can greatly enhance your success.
All advisors should be chosen with great care, including adequate credential and reference checking.
Colorado Business Development Foundation
info@coloradobdf.org
www.coloradobdf.org
Small Business Navigator Hotline: 303-592-5920
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