Further Information

United Kingdom

Business Support

Typical Needs and Problem Areas

According to some statistics in the last few years, 99.5% of all businesses in most western economies employ fewer than 200 people, 98% employ fewer than 50 people and 96.4% employ fewer than 20 people. These figures clearly illustrate the importance of independent businesses in the economy, but equally many such businesses fail within the first three years of starting - in fact only 15% actually make it beyond this point.

The Issues

Ongoing feedback from thousands of independent businesses reveals that the greatest problems recognised by their managing directors/owners are:

Cash flow
Funding
Keeping up to date with information
Lack of exit strategy
Lack of time
Lack of up-to-date information
Legislation (e.g. Employment, Health & Safety)
Loneliness
Loss of original vision for the business
Marketing
Profitability
Sales

The Management 'Gap'

Feedback also shows that managing directors / owners of small to medium sized businesses generally have to:

know everything
keep up with everything, and
do nearly everything themselves.

But business people cannot be expected to 'know what they don't know'. Importantly, it's not just the lack of knowledge or experience that can be a limiting factor, but also the available time to be effective in doing what needs to be done. More often than not, the need is for practical hands-on assistance.

Practical advice that works

From research gained from face to face meetings with owners/managers of independent businesses, it is understood that there simply aren't enough hours in the day to focus on non-profitable activities. The day to day needs of the business must be taken care of, whilst the right solution is implemented.