 In today’s fast-paced world, change is happening everywhere—from the economy to technology, and even how we do business. Knowing when and how to adapt can mean the difference between stagnation and growth. Whether you’re running a large corporation, a micro-enterprise, or launching a new start-up, embracing change is crucial to achieving your business goals. Here’s how you can start:
1. Assess Your Financial Needs Before exploring funding options, it’s vital to conduct a thorough business health check. This step allows you to evaluate your current financial position, identify areas for improvement, and set a clear roadmap for the future. If you’re wondering, “Where can I raise funds for my business?”, consider these options:
2. Develop a Business Growth Plan With your funding options identified, it’s time to turn your vision into action by creating a comprehensive business development plan. This plan should focus on:
3. Improve Business Performance Continuous improvement is key to staying competitive. Here are some actionable strategies:
If you’re thinking, “I need help to start or grow my business,” reaching out to a business advisor or consultant can make all the difference. Experts can provide personalised advice, help you develop robust business investment plans, and connect you to funding opportunities. Don’t hesitate to seek guidance when navigating complex challenges or pursuing ambitious goals. 5. Leverage Local Resources Located in Romford, Essex, we’re here to support entrepreneurs in Romford, Havering, and surrounding London boroughs. We can connect you with fellow business owners, potential investors, and local resources to empower your journey. Our mission is to help businesses like yours thrive through guidance, networking, and tailored support. Embrace Change for Business Success Change is not just inevitable—it’s essential for growth. By proactively assessing your needs, securing the right funding, and implementing effective strategies, you can set your business on the path to sustainable success. Whether you’re seeking equity funding, start-up loans, or expert advice, the first step starts today. Let’s Talk About Your Business Goals If you need support with any of these areas—or anything else related to your business—contact us today at 0333 355 1696 or email us at [email protected]. Let’s work together to turn change into opportunity! 7 ways a Finance and Business Consultant Can Transform Your SME: Key Insights for Growth12/11/2024  Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of any economy, yet they often face significant hurdles on their path to success. Challenges around raising finance, scaling, and developing effective business growth strategies can be difficult to overcome without professional guidance. For SMEs partnering with a business consultancy can be a game-changer. In this post, we’ll discuss how finance and business consultants can help SMEs like yours achieve transformational growth. 1. Accessing Finance for Your SME Access to finance is essential for any business seeking to grow. However, navigating funding options can be daunting. Business Consultants provide SMEs with targeted help to raise finance, connecting them with relevant resources, funding options, and investors who specialize in small business development. Types of Funding Available for SMEs:
If you’ve been wondering, "Where can I raise finance for my business?" a business consultancy can answer that question and walk you through each stage of securing funds. 2. Conducting a Business Health Check Understanding your company’s current standing is the first step in formulating a successful growth strategy. Business Consultants often offer business health checks, which evaluate everything from cash flow and financial metrics to operational efficiency and employee productivity. These assessments provide a detailed picture of your business's strengths and areas needing improvement, offering actionable insights to set a robust foundation for growth. Once a business health check has been completed, a consultant can recommend business performance strategies that address these areas and pave the way for sustained improvement. 3. Developing Business Performance Strategies For SMEs looking to grow, having clear, results-oriented business improvement strategies is essential. Consultants can recommend personalised strategies for improvement tailored to your business’s unique needs, including:
Implementing these strategies can set your business on a path to outperform competitors and strengthen its market position. 4. Crafting Business Growth and Expansion Plans Creating comprehensive business growth plans and business expansion strategies is a core strength of many Consultants. These plans provide a roadmap for scaling up your operations, entering new markets, or launching new products and services. For SMEs, an experienced business advisor can help develop a well-structured business growth plan that includes the following:
