1 Know what you want to get out of it
There are several good reasons for setting up a consultancy (and several bad reasons too!). You may be planning to build an empire, you may have a great business idea or you may be looking to semi-retire and to have the business as a hobby. Your purpose should guide all your decision making. For me the business is a way of making a living doing something I enjoy.

2 Make sure that you have a target audience
In the early days most consultancies rely on those contacts that they’ve built up over the years. But having a lot of contacts is not enough; they need to be able and prepared to buy from you. Whether or not your business will depend on your contacts, you need to sound out potential clients to check that your idea works with them before you commit yourself.

3 Make sure that you have something compelling to sell
You need something (or a service) that people will buy. Genuinely innovative services are rare, so most of us have to settle for an “angle” and our personal reputations.

4 Work out whether it will pay
In any consultancy you are selling your time, so the factors that really matter are how much of it you can sell and at what price.

5 Take advice from anyone who will listen
As well as speaking to potential clients, speak to as many people as you can who run their own businesses. They will be able to tell you all the things you need to get and do and where to get them. They will also be able to recommend banks, accountants, IT support, etc. They may even help you avoid the mistakes they made.

6 Be prepared to really learn about running a business
Many people go straight from being a corporate employee, to their own company and I have always admired their bravery. It is quite a step from the corporate culture to a small fledgling company – there is so much to learn, like how to set up a
company, how to trademark the name, legal and accounting requirements and dozens of other matters large and small.

7 Keep your costs under control
Whatever the scale of your ambitions this is a key discipline, especially in the early days. There are virtually limitless ways to spend large amounts of money: IT, office space, staff, design work, web site, marketing, stationery, professional fees and many more. On the other hand many of these costs can be avoided, postponed or minimised. So set a sensible budget and stick to it.

8 Network for all you’re worth
As well as working your contact list, take every opportunity to expand it – not just with potential clients but also with other consultants and freelancers. There’s a whole world of small agencies and freelancers out there and you don’t meet them until you’re one of them. They can be a source of business, a source of advice or a way of expanding your offer. One of my biggest surprises to date has been the amount of business that has come via referrals from and collaborations with other consultants and agencies.

9 Try to be patient
There will inevitably be times when it goes quiet or when clients take an age to make a decision on your proposal. Try to be patient and make the most of the quiet times to do networking or product development, or even some non-work-related activities.

10 Enjoy it
The decision to set up as a consultant is a life decision not just a business decision. There’s much to enjoy and if you don’t enjoy it then it’s not for you. There’s the freedom to do it your way and to escape from office routines and bureaucracy. There’s the huge satisfaction with every success (and the balancing disappointment when things don’t work out!). In my case I spend my time working with clients and on projects which is what I wanted to do. I work from home which means my work and home lives are more mixed up but they are much better balanced than before, as I can time-shift to spend more time with my family and still get the work done. Above all, my family tell me that I’m generally less stressed and a nicer person to live with!

© 2009 Tony Isaacs

LONDON

TUESDAY 23rd MARCH 2010

7pm-9pm

After the huge success of the seminar held in February, Global Market Leaders in Cost and Procurement management, Expense Reduction Analysts, together with NatWest Bank are back to  fund a FREE seminar in London, offering valuable impartial advice to anyone who is looking at a  business opportunity. The Seminar ensures that you have the in-depth and detailed information you need complete your entire  research process safely and  effectively, enabling you the highest probability of maximum success.

The key topics covered are:

• The key elements of a good Business Opportunity  format

•  The positives and pitfalls of purchasing a Business Opportunity

•  The 6 key steps to evaluating a good Business Opportunity

•  Obtaining funding, presented by NatWest Bank

•  Discovering more about Cost and Procurement management

•  Expense Reduction Analysts as a Business opportunity

BOOK NOW !  

Please call Natalie on 02380249800 or e-mail n.duffy@erauk.net

Part 1

‘By being seen as the educator in profit culture in Cost and Purchase Management makes our brand more acceptable to everyone who hears our message. This has a direct effect on our associates’ businesses.’

Robert Allison, Managing Director, Expense Reduction Analysts

Part 2

Expense Reduction Analysts have partnered with Financial Director Magazine and have created the definitive ‘Cost Control Check List’.  This is an informative guide aimed at Financial Directors, emphasising the importance of cost control and highlighting effective ways on how savings can be made.  This essential guide instills the Expense Reduction Analysts’ brand name into our key market target audience and further enhances why we are the leading company in cost and Purchase management.  The Guide is sent to over 16 thousand subscribers of  Financial Director magazine, 90 percent of these are Financial Directors of companies with a turnover of over 10 million with over 100 employees, reaching our core target audience.

