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How to Choose a Business Consultant

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Choose a business consultant|How to Choose a Business ConsultantSelecting a business consultant who meets your needs as a company can be challenging. It’s critical to know where to start and to go step by step until you find the perfect fit. Whether you’re seeking assistance with high-level strategy requirements or a specialized, problem-solving expert to enhance your SEO or product-sourcing operation, here are a few tips to guide you.

1. Use the Networks You Already Have

Using your current networks can speed up the search for a business or management consultant. Generic evaluations or reviews are less trustworthy than a referral from a coworker, partner, or another business owner who was in a comparable situation. Inquire with your contacts to find out if they know of any specialists in the area who can help with your particular issue.

2. Look Into Specialized Markets

Check out specialized online marketplaces that can help you find consultants by area, topic, and budget. There are plenty of helpful websites. Use social media sites like LinkedIn to expand your search. Usually, a consultant’s expertise can be determined by how many referrals they have received. Look closely at the top results after searching for terms associated with your problem.

3. Ask Questions

Do not be afraid to ask questions about your consultant’s experience, methodology, and—most importantly—the results of their consulting work. Your consultant may give you a unique perspective on the long-term effects of adopting their recommendations. They help you look beyond the immediate benefits.


4. Ask About Their Background and Credentials

Examine the consultant’s résumé, education history, and industry-specific credentials. If they are eager to research new learning opportunities and update their skills, that’s a positive indicator. Ask about their practical experience. Do they know anything more than you if they are a consultant who just graduated from college? Consider seeking advisors who have effectively owned or managed small firms, large corporations, or relevant departments.

Make sure their background relates to your industry. Even though a former bank CEO may seem impressive, do they have the skills and background necessary to make your cupcake shop a successful small business? They might, but this consultant might be a better fit if your company is also looking at a former restaurant owner who now earns a living helping small eateries grow. Look for experts who have experience with firms and your industry.

5. Check Out Their Track Record

You want a consultant who has succeeded with businesses similar to yours, not just one with the necessary experience. Request references and ask for the consultant’s portfolio or list of the companies they have worked with. Find a consultant with experience in growing businesses that are very similar to yours or helping businesses overcome the types of issues you are facing. You can then get in touch with those firms to find out if they were happy with the consultant’s services.

6. Create a Contract

Once you have the right person for the job, you must ensure that you have a defensive contract. A good contract must entail the following:

    • The start and end dates
    • Work and payment milestones
    • The consultant’s activities in detail
    • The level of support after the end of your engagement
    • Reasons to void the contract
    • Options to extend your contract

If you’re looking for a business consultant, take advantage of the above tips to find the right one. While there are many options in the industry, they aren’t always suitable for you. You must research before signing a contract.

Outsource for Proactive Business Solutions

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article |Business Solutions|Outsource for Proactive Business SolutionsYou know who you are. You are an entrepreneur. A great idea has taken hold, and you cannot shake it off. The realization that you are onto something big has begun to set in. Now it is time to innovate and ideate to create something special – a company of your own. To move towards a profitable endeavor, however, you will need to find your helpers and partners to grow, especially at the outset. Here are some tips to help you get started on your path to great things.

Outsource What You Can

When you are just starting your business you probably do not have a lot, if any, employees other than yourself. Perhaps you have a business partner. Regardless, you are not in the position to tackle it all by yourself. There simply is not enough time in one day to do everything required of you. In addition, you need to have specific skill sets to accomplish certain tasks. Do not fret, however, there is a multitude of tasks you can outsource to professionals. Here are a few:

