Business Coach Houston • Small Business Online Coach • Profitability Coach Houston

Small Business Coaching - Business Growth

There’s an old saying that business advice is worth more for what it can do for you than what you pay for it. I thought most people saw this coming. But I was wrong. 

At least I was wrong about one business owner who remained skeptical. He wanted to grow his business profits. He had the intent. He did not lack confidence either. But he suffered from extreme skepticism. 

As you might already know, he wasn’t alone. This happens to the best of us. Every business owner wants to make the business profitable. Yet they don’t pause for advice.

When I approached him, he did not want to yield. He did not want to listen, even for useful advice. Somehow, he believed deep inside that he would lose control. That’s why the beginning of change came from changing his beliefs so we could transform his business. We did it together.

Here are the 3 things that happened rocketing business growth for this business.

Each time the phone rang, the business owner picked it up. He answered questions. He talked to the caller more than he needed to. This continued with each caller each day. That left fewer hours for the owner to deliver installation services. Work that produced real sales fell like a stone.

Together, we changed course. We had to change the status quo. We made a list of current tasks. Then, we screened the ones that did not produce revenue. Next, the owner advertised for an office administrator–– and delegated all the non-revenue work. This freed up his time. He could now work on sales and deliver orders. Customers acknowledged the service and rewarded the business through 5-star reviews on Google. This paved the way for even more sales.

In our story, this business did not have a unique selling point or USP. They desperately needed one. Why? Because, it forms a compelling reason for businesses to work with you and not your competitors. Before the USP, proposals weren’t attractive. 

They looked pricey. Customers questioned them. They blocked orders, refusing to buy. This frustrated the owner. We had to make another change.

We worked hard to define a clear USP. It took 11 steps. Suddenly perceptions changed. We added it to each proposal making it even more attractive. Customers now leaped forward to sign agreements. Soon, profits jumped. This not only helped in growing the business but also lowered the pressure on sales. The business had now reached a major turning point. This is how we demonstrated the power of the USP.

Next, we tackled employee performance. Adding an employee was easy. Yet, making them productive was another story. 

But with the help key performance indicators or KPIs, we were able to show individual results. Each employee had their own KPIs. This helped them know how they did. And how their work helped the business make profits. 

We installed a daily report.  Each day, each employee sent their KPIs to the owner. He could see how they made spectacular progress.

These were only 3 simple ways that this business carried out plans and the owner could grow the company 3 times its revenue––beginning from 1X in January and ending with 3X in December.

With further business coaching, even amid a Pandemic, this business is still flourishing while adding more employees and more business growth.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead in starting your business, running your business or growing your business then invest in a business coach in Houston, and set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.

Have you tried everything you could only to come up short in growing your business? Has the pandemic affected every nerve of your business? You’re not alone when you feel this way. You have company.

Many businesses find themselves unable to see the fast funding. It doesn’t seem so fast any more. Others feel that their customers have left them hanging by the thread. Can you blame them? Maybe not.

Whether you couldn’t bump up your efforts or whether customers fled, you have in your hands the best choice for your business. 

In this time, finding new incomes is not only your choice, but it is the only choice. It makes sense when you want to stay in business. That is why I’d like to suggest these 5 ways to creatively re-build your business––brick by brick.

Just as you begin to feel that customers have no money to spend, you discover there is still disposable income out there. It is for you to find it. Check your service and re-align it to the most pressing need of this hour. Ask yourself: What would customers need now? And how is my service or offer filling that need? Once you get the answer, re-package your services. You will get traction. Your customers will connect with you. You’ve just discovered their basic need.

When you find yourself in a pandemic, one has to expect that spending would shift. It will go toward essential items. That pummels most industries. Exclude healthcare, medical or even media. You would find it harder to sell your goods and services in most non-essential groups. That’s how it is now.

What could we do then to not only continue but survive and still thrive? 

You might be better off in offering big discounts to customers who sign up for the longer term. Simplify these agreements. You could work with existing or future clients. This would allow you to collect monthly services or sell goods with an up-front charge. The more steps you take to extend terms, the more you’d boost your cash flow. And when the economy recovers, you will find yourself recovering sooner than later. Who wouldn’t want that?