By setting achievable goals and establishing key milestones, these plans provide structure to your business’s growth journey. 5. Leveraging Advisory and Brokerage Services Business consultants are not only advisors but also connectors. With extensive networks, they provide advisory and brokerage services to connect you with investors, partners, and professionals who can support your SME’s growth. This network access is often invaluable, especially for SMEs that lack established industry connections. For example, a consultancy might link you to business angels, venture capitalists, or financial institutions that understand your industry and are open to providing the funding you need to grow. This personalized approach to networking helps ensure you find the right partners and resources at each stage of your business journey. 6. Recommendations and Suggestions for Long-Term Improvement Consultants don't just focus on short-term gains; they offer recommendations to improve business performance in the long run. Some of these suggestions for business improvement include implementing sustainable practices, investing in employee training, and staying adaptive to technological changes. Ongoing advisory services provide a safety net, allowing SMEs to regularly assess their progress and make adjustments as needed. With a business consultant by your side, you’re better equipped to meet both current demands and future challenges head-on. 7. Transform Your SME with Expert Guidance If you’re based in Romford, Havering, Essex, or surrounding London areas and are thinking, “I need help to start my business” or “I need help to grow my business,” engaging a business consultancy could be your key to unlocking growth potential. By following a structured approach that includes raising finance, improving business performance, crafting growth strategies, and connecting with valuable networks, Consultants offer SMEs the tools to overcome obstacles and achieve their ambitions. Whether you need a business start-up loan or are looking to improve small business performance, the right consultancy can provide the tailored support necessary for success. Conclusion: A business consultancy can be the catalyst that helps you transform your SME, addressing your unique challenges with actionable and feasible insights and access to the correct critical resources that align with your business. From developing business investment plans to suggesting ways to improve business performance, a consultant’s expertise can provide the support your SME needs to thrive in a competitive marketplace. Don’t let the common hurdles of SME growth hold you back—partner with a consultancy, and let your business reach new heights. If you need any advice, support or help with any of the above, give us a call today on 0333 355 1696 or send us a message at [email protected] Business Loans Romford | Business Loans Hornchurch | Business Loans Brentwood
Business Loans Barking | Business Loans Dagenham | Business Loans Ilford Business Loans Stratford | Business Loans London  Starting or growing a business is a significant decision, one that requires careful thought and planning. Knowing if your business is the right fit for you can determine its success and your personal satisfaction. This is paramount, as this will give you the opportunity to venture into a different business or completely different career if you are walking the wrong path. Several factors come into play when assessing the suitability of a business venture, especially when considering how to secure the right financial and strategic support. Let’s dive into the key aspects that can help you determine if your business is truly right for you in five simple steps: 1. Aligning Your Passion with Your Business Plan Aligning your passion with your business plans is key to long-term success. When you build a business around something you love, it fuels motivation and resilience. Focus on your strengths, stay authentic, and ensure your business solves a real problem. Passion-driven businesses often create stronger connections with customers and lead to sustainable growth. To make informed decisions, you may want to start by consulting a professional business consultant 2. Financial Considerations: Are You Ready? One of the biggest challenges faced by businesses is accessing adequate funds. Ask yourself: “Where can I raise finance for my business?” There are many options available, from the different start-up loans to equity funding and venture capitalists. Researching your options and engaging with the right business consultants offering advisory and brokerage services can provide guidance on finance availability, business expansion strategies and business growth plans. For instance, business angels or venture capitalists may offer funding in exchange for equity, while start-up loans provide a more traditional route to help raise money for your business. You can also consider business health checks to ensure that your business is financially viable before committing to the correct funding options. 3. Understanding Performance and Growth Potential A good way to determine whether your business is right for you is by examining its potential for growth. Business performance strategies are crucial to ensuring sustainable success. Regular evaluations and business health checks will help you assess the current state of your business and identify areas where business improvement strategies are needed and could be put in place. Some strategies to improve business performance include optimising operations, improving customer service, or creating new revenue streams. If you're wondering how to improve small business performance, consider working with an advisor who can recommend business improvement strategies tailored to your needs. Business consultants can provide recommendations to improve business, focusing on key areas such as how to improve business performance and specific business start-up plans. 4. Planning for the Long Term A strong business growth plan is essential for any venture. Your business start-up plans should include a detailed path for scaling, as well as business investment plans that secure future success. Crafting business development plans that are flexible and adaptable is key to adjusting with market changes. Additionally, consider business expansion strategies to grow your business and get more customers. Engaging with experts who can help you craft business performance strategies will position you to identify opportunities and leverage them effectively. 