Want to start a business? There is a guideline, that how to proceed with, and how to get a better advice.
When you buy a cell phone, how do you make the choice?
You may ask your friends for the best device with the specifications you need and they have used or having knowledge of.
You may ask your tech friends who you think have complete knowledge in the area.
You may go through reviews online ….. and at last you get enough advices to make you totally confused then how you make the CHOICE in that circumstances?
You jot down the points you have got in the form of those advices, pick some of reviews of your best friends based on their own experiences, you look at your budget and then you make a decision.
I am sure while buying that cell phone you look convinced but actually you are not, but you make a decision and buy the cell phone convincing yourself that you have brought the best cell phone.
When you research this much for buying a cell phone then why not when you are going to make a much bigger investment than buying a cell phone. Your money; trust; confidence; acumen and TIME.
Here some tips to seek a better advice, professional consultancy for your starting business:
1. Adviser or Marketer?
When you look for adviser for your business, you will get a lot of, as in the case of buying cell phone.
You just inquire on a website or through call to an office of a professional or professionals listed on online yellow pages. You will start getting notifications, calls day and night and lesser your response bigger the discount they will offer for their services.
You just stop and think! Are you looking for marketers or adviser?
How to identify the true and competent professional / adviser?
1. If you need X services then after talking about X services, initiate the talk about Y and Z services as well, a marketer will easily convince you that he/ she can deliver.
2. Ask him for details on X services and carefully listen to him
3. Ask for prices and any discount, keep this remember marketers always have discount facility
4. Ask for some references and previously performed jobs
2. Competency
It’s not easy to assess the competency level of any professional in the very first interaction. Here is a way you can use to assess the same. Always look at his qualification and practice area for competency.
If the fee to be paid is a big amount, first give him a job or ask for advice, which requires professional skill but can be obtained in a very lesser professional fee.
As writing a business plan, sector analysis, consumer behavior, branding and IPR suggestions etc.
If you are confused among two or three professionals you have selected out of many, you can meet them personally one by one for initial consultancy, by paying a basic consultancy fee to assess their competency in the field you are going to operate. Best friend’s advice may also serve the purpose.
3. Online reviews
You can also go through the online reviews about the services of the professional you have selected.
You carefully go through all or maximum reviews to ascertain, that, in which services he’s got positive appraisal/ compliments, this will help you to ascertain, that the field you are going to operate, your would be business adviser deals competently or not, or he has just said to you that he serves in the field, he is not actually.
4. Call references
Call or ask reviewers, call the references, mail them and ask for their genuine review.
By FCS Anupam Jaiswal