Even when the economy is reeling under a pandemic, people will find ways to spend. If people are spending on goods online, you could get online as well. If you did not have a website with e-commerce, here is your chance for growing your business. Get creative. Build that online store. Invest now so it pays you back sooner than later.

Find out what people will need when they want to recover faster. Then fill that need by repackaging your services or goods. In doing so, you would be creating a want that did not previously exist.

When you see how automakers started producing masks, ventilators and PPE equipment using car making machines, it is obvious they had to adapt. 

You have to do the same.

That could happen when you change your services to cater to a new audience amid a pandemic. Changing the business model could mean changing services or goods to offer relief. Relief to people who are desperately needing help. You could relabel your goods and adjust them to serve a newer purpose. That will get you ahead not only in building rapport but creating a new breed of loyal customers when the economy returns.

Now is the time for review. See how you have been working in delivering goods and services. Do you have a Customer Relationship Method? It’s called CRM. If you don’t, you could inexpensively set one up. If you did not do e-mail marketing previously, you could now set that up to nurture your customers periodically. You will save time and money building that trust. The same trust that seemed so elusive before. And that’s exactly what you want, isn’t it?

Taking these steps will keep you a step ahead of the pandemic. And who knows you might even prosper and thrive when other businesses barely just survive.

Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Call 281.410.5375 to grow your small business.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––“Explosive Business Coaching Houston Results For Small Business”. Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Call 281.410.5375 and speak to your Profitability Coach Houston

Small businesses panic in a crisis. And the coronavirus crisis is no ordinary crisis. It has paralyzed continents. People are stuck indoors. Life has come to a standstill.

As you may also know that during this pandemic, you would be better off serving your employees rather than focus on other parts of the business. So, if there is any way you could repurpose your business, you could get ahead.

Fortunately, business coaching can give you those ideas that you so desperately want for your small business growth––right now.

Here are a few ideas that might help you grow your business quicker.

Employees have worked hard for you in good times. Now, it’s time for you to empower them. One way is to allow them to work from home. Give them tasks to work on the business. 

This is a better choice than focusing on shaving off labor. 

Many brick and mortar businesses had to shift online. Not because they preferred it, but because that is the new norm. If you want to know more on how to focus on employee strengths, check it out on Entrepreneur.

What does that mean? Well, it means keep customers coming back. That could mean deeper discounts. Promote online sales. Use more e-mail. Since customers could be glued to their e-mail inbox, this has a greater chance to catch their attention. And draw them away from the current fear and uncertainty that clouds the world. 

Customers will thank you for sending high-value articles––especially ones related to staying safe in this coronavirus crisis. Even if you write on a topic, which is not your primary business, it shows you care. 

That empathy sticks. The more it sticks, the more your customers will remember you in good times. 

If you want to learn about the new rules of customer loyalty, check it out on Inc magazine.

You know how our instincts treat us in uncertainty. We all want to cut costs so we save for a rainy day ahead. Even if it sounds prudent in the short run, it might short-circuit your business growth. Think long-term. 

Ask: What’s going to happen when the economy forges back to normal? 

Sow the seeds so you can reap the harvest. The more you have pent up demand the more the opportunity to make up for loss. Create new service offers. Package them differently. Work with your business coach. Find new customer streams. As you do, you will discover new revenue streams.

All of these steps will help you ride out the storm. Isn’t that what every business owner wants now? 

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead in starting your business, running your business or growing your business without spending thousands of dollars on a business consultant in Houston, set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.

             What does it mean when you say you are a Business Unit Manager (business unit manager)? Well, it means you have responsibility for a Business Unit. Then you might ask, “What is a business unit”. 

             A business unit is a profit center, which focuses on offering goods in a given market. Business units have a separate marketing plan, strategy, sales plan, project management office, R&D, quality, business culture, operations and a competitive landscape, even though they may be part of a larger business entity.

             Where do business unit managers come from? Many come from sales, marketing, finance or other leadership backgrounds. However, project managers are equally suited to hold this position in a company. 

             Since business unit managers could exist in different industries, it is quite difficult to pick just 10 from LinkedIn. However, we have to start somewhere. If you believe that you ought to be on this list, please write to us and we will certainly consider you for our next article.