  • Payroll – As you are expanding your business, you will be adding employees to your staff. You know that you need to pay them, of course, but do you know the intricacies of payroll taxes, IRS forms, Social Security Administration rules, and withholdings, to name a few? If the answer is no, then your solution is to engage in payroll outsourcing. Payroll outsourcing consists of a third party providing services for compliance and the administrative tasks involved with paying your employees (and you, too). They do everything mentioned above in addition to handling direct deposit or paycheck printing, calculating time sheets, and accrued vacation time, etc.
  • Legal – When drawing up your new company’s business plan, some legal necessities and questions will undoubtedly arise. When this occurs, will you be the authority on business law who can provide guidance? Probably not. You do not want to run afoul of the law at the inception of your company or miss out on proper procedure and opportunity due to a lack of understanding on your part. Outsourcing legal advice is advantageous because you do not need to stay on top of the latest changes in laws that may affect your business. The third-party legal team will do that for you. It is their role to do their due diligence and stay up to date on laws related to the scope of your business. They will advise you on any needs you require if you choose to expand or change the course of your company, as well.
  • Cleaning – If you have a small office, it may not seem prudent to hire a cleaning service. Before you dismiss the notion, consider whether you have time to keep your space sanitary and looking like it should. If not, hiring a professional cleaning service will afford you a clean space to work in and meet clients.


Your clients and staff do not want to work or sit in a grimy breakroom. No one wants to use a dirty bathroom. The options are for you to clean the office and bathroom yourself, for your staff to do it, or to outsource. First impressions and employee satisfaction matter, especially when it comes to cleanliness.

Watch this video for some pros and cons involving the outsourcing process.

Outsourcing is a viable and practical solution when you are growing your business. Find the companies that will benefit you most and take tasks off of your plate so you can focus on the business at hand – your business.

The Best Reasons to Make a Change of Direction in Your Career

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StrategyDriven Professional Development Article |Career Change|The Best Reasons to Make a Change of Direction in Your CareerIf you’re going to make a significant change in your career, it’s important to go about it in the correct and proper way. A big part of that is knowing why going ahead with such a change is right for you. It’s certainly not the kind of decision you want to make without ever really thinking it through.

With that in mind, we’re going to talk today about some of the most important reasons to make a change of direction in your career. If you’re experiencing any of the issues discussed below, it’s certainly a good idea to at least think about changing the direction of your career in the years ahead. So read on to find out more about those reasons.

Your Current Position Isn’t Making You Happy

If your current role simply isn’t making you happy, that’s definitely a good reason to make a change in your career. Everyone deserves to do a job that makes them happy on some level, and if that isn’t happening right now, you certainly should make a change. Your career takes up a lot of the time you have available to you each day, so if it’s a drag on your mood that’s definitely not okay.

You Think It’s Time to Follow Your Passion

It’s definitely a good idea to follow your passion if that’s something that you find important. Of course, you have to be realistic and ensure you have a realistic path to where you want to be in terms of your career path. Creating a plan and finding realistic paths to the career you want for yourself is important. If your dream is incredibly unrealistic, it might not be financially prudent for you to pursue it. But if you have a plan to get to where you want to be, go for it.

You Feel as if a New Challenge is Needed

We all need a challenge every now and again. If your current career path is boring you and not testing you in any way, it’s very easy to start to feel restless. Without those regular challenges, it’s very easy to get downhearted and unhappy with your situation in general. Finding a new path in your career might present you with more of a challenge that gives you something to get excited about.


Your Values and Priorities Have Changed

People change over time, and there’s nothing at all wrong with that. If you feel like the values and priorities that led you to your current career path are no longer relevant to you, it might be time to look for new opportunities elsewhere. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging that things have changed and that you now need something different.

You Want to Make More of a Positive Impact

Wanting to make a positive impact on the world is not an unusual feeling. Lots of people feel that way and they want to feel as if their career is having an overall positive impact on the world. If you feel that your current career path is not doing that, it might be time for you to make a change if that’s something that matters to you. Maybe you want to help people by doing a job in the medical field. Or maybe you always wanted to complete a Veterinary Technician degree and help animals. There’s a wealth of options out there.

You Feel Like You’ve Stopped Growing

When you feel like your job isn’t helping you to grow as a professional or as a person, it can be quite depressing. We all want to grow and improve as people as time passes, and there’s nothing wrong with being unhappy when that’s not happening. So it might be time to look for growth opportunities elsewhere.

You Lack Any Drive When Heading to Work in the Morning

If you get up in the morning and immediately dread the thought of heading into the office, that’s a sign that you’re certainly not in the right job and maybe not in the right career at all. If you lack that drive and you don’t feel any desire to start work each morning, change might be needed.

As you can see, there are lots of reasons why you might want to change direction in your career. If you feel like any of the points above apply to you, it might be time for you to think about the direction you need to take next. There’s nothing wrong with making a change in your career when one is needed.