5. Accessing Professional Support Starting or scaling a business is no easy feat, which is why many entrepreneurs turn to business advisors or brokers for expert guidance. These professionals can assist in securing business loans, navigating equity options, and providing insights on how to improve business performance. If you’re feeling uncertain, an advisor can offer personalised recommendations and business health checks to ensure your venture is on the right track. Seeking advisory and brokerage services will provide you with clarity on potential risks and opportunities. Whether you need help in raising finance or refining your business start-up plans, expert support is readily available. Conclusion: Is Your Business the Right Fit? Knowing whether your business is right for you involves more than just having a good idea. It requires passion, proper financial planning, strategies to improve performance and professional support. By aligning your personal goals with solid business growth plans, ensuring you have access to finance through business loans, equity funding, business angels, friends or family and regularly evaluating your business performance, you will be able to confidently say whether your business is the right one for you. If you’re ever unsure, remember that there’s always help available, whether you need advice on how to grow your business, support with business expansion strategies or start-up loans to get things moving, all you need is to give us a call today on 0333 355 1696 or send us a message on [email protected].  On August 1, 2024, the Bank of England reduced interest rates from 5.25% to 5.00%. This change has significant implications for businesses in the UK and beyond. Here's how it can affect your business:
 In the age in which we are living today, your website is one of your most powerful tools for attracting and converting new clients and customers. Whether you’re looking for help to raise finance; such as a business loan for business start-up plans or for an already existing business for business growth plans, to improve business performance, or getting more customers. Whatever, the case may be, optimising your website with the right strategies, including growth strategies and keywords is essential. Here’s a brief guide on succeeding in getting more customers and clients using your website.
1. Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) To attract more clients, your website needs to rank well on search engines like Google which is the most widely used. This means using the right keywords to help potential customers find you. 2. Valuable Content Creation
3. Optimise On-Site SEO
4.Utilise Off-Site SEO and Marketing
5. Leverage Local SEO in your Local Area and Community
Conclusion By optimising your website with these strategies and the right keywords, you can attract more clients and customers, improve your online presence, and grow your business. Remember to continuously monitor your website’s performance and make adjustments as needed to stay ahead of the competition, bearing in mind your website is also your gateway to success. If you require further in getting your business visible online or on optimisation or any other business area, give us a call today on 0333 355 1696 or send us a message.  Growth Strategies In order to know how effective a business health check is, one needs to know what it entails and the real impact it has on a business.
 Fortunately, it isn’t. This is because it is after-tax cash. Yet many businesses consider that the most prominent role of an accountant is to work out ways to minimise and preferably eliminate their tax bills rather than show them how to increase profits. I have sat in meetings where the business advisor has taken calls asking for the lowest price that guarantees the lowest tax bill and been bewildered when hearing a price quoted followed by an argument as to why it isn’t less. I would therefore like to hear from more of the following: However, I will start by first giving you an insight into the type of clients we work with:
Which of the above four are you? The accountants we have partnered with have learned to do this and it pays Let’s now unpick them: Client 1 We all love these guys. They are open minded, appreciate continual advisory and brokerage service, are determined to succeed, soak up the knowledge and advice and pay handsomely because they implement your advice, see the effects, and request for your service more. Client 2 The bedrock of practice income. They are solid, dependable, not too ambitious but quick to seek and act on advice to keep things afloat. They pay well and are consistent and not too hot on business growth plans. Client 3 These business owners work incredibly hard and not always well, resulting in a hand to mouth existence. Yet some have great potential and with nurturing and suggestions for business improvement can improve and grow their business. Hence turning into a winner and paying you back for the low cost fees you charged when things were tough. Such business owners sometimes only find ways to move their business forward through a venture capitalist. Client 4 Lifestylers. They have a basic business that makes ends meet and is predicated on not spending anything that doesn’t give an instant return on investment (ROI) They want your services for next to nothing and have no loyalty or appreciation for your