             One of the keys in becoming a business unit manager is to be suitably trained. What that means is to have sufficient skills and competencies in any of the areas such as marketing, sales, finance or project management. This leaves a gap in the industry today. We don’t have many leaders who could claim to have done all of the above.

             That is why we have started a program: Certified Business Unit Manager™ to fill this gap in the industry. We would enthusiastically like to present Certified Business Unit Managers at the top of our list. And we’d encourage more and more of you to dream big and join this program. It is not an entitlement but a leadership initiative. 

             And don’t forget to share this with your friends. Let’s go.

Sridhar Parameswaran

Sridhar Parameswaran earned his Certified Business Unit Manager from Business Unit Execution in December 2012. Sridhar brings about twenty-five years of experience in the industry. He has worked in telecommunications, software, manufacturing and others. He has also held a role as Director of Professional Development. 

Somesh Chablani

Somesh Chablani earned his Certified Business Unit Manager from Business Unit Execution in May 2019. As a senior executive and a sales leader, Somesh has over twenty-five years of experience in the industry. He has been instrumental in customer service, sales leadership and business development. 

Quinn Tolbert

As a Business Unit Manager, Quinn Tolbert focuses on providing building owners with traditional and performance-based turnkey facility renovations, improvement projects and consulting services. These services lead to optimizing comfort, increasing operational efficiency and reducing the cost of energy, water and other natural resources. 

Adrian Martinez Martinez

With more than 13 years experience, Adrian Martinez contributes to the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical industry. He has worked in Sales, Project Management, Business Development, Corporate Strategy, Project and Process Engineering.

Steven Gregson

As a Business Unit Manager, Steven Gregson adds to the history of working in the Oil and Energy industry. His skills include Operations Management, Supply Chain Optimization, Demand Planning, E-commerce and Pricing Strategy.

Peteris Spels is a Business Unit Manager at Eurofins. In his role, he brings business development and sales experience combined with technical skills. As an entrepreneur, he builds and leads new initiatives in product development and other fields.

Charles Geisbert

As a Business Unit Manager, Charles Geisbert is a P&L Leader for Eaton's satellite manufacturing organization producing panel boards, switchboards and enclosed circuit breakers. Charles has held other roles in Medium Voltage Control and Drives, Engineering Services and Team Leadership.

Russ Brune

As a Business Unit Manager, Russ Brune adds experience in sales, marketing, business development, and strategic planning in technology-intensive environments. His specialties include VOC, customer segmentation, integrating acquired companies, due diligence, market research, Six Sigma, equipment finance and leasing 

Olin Brundy

With a leadership role as Business Unit General Manager, Olin Bundy ensures effective execution of all activities for the Controls, Power Inverter and Soft Start Business segments. He has full P&L responsibility.

Chris Brewster

As a Business Unit Manager, Chris Brewster drives results through his strong background in technical sales, sales management and business development. His current role ensures oversight for profit and loss, revenue, new business, new product development and productivity. 

Let me know your thoughts in the box below. I’m excited to see how I can help you.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead in starting your business, running your business or growing your business without spending thousands of dollars on a business consultant in Houston, set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.

“No mistakes. No learning” – Anonymous.

       If you want to be a thriving business, you are going to want to get as good as you can in offering your goods and services. Do it before you enroll clients. That means mastering everything you can about growing your business. That means developing a plan for helping clients. That means being able to bounce back when you fall. That also means making business mistakes. 

        Making business mistakes is a growing part of any effort. And while you can’t avoid all business mistakes, there are four that you should avoid as a growing business, because it could pummel your business. 

That could happen before the storm arrives. Take cover now.

       People that ‘do it all’ actually do little. If you are in marketing, in sales, in operations, in serving customers and a wife and mother (or husband and father) you are going to find that all of your efforts will suffer. Why? It’s because you are trying to do way too much. 

Just focus on a few important items. Separate the urgent ones. Do them well. 

You will grow your business.

       Sadly, one of the other major issues that plague businesses is a terrible website. Many business owners want to make their own website. They somehow believe they will save money. Your sister-in-law or college-going lad could patch a website together. But what are you going to get? Poor response. More delay. And on top of that you are going to end with an amateur-looking site. 

