How We Can Help You With Strategic Planning & Growth Initiatives

Regardless of your business model or industry, the best way to approach strategic planning and business growth begins with a deep dive into your business plan. In this first step, you’ll analyze your vision for what your business offers to consumers and figure out the best way to bring that product or service to the market in a way that meets their needs.

No matter what you’re offering, it's vital to ensure that it not only adds value but also generates a profit. Equally important, you’ll need to consider how your product or service is presented to consumers – this isn’t just about how you promote the product; it's about how you plan on getting the product out. Are you a physical store? An online venture? Perhaps a mobile business or service provider? All of these factors come into play, and it’s essential to consider the associated costs with each choice, as well.

While there are many ways to approach strategic planning, I believe that the most effective method of action involves a careful analysis of your business plan. From there, you can formulate a strategy to achieve your goals in gradual, manageable steps. In fact, it’s my opinion that it’s essential to start with smaller actions – especially if your business isn’t yet fully capitalized. This way, you can develop strategies that ensure that you are reinvesting back into your business while you work towards your ultimate goals.

Unfortunately, many people who fail to strategize this way will start with a fixed amount of capital that is intended to sustain them through the first few months of operations – only to spend it all on labor or cost of goods without making sure that it will cover the first three to six months of operations. As a result, many new businesses find themselves financially depleted before the end of their first year.

The good news is that partnering with an advisor at Big Catch can help you devise a plan that optimizes your capital usage, preventing you from spreading your resources too thin and helping you create a strong foundation for your business to grow in a sustainable way.

Why Is It Important To Work With An Industry-Specific Consultant Who Has Hands-On “In The Trenches” Experience?

Working with an advisor who has hands-on experience in your industry is crucial because you need to have a perspective of how your product is going to get into the marketplace. As a business owner, there are a lot of unknowns – and, unfortunately, solving those unknowns isn’t as easy as searching for the answers on Google.

In my experience, business owners are passionate about what they’re doing, but too many aren’t really sure about how to get there. Fortunately, that’s exactly why I started Big Catch Consulting. I remember from personal experience what it was like to start a business without anyone to bounce my ideas off of. Today, I’m happy to provide entrepreneurs with the cautionary tales and insights that I have learned over the years. My end goal? To provide a sounding board, helping to guide you in a direction that will help you find the best results.

What Role Does A Consultant Play In Forming A Strategic Plan For Your Business?

I remember my approach as a new business owner: I just wanted to throw everything at the wall and see what would stick. Of course, I quickly found that this strategy rarely works. But the truth is, while I made a lot of mistakes as a young business owner… I've learned from them. That’s why I’ve focused my attention on consulting, so that I can help entrepreneurs like you avoid making the same mistakes that I did.

In many ways, the role of a business consultant reminds me of being a parent. You have this beautiful child who’s facing the world and you want to make sure that they don't go through the same things you went through. You want to give them the best chance at life possible and you envision them having everything that you never did. Of course, a good business consultant shouldn't try to make decisions for you in the same way that a parent may need to make decisions for their child. Even still, there’s a similarity in the partnership between a consultant and their client because you want to see them succeed.

As far as I’m concerned, that's the very definition of being a coach. As a business coach, I’m here to prepare you for the journey ahead, help you avoid any pitfalls you may or may not see, and do everything I can to make sure that you can reach your ultimate potential.

What Happens When You Start Working With A Business Consultant?

When we sit down for our first consultation, we’ll go over your business plan and see if you are able to effectively communicate your goals. At that point, we'll have a conversation to identify the most important aspects of these goals – and the order in which you’d like to achieve them. Next, we’ll look at whether or not you have the capital to make that happen.

Most people start a business with a financial estimate in mind, thinking they’ll need $100 thousand to make it happen. In a perfect world, this would work. In the real world, they almost always need double the amount, if not more. This isn’t because most entrepreneurs are unintelligent – it’s simply because there are countless aspects within a business plan that tend to cost much more than anticipated.

This is exactly where a business consultant steps in. By having someone on hand who understands the realities of starting and owning a business, you don’t have to get stuck in the mud later down the road. We’ll go through each step of your plan, “get under the hood”, look at the framework, and make sure that there is a clear picture of what your expectations should look like.

As an entrepreneur, it’s your job to dream big. As your advisor, it’s my job to help you get there. If you want to accomplish X, Y, and Z, I’m here to explain the A, B, and C of how it gets done. It’s also my job to explain that, if you’re not able to do A, B, and C, you may only be able to do X, or Y, or you may not ever be able to get to Z. I’m not here to sugarcoat the truth, I’m here to help you devise a realistic plan that will take you from where you are to where you want to be.

What Is The Relationship Between An Entrepreneur And A Business Advisor Like?

The relationship between an entrepreneur and a business advisor is a partnership. And just like I tell my clients who are in business partnerships like LLCs and S-Corps, these partnerships are like a marriage. You may not always get along with your partner, but if you can work with them to achieve a common goal, you’re going to come out on top.

At the end of the day, the core essence of an advisor is having their client’s back, acting as a protector, an enforcer, and a trusted guide. You should always be able to turn to your advisor for advice, especially when you encounter challenges and complexities in your business. This way, instead of trying to face these issues on your own, you get guidance that is thoughtful, informed, and always formed with your best financial interests in mind. For more information on Strategic Planning & Growth Initiatives, an initial consultation is your next best step.