How We Can Help
Hamilton
Operations & Srategy Advisors
Operating a small business effectively and efficiently is fundamental to it’s success. A great and innovative idea, product or service is only as good as how well the company executes and runs their business.
How we can help your business:
- Planning and developing strategies
- Staffing
- Information systems
- Digitizing their business
- Inventory management and cost controls
Business Plan and Strategies
Every business needs a roadmap to define their goals.
Your plan should include:
- The purpose of your business
- Identify your target market and customers
- Define success for your business
- Establish financial targets for short and medium term
- List what you need to start and run your business
- Staff
- Facilities
- Funding
- Skills
When a company requests a consultation, we will request that they provide their business plan. If one isn’t documented, we will recommend that a simple one or two page plan be completed. Having a roadmap for a business is essential. Make it realistic – review and re-evaluate it periodically.
Staffing
To achieve the goals of the business whether it is to grow your company, increase revenue, expand your product or service
offerings, will at some point require more labour. We have helped clients with assessing their staffing needs and skills required, understanding the business owners strengths and priorities, leading to recommendations such as:
- Skills and expertise needed
- What roles might be required, if they are undefined or missing,
- To hire full-time or to contract
- What training might be required
- Are there functions that should be outsourced to other service providers
- Accounting, legal, IT, Security, Administration, to name a few
Toronto Psychology Clinic is a client we helped to identify and assess issues related to hiring and managing their staff’s performance. Our advisors recommended useful processes and tools for managing their employees while administrative responsibilities were being realigned amongst staff.
Information Systems and Digitalizing your Business
With the advent of cloud computing and social media technology over 10 years ago now, it has been easier for small businesses to make use of technology not only for back office functions but to market, sell and create and promote their brand, products and
services.
The flip side is customers are more sophisticated in their use of various smart devices and their expectation of their client experience is high. With the onset of the pandemic most companies had no choice but to pivot and digitize their business in some way to continue to survive.
When our client’s register with us for a consultation, even if their issue is not about IT or digitizing their business, part of our research is to review the company’s online and social media sites. Besides understanding your business, we want to assess how effective you tell your story.
Sean Howard requested our help with how to create a Software as a Service (SaaS) for his company Flightpath Software Inc. The selected BAG advisors leveraged their collective IT experience to provide an approach as to what cost elements to consider. Sean was extremely satisfied with BAG’s recommendations.
Inventory Management and Cost Controls
Inventory management and cost controls are essential for any business that produces a product from raw materials or provides a service delivered by staff. With the inflationary period we are experiencing, controlling costs are even more challenging. Inventory management and understanding your cost of goods sold is directly linked to having proper tracking processes and good financial reporting practices.
Worldwide supply chain issues are seriously impacting businesses. Managing your inventory of raw materials and finished products including understanding your carrying costs, inventory turns, managing your suppliers and their terms are all vitally important in operating your business. Our experienced team of advisors can help you identify any shortcoming in your inventory management system and help you understand key cost indicators to focus on.
During their first year of operating, Poke Co, a new restaurant in Hamilton that specializes in high quality poke bowls engaged our services to discuss the possibility of expanding to a second location. In reviewing their financial statements, we advised that they needed to first focus on managing their costs for a longer period of time during the pandemic before considering opening another site. The great news is their focus and patience of waiting and achieving cost constancy in their business paid off and provided the opportunity to expand in 2022!
Hear from our clients
Contact Us today
2-3 hours for only $195
We are here to help, providing invaluable advice for an affordable fee.
Ongoing sessions can be arranged as your business evolves.
Virtual meetings are available, including clients outside the GTA/Golden Horseshoe area.
Our Hamilton Locations
Both in-person and virtual meetings are available to clients. We have two locations in Hamilton, affiliated with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre. Virtual meetings are available outside the GTA/Golden Horseshoe area.
Hamilton Chamber of Commerce
120 King St. W. Plaza Level,
Hamilton, ON L8P 4V2
From the 403, take Main Street east. Once you pass Bay, look for the Hamilton Convention Centre on your left-hand side. There is paid parking in the Convention Centre. The Hamilton Chamber is across from the Convention Centre at 120 King Street West. Telephone 905-522-1151.
Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre
71 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8P 4Y5
Main Street between Bay St. and James St.
From the 403, take Main Street east. Once you pass Bay, look for the Hamilton City Hall on your right hand side. The Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre is the the first floor of Hamilton City Hall. Telephone (905) 546-2424.