       Your website is going to drive away your visitors.  That’s not what you want, is it? 

Make sure that you spend time and money making your website sparkle. It is your face you are going to show to the world. You want to look good, don’t you?

      Most people start their businesses and have no time to work on their internal procedures. They work spending all their time on tactical sales. Then they wonder why they can’t grow their business. That does not mean that sales isn’t important – it surely is – but you want to spend just the right time in sales to get you going and invest in building repeatable methods to grow your business. 

Hire the right team. Delegate. Build work manuals. Have a strategic plan. That will help you grow faster than just focusing on sales without a vision. 

Sales without vision is a car without an engine. You can only go so far.

       Finally, many business owners go into the business without any nest egg. You need that to build your business. That’s the fuel that ignites your business. You’ll want some money. You are going to want to invest it right back into your business because money makes money. 

You’re going to want to save a little to grow your business as well as money you save to have a lifestyle. After all, you can’t run your business forever, right? 

Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Schedule your Explosive Business Results session now.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead in starting your business, running your business or growing your business without spending thousands of dollars on a business consultant in Houston, set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.

“Synergy is better than my way or your way. It's our way” – Stephen Covey.

       Synergy is about creating a bigger sum from joining smaller parts. Obviously, it plays a big role in business. And a company’s vision and mission depend on it.

       As a Profitability Coach, I ask business owners, “Can you achieve your goals with no synergy in your business? That probably wouldn’t happen, would it? Most businesses realize it. Eventually, you know it is all about doing the right things right.

       Scores of examples show how businesses failed. Daimler and Chrysler is one such example of a merger. Culture clashes thwarted synergy between the two. The merger fell apart. And experts labeled it a “big failure”. Why? Simple. No synergy.

       Synergy is not just an issue companies face when they merge with other companies. Even if you are an owner of a small business you need synergy. You need it in strategic planning for small business. People in your team need to pull forward together. Without this binding force, you will lose momentum in your business.

       A mission statement is all about having a core purpose. It answers these questions:

• Why the company is doing what it is doing
• Why employees believe in passionately doing what customers need
• Why customers would look for us when we aren’t around
• What is the bigger reason our company exists

       Have you ever seen success when different units of the same business move in opposite directions? It just doesn’t happen. Most businesses suffer from exactly this issue. And many don’t see it until it’s too late.

       Make your employees realize the purpose of your company. Display it in a common place. Offer them a performance incentive plan. Such steps make people treat the business as their own. And you’ll find a great way to motivate them in carrying out the company’s mission. 

       Core values are “must do” and “must never do” items. Define them in a way that it becomes a default standard. If an ethical issue stymies you, well-defined core values would clarify what you should do. 

       Core values could change in time. Once they solidify, they will act as a manual directing anyone.

      Targets are goals that affect your company in the next 3 to 5 years. Most people know that leaders in companies influence them. They exist as long as the leader exists. 

       If your company doesn’t need new goals, that’s okay. Your leader may decide to refocus people using existing goals. It may bring fewer goals and greater clarity. Such steps could produce unprecedented results when people dive down like an eagle from the sky. That’s the focus it will bring to your company.

       If you know what your main priority is, you will get there. For example, if you have to install 15 doors each week in your door business and that’s your main task, people will achieve it. Make it clear to them in your Strategic Plan.

       Even if you have yearly goals, it makes sense to have 90-day goals. It’s one key performance measure that aligns with the company objectives. 

       Use 2 or 3 priorities to support this measure. It’s important that your full team is onboard. That’ll make it easy for them to achieve this single goal.

        Each week, hold a meeting. Go over actions that will lead to results. Get a handle on risks. Such meetings produce rhythm and routine. Such routines when joined with goals produce effective results.             

        However, assign only one owner for each action. Keep the meeting at an hour, max. That’s when you can get the right results.

         Hold daily meetings for no more than 10 minutes. Get the top issues to track progress. Discuss the blocks to carrying out your plan. Such meetings track your derails. They spot new opportunities that elude bigger meetings. They save time from emails. They help you get over interruptions. 

         So make use of the opportunities to avoid hassles, save time and reach goals.

         You might not notice but the most important of all meetings is this daily meeting. It sets the tone for your weekly meetings.