 ‘This really positions Expense Reduction Analysts in the UK as the voice of authority on Cost and Purchase management which is clearly becoming more important to all organisations in the current climate.’  Chris Aston, Marketing Director Expense Reduction Analysts

This is just one of many marketing strategies collaborated by The Marketing Advisory Council (MAC) along side  group office support from, Marketing Director, Chris Aston. It is a fine example of  associates working together to help expand their businesses and further strengthen the brand that they invested in. Working with well respected names in the business sector, such as Financial Director Magazine, these high standards of marketing initiatives are only getting better and better!  

Please click on the like below to download a free copy of the guide.

 Download your FREE copy click here

Expense Reduction Analysts 105th in Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Global Rankings!

Entrepreneur Magazine has Ranked Expense Reduction Analysts 105^th in their top 500 Franchise Rankings. Every year, Entrepreneur search the globe for Franchises that meet their strict criteria. The chosen companies then go through a strict cumulative scoring system and only the top 500 are then published.  All companies, regardless of their size, are judged by the same criteria with the most important factors being:

•  Financial Strength

•  Stability

•  Growth

•  Size of Systems

•  Number of years the company has been in Business

•  Length of time the company has been Franchising

•  Start up costs

•  Percentage of Terminations

•  Whether the companies provides Financing

•  Financial Data, which is all analysed independently

Last year, Expense Reduction Analysts ranked 124^th emphasising the extraordinary growth of the company over the past year.  Expense Reduction Analysts have also been ranked 30th in the Top Home Based Franchises 2010 and ranked 34th for the fastest growing Franchise 2010.

Top Home Based Franchise 2010: #30th

Fastest Growing Franchise 2010: #34th

Thank you for your enquiry regarding attending our 2010 National Conference, a member of our recruitment team will contact you shortly.  

Alternatively call our Group Office on 02380 829 737

Go to home page

Five new consultants have just completed their induction training and are about to embark on their journey with Expense Reduction Analysts. Before they made their decision to join they all had completely different experiences throughout their recruitment process. After training they were all asked to answer a short questionnaire describing their due diligence process, final decision making, how their induction training went and what advice would they give to people joining Expense Reduction Analysts.

Recruitment process

The Recruitment process is different for every person looking at our business opportunity. For Mike Bournes, who had already thoroughly researched our company, the decision was a quick and easy, “For me the recruitment process was extremely fast. However I did not feel pressured into this by the team. They understood my drivers and what I wanted to achieve and I made sure that I had all of the support and information available to make it happen.”

For the rest, it was a gradual process with thorough research, numerous meetings and gaining enough information that made them feel comfortable that they were ready to join. ‘My final Decision was made approximately 12 months after initially looking at Expense Reduction Analysts. Throughout this time I was not pressured to make a decision and for me the annual conference was most welcome and helped my decision making process’ Gary Pragnell

For Chris Abrams, support was a key factor in his due diligence process, “the information provided stimulated the right questions to ask of people, as each candidates circumstances are so different. It was a good grounding and background to focus the individual into what their specific need for answers should be to make them, as an individual, comfortable with their decision.’”

The right decision

Choosing to join a company such as Expense Reduction Analysts is probably one of the most important life decisions that our trainees have had to make. It was a two way process where Expense Reduction Analysts had to be right for them and they in turn had to also be right for the company, but what was it that made them know that Expense Reduction Analysts was right for them? All of our trainees were inspired by the ‘culture and ethos of the company and the model concept of Expense Reduction Analyst’ but all trainees commented on the open and transparent responses that they received from not only our Group Office support team but from the associates themselves. Irfan Mirza was particularly impressed with ‘how happy they were that they had joined the company’

Chris Abrams was overjoyed with,

‘meeting existing associates, who obviously hadn’t been primed that potential associates would be there, who were in their natural environment, were open and honest about the challenges, issues, but also the potential for a new business opportunity. I was also incredibly impressed with the calibre of people in the network. The level of potential contact with franchisees, and the desire of the recruitment team to match the exact criteria of franchisee that the potential recruit wanted to contact  throughout the recruitment process does Expense Reduction Analysts credit’

Training

Our world class training scheme speaks for itself.  It is a seven day induction followed by a detailed and professional training pathway involving modules that are tailored especially to your needs by our Professional accredited Business coaches to help grow your business to its maximum potential. ‘It’s a good, open training scheme. It doesn’t lecture, but stimulates discussion between trainer and trainees drawing on everybody’s wide range of experiences. Support from head office staff has been flexible, friendly, helpful and accommodating. And as much is learnt from meeting more experienced associates on the various courses’ Chris Abrams

Expense Reduction analysts is a close network with a solid and helpful support team. The trainees particularly enjoyed dining with a member of the group office team each evening of their induction training.  Gary Pragnell found it a great ‘opportunity to discuss work and non work matters and begins a relationship building’

But what did they get out of the induction day?

