Advisers – Questions within a Business Planning Questionnaire” on “advisers” often include:
Who are your advisers?
Have you appointed advisers such as:
– accountant?
– solicitor?
– insurance broker?
– marketing consultant?
– advertising agent?
– business coach?
– sales coach?
– business development consultant?
– industrial relations/human resources consultant?
– financial adviser/planner?
Are you effectively utilising the services of your advisers in helping you to add value to your business?
Do you accept that the role of advisers in SMEs is similar to the role that employed experts play in larger businesses in that those employed experts, who specialise in particular areas of expertise, are there to advise the chief executive officer and senior management of a larger company on business operational issues?
Customer Advisory Committees
Some small businesses have formed Customer Advisory Committees. Have you considered this in your business? Do you think it would be beneficial? Could you list 3-4 customers who you could invite to meet with you, on a quarterly basis, to discuss your products/services and give you feedback as to what is happening in the market place and suggestions on improvements in your business activities?
If you would have any queries on how you might utilise advisers in your business or would like to discuss the operations of Customer Advisory Committees, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Next month we will consider the role of legal advisers for small businesses.