value. With the breaking down of the above, have a look at your client data list and allocate one of the four categories to each and then calculate the revenue from each group and the time/resource input for each. I’ll bet all your ROI is from category (1) and (2) whilst (3) is your investment for the future and (4) is losing you money with no returns and will remain the same so long as they are not interested in long term routes to improve profitability. You need to help category 4 turn into a category 3 client. We offer that support. If you don’t, then thy could become a challenge to your practice even though they produce revenue in the long run. Now, back to the aggressive phone call the business advisor has just taken. He now categorises the client. If he perceives him to fall into (1), (2) or (3), he will book a compulsory meeting to discuss exactly how they will help them to achieve business goals which are aligned to their personal goals. He may say the exact pricing is impossible until it is agreed on what needs to be done, and the outcome he has in mind. If he hears (4) he politely explains that they don’t provide such service because it aims to only work with motivated business owners to whom it can add value and improve its business modelling. When they finally meet the prospect they will carry out a full business assessment through way of a thorough business health check and match this against the business owner’s ambitions and present him or her with a full array of integrated services which also align every aspect of the business to the owner’s goals. The business advisor will portray the business as a long-term business partner working together to get results from as many or as few of the services as they decide to purchase. To embark on the above may appear intimidating and therefore may need some encouragement. The result being, a section of clients disappearing as they are unwilling to pay the increased fees for the added value, which will serve as an excellent ROI, such as helping them get more customers, increased business performance etc. This in turn will enhance profitability. If you feel you may fall into one of the above categories or need assistance or business advice relating to any aspect of your business or business idea, get in touch with us today. Please feel free to call and speak to an RBSS Business Advisor on 0333 355 1696, drop us an email, or use the form below. We provide real business solutions for start-ups and existing micro and small businesses.  As businesses in the United Kingdom and the world at large begin to open up, now is the time to do some recovery and reconstruction thinking and look at business improvement strategies. You need to think about:
Once the above has been decided, it’s time to think about how to fund and achieve the direction. This could involve a further business investment. You may need help in various areas and raising finance may be one of them. You may need it for; cash flow, paying staff, buying stock, buying equipment, re-designing your business model, paying for operating expenses or even to pay for an exit strategy and much more. There are different ways of getting different business funding, however I am focusing on business loans at this point. Here are 5 tips to achieve this: 1. Hire a Business Consultant. If you are unsure of where to start, I would recommend your starting point as consulting a Business Advisor or Mentor or finance Consultant. There is also your bank manager, googling it (not a joke actually) or speaking to another business who has successfully raised a business loan. One of the specialities of a Business and Finance Consultant is to advise on how to access finance. This could include, raising finance for a new business, such as various start up loans or a business loan to grow your existing business to fund new products or services. A Business Advisor could also advise you on if you want to expand or divert your business too, with the intention of getting more customers. They can also help you carry out a Business Valuation, Performance and Health Check Service to improve business performance by making your business sustainable, compete effectively, improve profitability, structure your decision-making process and achieve business goals to ensure it is on the right track. It is always advisable to get an expert, such as a Business Advisor’s opinion on the best business loans to go for. That way, you are guided on whether getting the business loan is in your interest, at the right time, which one and how much to apply for. 2. Due Diligence. Usually, a lot of businesses fail at the first hurdle on their way to getting a business loan. To access finance, you will need or be in a position to get the following: Previous years' Management Accounts (regardless of if you are a sole trader or limited company), up-to-date management accounts coupled with at least 3 months business bank statements. In some cases, a business plan with a 2-year cash flow forecast. In addition to this, you may be required to provide the last set of 4 quarters of VAT submissions, and your latest debtor’s book. Now not all of this may be required by the same funder at the same time, however get them ready, be prepared or have ready access to them if you are looking for some serious funds. 