Take a look at some of the work we have previously carried out
Who
A well-established Occupational Health company that had a new business owner.
The Challenge
The owner was very successful in “corporate” life but was not accustomed to the lack of infrastructure in the family business. The owner needs a sounding board and mentor to discuss the multiple problems that they faced.
How we helped
We carried out a diagnostic of the business and worked with the management team to engage them with the vision and objectives of the company.
We worked with them to introduce the processes and reporting that were missing and enabled the owner to establish a dashboard with the key performance indicators for the business. We established an action plan to create a sustainable and scalable company that was not dependent on the business owner. Although the initial challenge was that the business owner needed a mentor to talk to we uncovered together all the other aspects of business development and growth which enabled progress and success.
Who
A very successful Digital Marketing business.
The Challenge
The owner was enjoying the monetary success from the business, but the hours that he worked came at a cost to his health.
How we helped
Upon presentation of our business diagnostic, it was apparent that the business was completely run by the directors. There was a pressing need to delegate, develop staff and processes. We established an action plan to create a sustainable and scalable company that was not dependent on the business owner. Although the initial challenge was that the business owner needed to be held accountable, together we uncovered all the other aspects of business development and growth which enable progress and success.
Who
Team Engagement company run by two young dynamic directors/owners it’s third year of operation.
The Challenge
The business owners had grown the business successfully over the three years but were experiencing classic problems that we routinely find with our clients. They were working far too many hours, with too many clients that didn’t value them. They found that they often discounted their rates, resulting in working harder for ever-decreasing returns and cash flow worries.
How we helped
We worked with them to quantify the tremendous return on investment that they were producing for their clients. We identified the “A” type of clients that they worked best with, produced the best results for, and who appreciated and valued them. We documented their features and benefits and established a rigorous sales process. We engaged the whole team with the vision and processes required to produce consistently good results. The outcome was that they were able to double their prices, only work with people that they enjoyed working with and had time to enjoy the fruits of their hard work. In summary, they had more time more money and more fun!
Who
The Business Owner had identified the opportunity to systemise transitioning small and micro-businesses’ IT to the cloud and to enable them to benefit from the change in the same way as major businesses. His key insight was the realisation that by delivering all aspects of the transition, the journey becomes manageable for the Client – and there is good revenue for the Company as a supplier.
With IT that just works, Client IT spend can be focused on Business Systems, efficiencies – and then competitive advantage. In many ways, the Company delivers the first steps towards effective Business Development: With measurement built into systems; test, measure and improve becomes a natural process…
The Challenge
To crystallise the Business strategy – from route to market to Company structure. To identify and implement the necessary actions and to keep them in sequence as the customer base grows. To see the key breakpoints at which infrastructure needs to come into place in a timely fashion and to make the call on them.
How we helped
Having worked with the Business Owner to clarify the Business Strategy, our key role was to act as the private sounding board, staying close to the business and to the Business Owner whilst maintaining objectivity and challenging him to keep all aspects of the Business aligned for growth. Although the initial challenge presented as that of Business Strategy, we are covering together all the other aspects of Business Development which enable progress and success.
Who
The Business Owners had created a very successful and profitable payroll services business. So successful that they were both working 80 plus hours per week. There were trust issues with the staff which were magnified by the grey-tinted glasses of exhaustion. The Owner’s hourly rate was not as good as it looked on paper. And the huge potential of the business was not being exploited.
The Challenge
To deliver on delegation and refocus the Business Owners on developing the Business itself rather than carrying out day-to-day client work.
How we helped
Identifying where the Business Owners’ time was actually being spent and then training key staff in the functions and capabilities which made it possible for them to take over these tasks. This then, combined with systemisation of workflows and activities and a Customer Relationship Management system which provided a platform for all other systems in the business to interact.
Although the initial challenge presented as that of delegation, we uncovered together all the other aspects of Business Development and growth which enable progress and success. The business has subsequently been sold at a full valuation.
Who
Maven Advisory had retained a Private Investment Fund as a client. The Fund specialised in purchasing small businesses in the £5 to £25 million enterprise value range from retiring business owners.
The Challenge
Our brief was to:
- Assist them in finding suitable targets to buy
- Shortlist the targets Meet the board of the target to see if there was any appetite to sell
- If there was, introduce the target to our client
- Assist the board with pre and post-acquisition integration
How we helped
As a result of the process, the client had an obvious need for multiple funding requirements to assist in effecting the purchases. Each transaction had a different mix but required to following types of funding:
- Asset-based lending
- Factoring and Invoice Discounting
- Building loans
- Sourcing external investors
Maven Advisory assisted the client in approaching acquisition targets and lenders as and when the need arose.
Who
The client was a Plant and Equipment Hire Business. Turnover circa £2 million. The business had been operating for over 20 years and specialised in hiring plant and equipment internal for use in shopping centres, auditoriums, convention centres and large commercial showrooms.
The Challenge
Although a very profitable business, the client had, for many years been suffering from an easily avoidable cash flow problem due to poor practice around how clients were offered trade credit, tardy invoicing of clients, and the length of time clients these large clients took to pay.
How we helped
Maven Advisory approached our client’s own bank to set up a Factoring facility for the client whereby the client received 80% of the invoice value within 48 hours of billing. This, combined with streamlining the overall invoicing system and hiring an additional person to oversee this area (instead of the owner doing it), put an end to the cash flow issue for good.
Who
The client was a commercial landscaping and gardening business which had been in business for over 10 years. Turnover circa £1 million.
The Challenge
The business already had a substantial overdraft when we retained the client in approximately 2008 – 2009 at the beginning of the global economic crisis. During this time the client’s bank was conducting a review of their entire portfolio of clients with overdrafts, with a view to substantially reducing them or calling them in all together. They had made contact with our client to have just such a review.
How we helped
Due to the quality of the management and financial reporting systems that Maven Advisory had assisted the company in installing into the business over time, the bank decided to make an exception and keep the overdraft limit unchanged. In fact, they offered to increase it.