          That’s it. Now you have the blueprint. Build your strategic plan. Strategic planning for small business can save you years of hassles if you start believing in “our way”.

Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Schedule your Explosive Business Results session now.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead in starting your business, running your business or growing your business without spending thousands of dollars on a business consultant in Houston, set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.

“Plans are nothing; planning is everything.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower, former U.S. President

     That rings so true in life, doesn’t it? However, in your business that could take a different turn. You may already know starting a business can be thrilling. You could become adventurous. You could take risks. Sometimes, you might want a cushion. That’s when a Business Plan could come handy.

     That’s not the only time you’ll need one. Once you start your business, doing all the work without any help or advice can become exhausting. You could gain from hiring a small business coach near you. That coach could help you put a business plan together. You work with the coach regularly. And soon you will reap the rewards for your work.

      Now let’s look at 6 questions every small business owner asks before writing a business plan or hiring a business plan writer. 

       The quick answer: Write the business plan before you start your business. And it’s okay the first time if it takes longer than you’d expect. If you feel more comfortable, you could hire a business plan writer. Your investment will pay off. For aspiring entrepreneurs, get your fundamentals right. Get to know your reasons for plunging into business. I mean ask yourself why you want to do it. Strategic planning is a different step in business. Even with overlap, a business plan is a subset of strategic planning. With the help of a small business coach, you can create a simple strategic plan. It will benefit you and your team.

     Write your business plan when you want to get funds from a bank. Write a business plan also when you want funds to grow once you are in that phase. 

     Another phase to write your business plan is when you get ready to sell your business. It will give you data that shows your business value. You will now know your business worth. And that’s one measure in setting your selling price. Since a business plan is about the future, your prospective buyer will thank you for sharing your vision of his future. And he or she might possibly make you an offer for your business.

     Finally, write a business plan when the market shifts and disrupts your business model. This could happen when you suddenly could be selling to a different market. Or, you could use a different method to sell your goods or services. That’s exactly when a business plan will help your team to connect with your business. You will end up with a boost to the morale of your team. That in turn will boost your company’s growth.

      As you have seen the reasons for writing the business plan, its importance is amply clear. Creating funds or evaluating your current state sends different signals to the market. You could build, borrow or buy. 

      Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) are necessary for the future of any business. That’s when you are buying another firm. Alternately, some other firm might offer to buy yours.

     Every business plan could make your business a future success. Typically, it includes:

• the business idea
• the overall plan and your actions to realize them
• your services and goods and your unique selling point
• markets and reasons for choosing them
• your management staff and employees
• your funding needs

     You will realize that your credibility is most important in a business plan. It is a sum of facts, projections and practical forecasts for profit. Your passion is not the reason someone is going to give you a loan. It is their belief in your credibility that will turn in your favor.

3) What should Business Plan include?

     Start a business plan where and when you are ready to commit to yourself. That’s right. A business plan has an understated benefit. It holds you accountable to what you promise to do. And you know by when you plan to do it. If you aim for $2 million in revenues by year 2, that’s what will drive you. That becomes your goal.

     You could start with sales and work backwards. You could also start with the number of services you’ll offer or the goods that you’ll produce. It is about going from point A to point B. You have to know your point B.

     As we discussed, a business plan is a way for marketing your company to investors, suppliers, customers and even employees. It is not an assurance plan or a plan to guarantee success. It will however have the ability to guarantee you a way to hold yourself accountable. You will also have others who have invested in your business remind you about where you are. And they will ask you questions about why you are where you are. They want you to succeed. 

     Could you be successful without a business plan? You could. But you may cut yourself short of what you potentially could achieve with a business plan. Why would you want that? Aim high instead. Work hard. Work smart. And you will reach your goals with a detailed business plan. If you find it hard to do it all yourself, don’t sweat it. Hire a small business coach in Houston. It will save your day. And it could get you moving to your goals quicker than you imagined. Now, isn’t that what you really want?

Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Schedule your Explosive Business Results session now.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead in starting your business, running your business or growing your business without spending thousands of dollars on a business consultant in Houston, set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.