3. Don’t ask for a 100%. If you are looking to build a business with no skin in the game in terms of financing it and you are looking for an unsecured loan, then if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. No funder want to fund 100% of your growth or new business. They need to see you have invested something in cash or in kind, something tangible. There are various ways to show your investment in the business and I’m not talking about your time spent working in the business, but actual quantifiable ways. 4. Seek available funding. If your business has been affected negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic, I would advise you first opt for the UK government’s Recovery Loan Scheme. The government is providing it to help businesses of any size to access loans and other kinds of finance to enable them to recover after the pandemic and transition period. Up to £10 million is available per business, and the actual amount offered and the terms are at the discretion of participating lenders. These are a network of accredited lenders, listed on the British Business Bank’s website. The government guarantees 80% of the finance to the lender. However, as the borrower, you are 100% liable for the debt. The scheme is open until 31 December 2021, subject to review. You can also be rest assured that the terms and repayment rate will be one of the lowest you will be able to get in these times. 5. Alternative lenders. Another option of how to access a business loan, is through a number of alternative funders, such as funding circle and the like. They offer loans to businesses that have at least a 2-year history. There are also other alternative lenders out there that have great options and levels of flexibility for repayment, such as VA Money, etc. As a Finance Broker, we are able to help you access these hidden sources of funds, who you may only e able to approach through a broker like ours. If you are unable to get a business loan, how about considering outside investors? Perhaps you are willing to sell shares to Business Angels or venture capitalists or consider crowd funding. We work closely with Crowd cube as one of the organisations to help our clients raise funds? Having investors can also bring in additional business expertise, and this can be in the form of contacts, networks you may not have access to, mentoring, etc This isn’t exhaustive and therefore it takes us back to my first point on using a Business Advisor to advise on the best possible way on how to get access to finance. That is what they are there for and will do all the leg work for you, besides knowing your best options and leaving you to spend your valued time running your business especially if you are low on staff or a micro business. If any of the points stated above resonate with you or you would just like some advice on which direction your business is heading, get in touch with us today. Please feel free to call and speak to an RBSS Business Advisor on 0333 355 1696 or drop us an email on the link below. We provide real business solutions for start-ups and existing micro and small businesses. 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 As you would have heard numerous times, we live in a fast moving world especially where business is concerned. New today, obsolete tomorrow. Selling your product/service is more about reaching out to your customers unlike when, it used to be the other way round. This however, could be very challenging when you are stretched and have limited resources or at least not unlimited. There’s a never ending list of tips on what every small business owner should know. However, I’d like to focus on 5 tips which is a good place to start. Please note this is practical advice for real results from feedback from businesses we have worked with.
 Whether you are a start-up business or a business that wants to grow the company to the next level, you may need some form of cash injection to help you on your way. But asking for money isn’t that simple. Any money lender will want to see a thorough business case and financial projections, to help them decide if investing in your idea is going to be a profitable one, or not. The business advisors at RBSS Consulting in Romford, Essex, help companies of all sizes get finance ready. Here is our four-step process that we will take you through.
 Whilst it is common knowledge and should be the goal of any business to grow and acquire more clients, as they truly say in the business world, it is more cost effective and easier to retain your current clients than to acquire new ones. However, with the stiff competition businesses face today and to help you compete effectively in getting more customers and keeping your existing ones, I’ll be focusing on five tips (not a magic wand) to help you achieve this.
 Undeniably, customers are at the heart of every business and you need to keep on acquiring new ones to keep your business afloat. It doesn’t matter what you do, you may be a consulting firm or a bakery or a real estate agent, your business needs new customers. They not only provide increased access to finance but also help in boosting business growth.
However, it is easier said than done. In the competitive business world of today, you certainly need that extra edge over competitors to be able to draw in new customers.  The type of finance you choose will depend on what sort of business you are setting up, how much capital you need and what you will use it for.
 Customers are the heart of all small businesses and without them the business is sure to fail. Therefore, it important that they are treated properly and you strive to build a relationship with them, to ensure you gain a loyal customer.
 Business is business and whatever the size of your company there are many principles that apply to all. Look at the following skills that big businesses use that small businesses can use too:
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