A coordinated effort employing a combination of several approaches with business planning tools should prove to be the most effective strategy. To solve complicated problems, complex solutions will usually be required. Often the result will be a series of planning and management steps that can take a few months (and perhaps years) for completion. Any business consulting expert that portrays the problem-solving process as quick and easy should generally be avoided by small business owners.
For a company that is not experiencing one or more substantial problems, the need for new business planning tools is rarely a high priority. However even for the most healthy business, contingency plans are advisable. Recent examples of banks suddenly eliminating commercial mortgage loans programs with little or no advance notice serve as sharp illustrations of the value of contingency planning for business financing. Unfortunately changes can continue to occur with little warning due to the level of chaos that currently prevails throughout commercial banking.
There are rarely simple solutions for complex problems. The current difficulties for small business owners are a growing challenge. For most businesses, similar circumstances have not been seen during the past several decades. Without at least some outside help, even a highly experienced business owner is likely to be missing enough direct experience to make it through the maze of current problems and changes.
The disturbing number of changes which have occurred throughout the business world recently support the growing need for business management and consulting tools. Most small business owners will not have enough technical skills and information to adequately address many of the complex change factors impacting business financing and commercial mortgage financing. When they discover that many banks have imposed significant fee increases for their commercial finance services, finding effective (and less costly) alternatives for business funding services will prove difficult for even the most skilled borrower. Because they are different as well as new approaches to replace traditional bank financing, viable business finance alternatives can seem confusing.
Because of cost issues, many small businesses will often not consider business consulting even when serious problems are acknowledged. For this or any other corporate service, costs cannot be ignored. This is particularly true in the current economic environment because very few businesses have substantial discretionary funds to cover new business expenses. In order to either make money or reduce costs, it will nevertheless be necessary sometimes for a business to spend money like this.
Small business owners have probably already been searching for additional management tools to help them deal with recent financial conditions. Business finance consulting and planning are likely to be among the most effective alternatives. To cope with reduced sales volume, various strategies for cost control will also be helpful for most small businesses.