The Benefits of Understanding Blockchain Technology

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StrategyDriven Entrepreneurship Article | The Benefits of Understanding Blockchain TechnologyThere are many benefits to understanding Blockchain Technology, and a few things to keep in mind. It can streamline trade finance deals across borders and improve record keeping. Unfortunately, it’s also vulnerable to hackers.

It Can Be Used to Streamline Trade Finance Deals Across Borders.

One of the biggest pain points for businesses is the inability to process trade finance deals quickly and efficiently across borders. Manual documentation and slow processes can delay transactions, disrupting business. Blockchain technology can streamline this process and make it easier for companies to transact across borders.

Banks are already using blockchain technology to improve the financial system and increase efficiency. For example, Brock Pierce established Blockchain Capital, the first sector-focused venture fund that only invests in businesses using Blockchain technology. As a result, it reduces the number of intermediaries in the process and eliminates the need for manual settlements.

Blockchain technology can also be used to confirm cross-border securities transactions. In addition, because Blockchain is a distributed system where multiple computers are linked, it prevents tampering with the data. As a result, blockchain technology reduces the time it takes for securities transactions to settle.

It Can Be Used to Secure Financial Transactions

Blockchain technology can secure financial transactions by providing financial institutions with real-time tracking of customer transactions and identifying suspicious transactions. This technology can improve existing processes that result in losing money and assets. It can optimize financial infrastructure globally and transfer assets more effectively than current systems. Research has shown that Blockchain can reduce costs and lead to significant changes in the financial industry in the long term.

Financial services should consider the impact of Blockchain adoption on their core activities before moving forward with this technology. For instance, companies not primarily in the banking industry should avoid taking risks by moving into this new market. Additionally, companies should consider the energy costs of Blockchain solutions. A large amount of electricity is required for the process. Therefore, a company should consider the energy supply in its area before implementing the technology.

Blockchain technology can help banks secure financial transactions by eliminating the need for centralized databases. Currently, banks invest in centralized databases, which have a high purchase and maintenance cost. In addition, banks must also deal with the risk of human operation and bookkeeping. By eliminating these risks, banks can focus on securing financial transactions.


It Can Be Used to Improve Record Keeping

The use of Blockchain technology in healthcare can have a profound impact on record keeping and patient care. It provides enhanced transparency and safety in the record keeping process, allowing physicians to focus more time on patients. It also enhances clinical trials and treatments by enabling smooth data exchange among healthcare providers. This can result in improved diagnostic precision, efficient therapies, and cost-effective ecosystems in the healthcare industry. With Blockchain technology, organizations involved in the healthcare ecosystem can communicate with one another and exchange information on a shared leader. It also allows users to monitor the actions of other users within the system.

Blockchain is often defined as a decentralized, sequential ledger in which the entries are connected through cryptographic links and stored in a distributed, peer-to-peer computer network. Blockchain is a fast-evolving technology that has the potential to introduce new forms of records and record keeping modalities. This emerging technology is being explored in virtually every country in the world. Consequently, record managers must be prepared to adapt their current record keeping practices to this new technology.

Can be Hacked

Blockchain technology is vulnerable to hacking, as it relies on a decentralized public ledger. This ledger is visible to every stakeholder in the network, including attackers. This makes it important for the Bitcoin industry to ensure the security of digital wallets and safe exchanges. Blockchain was once touted as unhackable, but recent hack attacks have shown that the system is not invulnerable.

Hackers have exploited the vulnerability of blockchain technology by targeting smaller currencies and exchanges. These hacks are relatively cheap and have shown the vulnerability of the system. However, most cryptocurrency hacks still rely on malware and phishing attacks, which do not require a hacking tool. Because these attacks are so low-cost, they are still relatively easy to pull off. To prevent this attack, users should ensure they use secure wallets and encrypt their data.

Although blockchain technology makes hacking difficult, stealing assets and manipulating transactions is possible.

Benefits of outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping services

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Outsourcing accounting and bookkeeping|Benefits of outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping servicesThe world has become a global village, and businesses must operate in a competitive market. And this has led to enterprises needing ways to reduce their costs while maintaining a high-quality level. One way of doing this is by outsourcing their accounting and bookkeeping services.

