WHAT IS A BUSINESS / FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

Business / Financial Consultants provide advice to help organizations improve performance and efficiency. These professionals analyze businesses and create solutions while also helping companies meet their goals. Business owners should consider hiring such Consultants when they need help or perspective on their chosen path or need a catalyst for change in their companies.

WHAT SERVICES DOES A TYPICAL CONSULTANT PERFORM

There are a number of reasons why business people should consider hiring Consultants:

• Expertise in a specific market

• Identify problems in the business

• Supplement the existing staff

• Create Professional Business Plan

• Provide objectivity

• Teach and train employees

• Revive an organization

• Create a new business

• Arrange and negotiate on behalf of the Client other professional service providers such as mortgage professionals, appraisers, real estate agents and financial guarantee insurance brokers.

Business Plans and Executive Summaries

Information Required from Client

IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING

The first step for any Consultant is the discovery phase, where the goal is to learn the client's business. A good Consultant takes the time to learn as much as possible about the business, from the Client and employees. This can include touring the facility, meeting with the board of directors and employees, analyzing the finances and reading all company materials. During this process, the Consultant will uncover the details of a Client’s mission and what operations are in place.

EVALUATION

Once an in-depth understanding has been developed, a Business / Financial Consultant has entered the evaluation phase, where the goal is to identify where change is needed. This includes identifying the Client’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as current and foreseeable problems. These can include problems already seen by ownership and management, and new problems seen thanks to the business consultant's objectivity. A business consultant should also identify opportunities to grow business, increase profits, and boost efficiency.

In addition to identifying these problems and opportunities, a Consultant should also develop solutions to problems and plans on capitalizing on opportunities. Perhaps a company has a particularly strong sales department but weak marketing department; this is an opportunity for the company to increase marketing resources and capitalize on the sales staff. During this phase, it's important for the Consultant and the Client’s employees to maintain open and clear communications.

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

It's important for a Client to take the Business / Financial Consultant's advice at this stage as constructive criticism, and not as a criticism to how the Client has been doing things. The Consultant brings objectivity and a fresh viewpoint, whereas the Client is personally close to the business. The Client should certainly have feedback and provide opinions to the business consultant, who should take the Client’s reflections and revise plans as necessary.

RESTRUCTURING

Once the Client and the Consultant agree on a plan, the Consultant should enter the third phase of consulting, which is the restructuring phase, or the implementation of the plan. In this phase, the Consultant is to build on assets and eliminate liabilities, as well as monitoring progress on the plan and adjusting as needed.

CHOOSING A BUSINESS / FINANCIAL CONSULTANT

Finding the right Consultant may be the most difficult part for the prospective Client. The Consultant should have a passion for their work, a drive for excellence, and an eye for organization and detail. It's important to find a Consultant with expertise in your industry or with the kind of problems that your business faces.

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS CONSULTANT ASSOCIATION

Association of Accredited Small Business Consultants

2200 Pennsylvania Ave NW
4th Floor East
Washington, DC 20037 USA

(512) 327 4900
Toll-Free 888 715 2435 (USA & Canada only)

COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS SERVICES

A Commissioner for Oaths is a person who is authorized to verify affidavits, which are statements in writing and on oath, and other legal documents.

A Commissioner for Oaths in the Province of Alberta is appointed by the Department of Justice, Government of Alberta.

Every lawyer holding a current license to practice is entitled to administer oaths and to use the title "Commissioner for Oaths". A Commissioner for Oaths may continue to act as a Commissioner for Oaths for as long as he/she remains a lawyer.

DEFINITION OF COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS

A Commissioner for Oaths who is a:

• Lawyer who cannot use their powers in any proceedings in which they are acting for any of the parties or in which they have an interest.

• Non-lawyer who must not practice outside the area for which they are appointed.

WHEN YOU NEED THE SERVICES OF A COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS

You may need the services of a Commissioner for Oaths if:

• You are giving evidence on affidavit for court proceedings.

• You are making an affirmation, declaration, acknowledgement, examination or attestation for the purposes of court proceedings or for the purposes of registration of documents.

FUNCTIONS OF A COMMISSIONER FOR OATHS

The essential functions of a Commissioner for Oaths are to:

• Make sure that the evidence in question is in written form (the draft affidavit)

• Establish that the person before him/her has read the draft affidavit and fully understands the contents

• Require the person to swear that the affidavit is true by raising the appropriate Testament in the right hand and repeating the words of the oath

• Verify that the affidavit was properly sworn by completing a "jurat" on the affidavit

• Charge a fee for his/her services.