Business Services

Every business is, by definition, a money making machine
 
    Isn’t that why you are in business?.Whether or not the “machine" will actually make money, depends how well the machine runs. A well designed and well oiled machine will produce more than it consumes. On the other hand, a poorly constructed or neglected machine will cost more to run than it produces.
 
If your business machine is not making money, re-design it, replace it, or call a business mechanic.
 
We Can Help
 
      1-      Clarify, define, and validate your business model, vision and strategy
2-      Identify obstacles that are blocking the efficient execution of your business model
3-      Get you on the way to profitability and growth
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Define your business model, vision and strategy: The business model is how you intend to create business value and make money; the vision is where you see your business doing and going now, and into the future. The strategy is how you plan to achieve your vision.
 
This is the most important step you must take, before any other, to ensure a solid foundation for your business. Our effort in assisting you here focuses on these points:
  

Examining and validating your business model: Often times, the business idea sounds good, but without examining sources of revenue, demand for your products or services, competitive advantages, market share, and the market perception, you may be taking an unnecessary risk. Sometimes the business model works well for years, but conditions do changes. We can also assist you with making the needed adjustments, so you can become even more successful. Here are the five factors that affect your business model:

    • Value Proposition
    • Market Segment
    • Value Chain
    • Revenue Generation & Margins
    • Business Environment

 
1. Value Proposition
 
Identify the customer pain points, needs, or problems. Does your product or service address one of the basic human needs? (As defined by Abraham Maslow), the basic human needs are; Physiological needs, Safety & Security needs, Social needs - Esteem, Aesthetic needs, Self-transcendence. As an example; safety and Security needs include:

    Personal security, Financial security, Health and well-being, Safety net against accidents/illness and their adverse impacts

  • Clearly indicate how the product or services addresses that problem.
  • Quantify the ‘value’ of the product from the customer’s perspective.
  • Value may not be related to your cost (think of the value of the bottle of water, if you are thirsty, you would be willing to pay more for it)  


2. Market Segment

  • Identify the specific group(s) of customers you will target.
  • Examine why you have chosen the specific market segment (market size, affluence, growing trends, unfilled need, etc..)
  • Quantify the market size in term in actual dollar returns

3. Value Chain
 
   A value chain is a chain of activities. A product or a service passes through all activities of the chain in order, and at each activity the product or service gains some value. The chain of activities gives the products more added value than the sum of added values of all activities    

  • Do you need support/partnership for a supplier, a service provider or a manufacturer?
  • Where does your business sit in the value chain?
  • Can you go direct-to-customer?
  • If you are reliant on others, how will you capture your part of the value created?   

4. Revenue Generation

  • How is revenue generated?
  • One-time purchase?
  • Seasonal?
  • Subscriptions?
  • Advertising?
  • How does that tie back to the value chain?
  • What is your cost structure?
  • What are your target profit margins ?

 
5. Business Environment

  • Who are your competitors?
  • How much customer resistance?
  • Who complements your business?
  • Are currents trends helping or hurting (e.g.; “going green” vs. a tobacco shop)
  • What is your competitive advantage
  • Examples: Costs, product differentiation, market insight, superior execution or niche strategy. 

 

 Read more about adjusting your business model here

Businessways: Action-focused Small Business Consulting