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Flat Rate Consulting Projects
Performed By a 25 Year CEO 
To Improve Your Company More Quickly

Sometimes getting in and out fast is all that matters. Some consultants want to build you an aircraft carrier when all you need today is a little speedboat and some vision and design work for the future.  These consulting projects can be done quickly without risk of growing into a huge ongoing expense. Many of these consulting projects are best done by an experienced CEO, because they span several disciplines, and a large team of experts will be much too expensive and time consuming to corral, educate and coordinate.

If you have not done it before, then you can not expect to get it right the first time any more than you would fly a plane well without some one-on-one personal training first. Each mistake will cost more than you think, generally your monthly burn rate times the number of months it takes to learn and get it right. This can quickly become tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars in costs and/or lost sales.

Flat rates align the client's goals with the consultant's to get to the best solution cost effectively and quickly. Paying by the hour creates a conflict of interest for the consultant and the desire to do a "perfect" job appropriate only for a large company where the rate of change is lower and the customer base and risk level supports that. This is usually many times the cost, instead of a practical job based on the company's early-stage, exposure and other situational factors. Whenever possible C-Level Enterprises will quote a flat rate for a well defined project.

Most business plan writers just write, they do not have the experience to help actually validate, design and improve your business model to be successful. There are many skills and disciplines, and also many interrelated dependencies in the development of any company's business plan and vision (See article: The 11 Major Components of a Successful Vision). In other words 'writing' a business plan is one thing, "designing" the business and tuning the business model so that it can work in the real world is an entirely different thing. This requires lots of real world operations experience running companies and can only be done well by an experienced CEO.

All these projects include, or are done exclusively by, Bob Norton personally, not subcontracted to others. So you get the experience in business design, startups and as CEO since 1989 in every project. Click here to view Bob's full biography.

Click here for an article on using outside consultants effectively.

Flat Rate Consulting Projects For Early Stage Companies
Flat Rate

Complete Investor Financing Readiness Review & Critique -  Slide presentation and executive summary review and critique.  Plus a coaching session on presenting to investors.  Guaranteed to greatly increase your chances of raising either angel or institutional VC funding. This can be done quickly and may be the difference between getting financed and not raising a dime. Less than 1% of companies presenting to VCs will get funded!  Only the best, prepared and coached entrepreneurs will succeed in today's environment. This could be the best money you ever spend to save yourself months of grief and learning while burning your best possible contacts. You are too close to your business to do this yourself.


$1,250

Full Business Plan Review and Critique - All comments and additions written in context in black-lined text plus a discussion to review the reasoning behind each suggestion. (35 page size limit at this price, proportionally more for larger plans). We will also provide sample slides and diagrams you can customize that have proven very effective in raising money in the past.  Anyone can write a business plan, we will improve the plan's strategies and tactics and add the business expertise of an experienced CEO to refine and improve your business model further. Every startup is a work-in-progress, we will help you jump forward and save 1-2 years of hard learning from wisdom gathered over 24 years experience in business.  This is not a writing project, but designed to  make sure the business model is optimized and the plan is properly organized and acceptable to investors etc. No one has ever been unhappy with the results (see testimonials).

$1,495

BOTH OF THE ABOVE TOGETHER AT SAME TIME:

$1,995
Executive Summary Review and Critique (2 pages) - Review and blackline edits with conference call to discuss improvements needed. Second review after edits done by you included free. This is not about writing style. It is about content, the business model and hitting all the right buttons of investors to avoid the mistakes 95% of entrepreneurs make every day. You are too close to your own business to do this yourself!

$550
for 2-3 pages. Add $50 per text page over three.
 

Develop an Investor Presentation - Guaranteed to improve your chances of obtaining financing.  Developed from a completed business plan supplied by client.  Generally about 25-30 slides. Market research must be provided by the client. Includes some coaching on doing the presentation with two dry runs done on the phone or in person if convenient. It is highly likely that you will get new ideas for your business during this process too.


$2,900

Develop Executive Summary - From an existing business plan. (From scratch without a plan is hourly rate). This is THE key tool to get you in the investor's door and must be "perfect" and complete or it will just burn financing opportunities. 98% are incomplete and rejected quickly.
$1,950
for up to 3 pages. Add $250 per page over three.

Projects For Companies Getting Ready to Scale Their Business (Stage 3 & 4)

SWOT Analysis - Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats Analysis of Your Business - Guaranteed to identify ways to improve your business.  This is a one day visit and interview with all key executives to develop a report on leverage points that could improve your business. Executives will be asked to spend some time before interviews thinking about Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Our report will then integrate and evaluate their ideas, and also evaluate the level of their thinking, to provide some strategic suggestions and organizational development ideas. Report will contain a Skill Set MatrixTM evaluation for senior management team organization with recommendations and ideas on preparing for more growth. Done on-site only. Plus travel time billed at 50% of usual hourly rate. More detail on this project.

$3,500

Develop Your Branding Program - Facilitate the development of your brand which includes the elements needed to make all your marketing more effective and have a cumulative impact on the market. Generally two meetings with senior staff over two weeks with input and direction. See article.

$4,000

Complete Market Validation Study and Business Model Design Adjustment Recommendations - This depends greatly on market data you already have. This is not qualitative or quantitative market research, but a business design process that will result in a superior market position, business plan and vision by looking at many options for your business to evolve and grow in different directions.
$4,500 to $25,000
(Call to discuss quote)

On-Site Management Training - Six Management Systems Required For Rapid Growth  - This is an intensive two day on-site training to revamp the company's systems and train the staff to use them. We will train and workshop the key weaknesses of the business to be ready for high growth rates.

