As you expand your business, you may be interested in a strategic partner. The right strategic partner can give you access to more connections. They can also ease the burden on certain things that you may not have experience in. Before you take on a partner, here are some questions you should ask them.
What Is Your Experience?
According to Zippia, there are over 66,769 business consultants currently employed in the United States. With so many consultants to choose from, you want to make sure that you find the right one for you. Ask them about how many years of experience they have in the field. You can also ask if they have any relevant training or any type of specialties.
Do You Have Specializations?
The right business consultant may specialize in government connections. Some may have a lot of expert knowledge when it comes to land acquisition. Others may have more industry-specific knowledge such as finance or industrial work. Whatever specializations they may have, make sure it’s useful for the type of company that you run.
Can I See Some References?
Before taking on any contractor, you would likely ask to see some references. Make sure you do the same thing when it comes to a strategic partner. An experienced strategic partner likely has worked with many other people. So it’s a good idea to talk with these other clients that the business consultant has helped. As long as the business consultant can stand on their work, they shouldn’t hesitate to have you talk to other people they’ve helped.
What Is Your Communication Style?
When dealing with any business consultant, you’re going to want to be able to communicate with them as effectively as possible. So make sure that you’re clear on the communication style that they have. You want to ensure that your communication styles match up so that there isn’t any miscommunication. Does your business partner tend to prefer weekly meetings? Are they more of a phone or e-mail person? Make sure you clear this up during the consultation phase.
If you are ready to take your business to new heights, the right strategic partner can help you. However, all business consultants aren’t the same, so do your due diligence to find the right one for you. For a qualified and well-connected partner that you can trust, contact us today at Activate Detroit for a consultation.