      “If you have a few minutes, I’d like to tell you how to make your business plan sizzle for every investor, every bank and every partner. It will apply even if you’re looking for an sba loan”

       Six reasons affect every item you want to have in your plan. It does not change if you offer goods or services. They are: market, uniqueness, demand, price, value and growth.

       As you may already know, it always helps to work with a small business online coach. You could get a jumpstart on your small business. This is your chance to collaborate with someone and grow simultaneously.

       Are you ready to look at the 6 reasons now? Let’s check.

     Think of where your services fit in the market. Are they high-end? Are they competitive? Or, are they low price? This is one way to slice market positioning. 

     Look at how you compare to your competitors. Do you focus on cost, quality, innovation or service? Then look at the playing field. If you are into product positioning, you may already know that you will disrupt the market sooner or later if you focus on innovation.

     You may know that your competitors could offer services just like yours. If some of them didn’t succeed, find out how you will do it differently. Find the edge in your services. 

     Your unique selling point is all about the difference. It finds your market niche. It’s more than just a better service. It shows how your services fit some customers. 

     Have you made that clear in your message to your ideal customer? There are many unique selling proposition examples that mark what small businesses offer. Check them out.

     This part is the most difficult, if you ask me. You have to study your leads and then estimate who is likely to buy from you. Then you have to estimate how often they will buy from you.

     If you’re selling goods, it could be easier than selling services. Customers want to see the value when they get ready to buy from you. I don’t blame them. I do the same when I want to buy. Don’t you?

     What do they feel about market certainty? Such questions affect buying patterns. Finance and cash flow is always important. It is all about small business administration.

     These reasons also affect your 6-month or yearly estimates to have a fit small business.

4) Pricing Strategy

     Every small business has pricing strategies. Sometimes it is price skimming, where you set a high start price and then lower it over time. Other times small businesses use penetration pricing, where you offer a low entry price for a new service to steal customers from competitors. If you use cost based pricing or value pricing, show the reasons you chose that strategy. Investors and bankers look for them.

     If you are in services, offering value in exchange for fees tops the list. If you offer goods, customers want to pay what the market will bear. 

     Services or goods fall into 3 broad groups--need, luxury or somewhere between the two.

     Research the market. Evaluate the demand for your services or goods. Then check the extent of value you offer to your customers. Make certain the value is 5X what you charge for it. Some may want it to be 10X. It’s your call. It depends on the distance you want to keep from your competitors. Importantly, set up your message so it (clearly) shows off the value.

     Once you have long-term customers, calculate your customer lifetime value (CLV). That will show you your growth potential. We will look at this next.

     Some services produce offshoots. Check the growth you see in the services you offer your best customers.

      Look at where the percentage of highest growth lies. Invest in those services that have the highest potential to grow revenues. That’ll give you the focus you need.

 If you need help writing a business plan, work with a small business advisor. Or, find a small business online coach. That's even better. You'll recover what you paid quicker than you think.

      Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Schedule your Explosive Business Results session now.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––if you ever wanted to get ahead in starting your business, running your business or growing your business without spending thousands of dollars on a business consultant in Houston, set up your FREE Explosive Business Results phone call. CLICK HERE.

      "What would you do if you knew one change that could make your Business Plan shine?"

      You may already know what happens when you’ve got it working for you. 

      Let me tell you anyway. It could catapult your ability a step more.

      Imagine these results. Your bank approves your business loan. Your investors are now willing to invest in your business. And your future partners are willing to join your firm. That’s what you can expect if you get it right.

It’s the part above the fold. It’s your Executive Summary.

      It is your story of your business. It is your account. You can have a captivating start, a body and an end that rides the wave of positive experience. Remember, you don’t have to stretch it. 

      Yet it can be a story that ends in a flourish. Just be realistic. You could work with a small business online coach to make it easy for you.

      Here are the main parts of an Executive Summary example.

      This is the bigger story from your tag line. Include the service that you offer. Identify your typical customers. Show how your service fills your customers’ needs. It let’s readers know why your service is important to your customers and how you offer value. That’s how it transforms into a need.

      Most small businesses are sole ownerships. It’s easy to set up. You could have a sole owner Limited Liability Company (LLC). You could also have a partnership LLC. If it’s a partnership, you’ll have to describe the roles of each partner. If it’s not a partnership, you are the company and the company is you. That means that people know they are working with the top person in the firm.

