Strategy
The wrong things done right: well-crafted, serious, precise, but unsuccessfull...this is the wrong way.
That's why strategy stands at the center of every consultancy. Strategy is the question of "What?". What is my business? What is my business model? Only after the strategic objectives and the means are clear, will the question of "how" be asked. This means: The right things done right, and better than everyone else.
Successful management means the sustainable elimination of competitive disadvantages, building future-oriented success potentials and the development of sustainable competitive advantage.
Strategic thinking and acting is the active shaping of the future and not just waiting for what might be coming. As early as possible, the fundamental basis for success needs to be created.
You continously have to ask the question, what is the most successful business model? What was good and correct yesterday, may no longer be competitive today or tomorrow. Business models and success factors are always changing and moving.
We advise in the identification of key competitive advantages, in the definition of strategies, in the search for USP and in the segmentation of targeted customer groups.
The re-definition of products and services, of determining reasonable prices, the best advertising strategies and the most promising sales concepts are all results provided by our strategic consulting. A business plan summarizes the corporate goals, visions, strategy, opportunities and risks; and documents the objectives, ways and prospects of success.
Financing
Most suitable financing structures and financial balance are a prerequisite for the successful implementation of corporate strategy and a precondition for growth, development and profit.
Lending decisions are increasingly based on special rating criteria. The requirements of Basel II, the minimum requirements for tighter lending and the increasing internationalization of financial markets for lending reduce the discretionary decisions of the banks. Medium-sized enterprises suffer from low equity ratios and are often still extremely cautious in providing information to their lenders.
Listed companies regularly have investor relations department: A mixture of financial and advertising specialists, their job is to keep the shareholders informed about the financial situation, future prospects and the business operations.
Small and medium-sized enterprises do not have investor relations departments and no shareholders. But they have lenders, who wait to get positive, reliable and understandable information like shareholders. Giving too small, dubious or confusing information will not cause a falling share price, but the credit rating will be reduced.
In our understanding creditor relations means the active information and relationship management to lenders.
Our consulting services
We advise SME in financial matters:
- What kind of funding?
- Debt or equity?
- Which bank?
- Which participation?
- What steps to achieve a better credit rating ?
We design corporate structures according to the increasing credit requirements. Through spin-offs and conversions of businesses (parts or in total) we often can use hidden reserves without tax disadvantages and hence achieve higher equity ratios. We design the bank reporting, create reports and forecasts in a "Hands on" way and we assist financing negotiations with banks.
Measures for more freedom
Effective measures to recover financial margins are, for example:
- Rrecognizing financial risks and creating transparency
- Uncovering hidden reserves without tax disadvantages, e.g. through transformation, outsourcing and transfer of holdings and sub-holdings
- Restructuring the liability side
- Equity strategies – financing growth properly
- Portfolio adjustments – reorganising business activities and increasing liquidity by concentrating on core areas
- Selling non-operating assets
- Creating sustainable enterprise structures / Mergers & Acquisitions