All Trainees commented that they gained a better prospective of the whole process and how they feel they can now develop their business and marketing plans and start to seriously think of prospect building. Mike Bournes was particularly impressed with his knowledge of ‘Project process, role playing the initial client meeting was difficult but extremely useful in getting a feel for how to present the client proposition, time management, lotus training, understanding typical profile of existing clients and marketing principles’

What advice would they give to anyone thinking of joining Expense Reduction Analysts?

Their main advice is to ‘talk to associates, have a prepared list of questions and focus on whether you feel you share a common ethos’ Mike Anderson “Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you want. Everyone across the business is approachable and supportive” Mike Bournes

Chris Abrams encourages anyone to, “do the homework, and if the opportunity presents itself, and timing allows, do visit a conference to catch the franchisees unawares and hear a true view of the issues. And, at breakfast and in breaks to see the network in action! Then make your mind up.”

But most importantly…

“Trust your gut instinct!” Gray Pragnell

Seven days of training and now they are ready to embark on their journey how do they feel?

 “Very Positive!” Mike Anderson

 “Apprehensible and nervous but at the same time I cannot wait to get started!” Irfan Mirza

 “Nervous but excited!” Mike Bournes

“Excited and scared!” Chris Abrams

 “More confident – the training was an excellent introduction to ERA!” Gary Pragnell

If you would like to read their full interview please ask a member of the recruitment team and they will happily provide you with a detailed copy, answering questions that only others in a similar situation to yourself can answer openly and honestly. Thank you to each of our trainees for their openness and honesty throughout the interview and if you would like to be where they are now please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and perhaps you too will be part of this exciting, successful  and ever growing business opportunity. Expense Reduction Analysts.

THE UK’S LEADING COMPANY IN COST AND PURCHASE MANAGEMENT

Since February 2009 19,989,498 people have had the opportunity to hear and read about our exciting Business opportunity in today’s media and here’s why…

As 2009 was drawing to an end the Network got together for a Christmas Party at Mottram Hall, Stockport to celebrate all of the success from the past year!

The day commenced with ‘Breakfast at Mottram Hall’ which provided a great opportunity for existing Associates to network while everyone was under the same roof!  With an inspiring presentation Robert Allison, Managing Director, introduced the day by reflecting on the successes of 2009 and congratulated the network for their unity and on-going success. David Buist, Recruitment Manager, discussed future plans for recruiting new Associates in 2010 while existing Associates Nigel Burnip and Derek Gralewski discussed all the exciting plans for our Marketing Advisory Council  (MAC) in 2010. Graeme McKinnon, Commercial Director, emphasised the importance of On-Going Service and how the words ‘Delighted Clients’ are being regularly used throughout our Network and  highlighted  how ‘clients want Partnership and long term relationships based on openess, honesty and trust.’

Delighted Client, Paul Hebden a Financial Director described how he was ‘blown away’ by the service delivered by Expense Reduction Analysts. He emphasised how our company has helped to gain savings of £115,000 in eleven different areas of Business expense.

Motivational Speaker, Marc Hogan had everyone interacting, laughing and working as a team! He used Jim Lawless’ ‘Taming Tigers’  strategy,  emphasising Lawless’ philosophy of how anyone can do anything they put their mind to, they  just need to tame that little voice in their head which he refers to as their tiger. Lawless’ Taming Tiger group has delivered successful change programmes with major companies around the world including BT, Apple, Legal and General Barclays and the NHS. It was a thoroughly entertaining and motivational session enjoyed by everyone.

The Christmas Party was the perfect opportunity for our existing Associates and guests to relax, converse, and enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner and dance.  Fun was had by all and the festive cheer carried on throughout the evening, celebrating the end of 2009 and looking forward to all the exciting opportunities that lay before them in 2010.

‘A thoroughly enjoyable Christmas Party and 2010 plans to be as successful as 2009! Looks like next year is going to be a great one!’  St John Rowntree, Associate

Happy New Year everyone!

Here is to a successful 2010!

Harry Duff, Expense Reduction Analysts Associate, 2000

Harry Duff  has been an associate with Expense Reduction Analysts for over nine years.  Harry has built an extremely successful business using his back ground of twelve years in the Royal Navy and ten years in the food industry; specialising in Engineering, Project Management and Health and Safety.  In the video blog below, Harry describes the main role he undertakes in his business as a Client Development Manger, how he runs his company, why he decided to invest in a Business to Business opportunity and why he still believes that Expense Reduction Analysts was and continues to be the right choice for him.