      An LLC reduces the risk of liability. An S Corporation is flexible for taxes. It allows profits to flow directly to the owner. You have different tax rules. A C corporation is for larger companies. Lenders prefer C and S corporations because they live beyond the owner or top officer of the company.

      Show your road map from where you started to where you are now. Be clear about who you were when you started. Then show how you adapted to the market. That will highlight your personal achievement.

      After all, everything is about people, isn’t it? Money is real important to investors. Remember to include milestones related to cash flow, revenues and profits. They will thank you for it.

      Goals are results that you forecast you’ll achieve in the short-term, midterm and long-term. Short-term goals are ones you’d reach in 2 years. Midterm goals are ones from 2-5 years. Long-term goals show where you will reach in more than 5 years.

      The mission of your firm could be your tag line. For example, our firm has the mission to help people grow and businesses prosper.

      Your business vision answers the question “why”. It helps distill the future for your business beyond 5 years. It gives a purpose to all who connect with your business. It inspires people to reach the highest peak through a unique set of qualities they develop by working in your business. Your vision is your shining star on the hill.

      I’m sure you know by now that an executive summary example is your quick step to business plan success.

      If you need help writing a business plan, work with a small business advisor. Or, find a small business online coach. That's even better. You'll recover what you paid quicker than you think.

      Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Schedule your Explosive Business Results session now.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––“Explosive Business Coaching Houston Results For Small Business”. Want even faster results? Are you ready to learn? Call 281.410.5375 and speak to your Profitability Coach Houston

There are two types of small businesses. One set that work hard without sales results. And the second set that work less and yet get better sales.

You know why? As a Profitability Coach in Houston, I’m about to tell you. It has not been easy for me either. I admit I’ve made beaucoup mistakes in the past. And I learned over time.

The difference is in sales management for small business. The second set figured it out. They understood it has many moving parts. And they focused on collective results.

Sales managers who are successful focus on team results.  They deliver the best value to customers. Simultaneously they lift results for the entire team. 

Wouldn’t you agree it makes sense to create a win-win solution? I’m sure you’d want a solution that works well for you, your team as well as your customers...wouldn’t you?

So let’s dive in. Let’s assume you’re getting ready to talk to your prospect on the phone. Sales is about dealing with 3 levels. 

First you have the mental level. It’s the level that pulls your confidence in presenting your service or product. 

If you conquer this level, rest falls in place. If you don’t, you know it’s going to get harder to close. Here are some tips I’ve found useful.

For the best way to get leads, find out who has your customers. Then barter a deal with them to have a chance to talk to the same prospects.

Listen to music before you make the phone call or talk to prospects.

Smile while you talk, even if the other side is unfriendly on the call. It catches on quickly.

Remember, sales is about listening more and asking better questions.

Now, let’s dive deeper to level 2. This is the level on how to manage the conversation. Unpeel the orange. 

It’s about learning the triggers that help your future client overcome issues they currently face. If you don’t go deeper, you’ll never find out how bad status quo is for them.

To go deeper, you have to listen better. This is hard in the beginning because we hustle to talk, when we could ask questions instead.

Phrase questions in different ways. Use questions about situations sparingly. 

Finally, we get to level 3.

This level is about taking action. 

Most people think sales is about manipulation. That just isn’t true. Most people already know that without sales there will be no transaction or exchange of goods or services. 

So how do we make it painless?

What I’m about to tell you now may startle you. 

Sales is about service. Sales is about integrity and honesty. Sales is about leading your prospect to action so they could experience a better outcome from their purchase.

Follow up. Then follow up. Then follow up some more until the prospect makes a decision and knows there are two outcomes. Outcome one is to stay where they are. Outcome two is to start the countdown to a better future.

The choice always lies with the prospect. You have to shine the spotlight so they can see.

If you think these tips can make a difference in your small business, leave a note. I’d be happy to hear from you.

Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Schedule your Explosive Business Results session now.

Written by Suresh Iyengar, P.E., President, Business Unit Execution LLC––“Explosive Business Coaching Houston Results For Small Business”. Want even faster results? Are you ready to discover how? Call 281.410.5375 and speak to your Profitability Coach Houston