According to a report by Forbes, “Outsourcing can help businesses reduce costs by up to 30%.”

There are many benefits of outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping services. Here are just a few:

1. Cost savings:

As mentioned above, cost savings is one of the main benefits of outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping services. When you outsource these services, you will no longer need to hire full-time employees to do the work. It can lead to significant cost savings for your business. You can find many reputable and affordable accounting and bookkeeping services online. You can search with the city or state name and “accounting firms” to get started or look for national firms that operate in your area.

Many leading firms in California are prominent for their cost-effective services. However, it would help if you were careful when selecting a firm. Check the reviews of the firm and its services before hiring them. Luckily the Sacramento accounting firm Busy Bee Advisors provides a hassle-free and cost-effective solution for any business. With the recent surge in demand by startups in California, it has become one of the most sought-after firms in the state.

2. Improved quality:

Quality is always a concern when businesses outsource their services. However, when you outsource your accounting and bookkeeping services to a reputable firm, you can be assured of receiving high-quality services. The firm will have a team of experienced professionals who can provide you with accurate and up-to-date financial reports. And it will help you make better decisions for your business.

But how is this different from in-house accounting? Anyone can do in-house accounting with some basic training. However, it is unlikely that they will have the same level of expertise as someone who has worked in the field for many years. It is important to outsource your accounting and bookkeeping services to experienced professionals. However, this does not mean that you should not monitor the progress. You should still review the reports and statements before making any decisions.

3. Save time:

Another benefit of outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping services is that it will help you to save time. It is because you will no longer need to spend time training employees or doing the work yourself. You can use this time to focus on other aspects of your business. It will help you to grow your business and achieve your goals. In fact, according to a study, companies that outsource can grow faster than those that don’t. And the reason for this is simple: businesses that outsource these services have more time to focus on their core competencies.

4. Focus on your core competencies:

As mentioned above, when you outsource your accounting and bookkeeping services, you will have more time to focus on your core competencies. It is because you will no longer need to spend time on activities unrelated to your business. For example, if you are a marketing company, you will no longer need to spend time on accounting and bookkeeping. You can use this time to focus on marketing activities that will help you to grow your business. It will help you to achieve a competitive advantage in the market. Also, you can focus on your customers by outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping services. It is because you will no longer need to worry about financial reports and statements.


5. Access to the latest technology:

According to a study by the International Data Corporation, the global accounting and bookkeeping software market by the year 2025 will reach $11.3 billion. It is because more and more businesses are adopting cloud-based accounting and bookkeeping software. This software offers many benefits, such as real-time reporting, improved security, and scalability. When you outsource your accounting and bookkeeping services, you will be able to get access to the latest technology. It will help you to improve your business processes and make better decisions.

6. Increased flexibility:

The more you grow your business, the more you will need to scale up your accounting and bookkeeping services. It is because your business will generate more transactions and data. When you outsource your accounting and bookkeeping services, you can scale up or down as needed. It is because you will only be paying for your required services. It will help you to save money and be more flexible in your business operations. In addition, you can also choose to outsource only certain aspects of your accounting and bookkeeping services. For example, you can outsource your payroll services but keep your accounts receivable and accounts payable in-house. It will help you to save money and be more efficient in your business operations. You might also try accounting automation.

7. Improved cash flow:

As the saying goes, “Cash is king.” It is especially true in businesses. You can improve your cash flow when outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping services. It is because you will have more time to focus on activities that will generate revenue for your business. Also, you can save money on your accounting and bookkeeping services. It is because you can get discounts from your service provider. In addition, you can also improve your cash flow by delaying payments to your service provider. It is because you will have more time to generate revenue and pay your service provider. However, you should only do this if you are confident that you can generate the revenue to pay your service provider.

Conclusion

The way you manage your finances can make or break your business. It is why it’s essential to have a good accounting and bookkeeping system in place. However, you can always outsource your accounting and bookkeeping services if you lack time or resources. Outsourcing these services can offer many benefits, such as improved efficiency, flexibility, and cash flow. Now that you know the benefits of outsourcing your accounting and bookkeeping services, you can decide if this is the right solution for your business.