This is an economical version of our Corporate 360 program which generally requires 15-30 days on site for significant companies. Many elements of this will be trained so you management team can implement them over time. Includes some post event coaching.

$12,000 plus expenses

(plus 50% of normal hourly for travel) 
 

One Year Business Market Entry/Launch Recommendation OR One Year Operational Plan Development
From $7,500
Market Space Map and Business Strategy Positioning Recommendation - Will depend greatly on market and amount of research you have gathered.
Daily Rate

Ongoing Personalized Help and Advice

CEO & Entrepreneur Coaching Program - This is a weekly or bi-monthly meeting to have Bob Norton personally help with your business with an emphasis on working "ON" the business, not "IN" the business. 

By providing outside perspective and business experience and wisdom not on your management team we will steer your business to greater heights faster. This program provides an experienced CEO co-pilot and a second perspective to develop and optimize your vision, business model and growth. 

This will cut years off your learning curve and pay for itself many times over with extra sales, savings and mistakes avoided.  A minimum 4 month commitment is required. Call (508) 381-8013 for details. A FREE session is available to understand the value delivered for qualified candidates.

    Click here for more details.

Starting as low as $750 per month
See:
 Mentoring Program for newer CEOs
and
Executive Coaching Program for experienced CEOs

The CEO & Entrepreneur Boot Camp and
Advanced CEO Training Programs

Intensive Seminar For CEOs, Entrepreneurs and C-Level Executives.
Learn a complete integrated system
for starting and running high growth businesses.

This is 2 days of presentation, instruction and workshops for less than the cost of one day of consulting!
Executive Interviews - Hiring someone with skill sets you do not have is more than risky, it is a formula for disaster. Includes 90 minute interview, coordination and feedback on the person's experience level, fit and abilities. This is a 'loss leader' at half the normal hourly rate, to show you what we can add to your business. Most problems occur due to bad hiring and an inability to assess management skills.
$250 per interview
LARGER PROJECTS FOR MORE MATURE COMPANIES
Vision Enhancement Process (For Established Company)
With most market research already available this will typically take 3 to 4 weeks.
$7,000 to $15,000
(Call to discuss quote)
Full Vision Development or Enhancement from scratch with 3 year Business Plan
This is a complete validation of your business and improvement of your business model and sustainable competitive advantage for minimum capital and risk, and a maximum revenue ramp rate. This will typically take 6 to 8 weeks and involve adn train the management team to maintain and enhance this in following years as needed. We guarantee you will alter your vision and thinking to create higher value faster and maintian market position long-term. 
$30,000

Overall Corporate Evaluation For General Improvement and Recommendations - This includes a SWOT analysis and identification of the biggest opportunities for improvement. Discover and recommend on areas to enhance value, market position, efficiency and barriers to entry. Looking for the biggest bang for the buck improvements. Quotes will vary based on many factors. A free phone evaluation is available.

Starting at $7,500
Develop Full Business Plan from Scratch with Investor Presentation
Depends greatly on what you already have and complexity of market. 
From $5,000 to $35,000 depending on status
(Call to discuss quote)
Customer Service or Operations Evaluation and Report to Improve Results - Will improve customer satisfaction, customer retention, employee turnover, employee selection and profitability.
$5,000 to $15,000
Off-site Executive or Management Facilitation Sessions
Strategy review, executive team planning, crisis planning, organizational development, vision, product extension evaluations etc.
From $5,500
Call to discuss

Daily and Hourly Rates - Although C-Level Enterprises prefers to define fixed rate projects with clear objectives, hourly and daily  rates can be used for all open ended consulting, coaching, and mentoring. There is a $1,200 project minimum, except as listed above, with a deposit of this amount and a credit card guarantee required.

Daily and hourly rates are on a sliding scale depending on the situation and volume of work. People in the coaching program get a reduced rate.
Call (619) SCALE06  now for a free quote on any  project.

You can either learn from someone who has done it already, or you can try to reinvent the wheel over many years.

Click Here For Mr. Norton's Biography

Knowing What You Don't know
Click to see definition of The "Prudent" CEO

What You Don't Know Can Kill You And You
Cannott Know What You Do Not Know Without Help!

Avoid the pitfalls that can be fatal.

Do not do the riskiest and most expensive thing you might ever do without a little guidance from someone who has "done it before".

However, either way, how do you know you have the right person when you do not have that skill? We do executive interviews for a small flat fee (see above).

NOTES:

  1. Data is made available by the client on the market, including data at the industry, space and individual competitive companies levels (including some pricing data).
  2. Most projects require 50% payment in advance, 25% upon draft delivery of project and and 25% on final delivery with a credit card guarantee. Any other billings are due within five days of billing for services.
  3. All reports are provided in Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and presented to the appropriate audience as a "work for hire" with full ownership upon full payment. All work product is always confidential.
  4. Some project rates may vary by industry complexity, available resources and research and/or other factors. Price is a commitment by C-Level Enterprises only upon the signing of an engagement letter and 50% payment.
  5. Market research is always an unknown and none is included in most projects. The client must provide all market data or hourly rates will apply.

There are some times when spending money can save far more than the expense because years of study, knowledge and experience are required to do the job.  We believe that the above is a partial list of those times.  We have saved people hundreds of thousands of dollars in a single meeting.  Mistakes in your business design are the most costly you can make because of the huge leverage possible in both directions.

Call (619) SCALE06  Today To Discuss Your
Problem or For A Quote!

Training Materials to Help Your Business Grow Faster With Less Risk

Essential Resources For CEOs and Entrepreneurs at Startup and Emerging Growth Companies

This article is a sample chapter "The Secrets of A Serial Entrepreneur" Series. To see the list of books, audio programs and DVDs click here now.

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