FAQs

Please view some of our most frequently asked questions below.  If you don’t see your question listed, please contact us and we’ll provide you with an answer.

General Info

1. Nice site, but I don’t have time to read all this. What’s your story in a nutshell?
2. How do we know if GoBusiness Group is a good match for our business?
3. What’s your definition of small to “middle market” business?
4. Are you able to help manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers?
5. How much do your services cost?
6. Do you work with companies located outside of the United States?

Process

7. We’re very busy. Won’t working with you take time away from our employees?
8. Do you have to visit my business in order to help me?
9. I have very loyal employees. How do I know you won’t just come in and start firing my staff?
10. I don’t want local vendors and competitors to find out I have cash flow problems. Do you share my business information?
We have very proprietary information, which we do not want to leak out. Do you sign non-disclosure agreements?

Buying and Selling

11. It may be time for me to move on. Can you help me sell my company?

Financing and Credit

12. We have a good business and applied to several banks for loans, but have been rejected at every single one. Can you help us?

Other

13. Are your consulting services a tax-deductible business expense?
14. Do you provide instructors/speakers for organized events or customized training sessions?
15. The services we need don’t quite fit into any of the categories listed on your website. Can you still help us?

General Info

Nice site, but I don’t have time to read all this. What’s your story in a nutshell?
Geez, looks like someone’s in a hurry! Ok then, here’s the deal:

We’re a small, but growing B2B firm specializing in management consulting and business finance. Thanks to our virtual company model, we have a network of professionals throughout the U.S. which extends our reach and expertise across the country.

If your company…
-needs money, we’ll help you find it.
-has hit a plateau, we’ll help you grow out of it.
-is broken, we’ll help you fix it.
-is ready to move on, we’ll help you sell it.

Consulting philosophy…
It’s exciting to watch good ideas become great companies. But just like people, great companies can become too comfortable and complacent over time; they often lose their edge as they get “too big to be small, and too small to be big”. We enjoy being an objective partner helping them find their way again. We focus on cash flow, profitability, and long-term business sustainability.

How do we know if GoBusiness Group is a good match for our business?
As business growth and finance consultants, we can help almost any legitimate business, especially if you fall within the “middle market” range of revenues. However, there are specific industries and business types where we may not be the best fit. We will be happy to discuss your situation confidentially, and will immediately let you know whether or not we think we are a good fit for your business. And even if we can’t help you, we’ll try to refer you to someone who may have the capabilities you need.

What’s your definition of small to “middle market” business?
Although we can work with all kinds businesses and startups, our preferred market is a small to middle market company— meaning under 200 employees and between $2 and $100 million in annual revenue.

Are you able to help manufacturers, distributors, and wholesalers?
Yes. In fact, such B2B companies are often overlooked or misunderstood by typical consultants and lenders – whereas, we’re big on helping them. Please contact us to discuss your situation confidentially.

How much do your services cost?
With so many services provided by GoBusiness Group, there are naturally a number of ways that those services are priced.

For business consulting work, our fees are generated by the project or on an hourly basis, depending on need.  Our hourly prices range from $145 to $295 per hour, depending on the nature of the expertise required, and project prices range from a couple hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the nature of the project.  Initial conversations of a general nature are at no charge. Our introductory consulting package is offered at $195, which includes up to 90 minutes of diagnostic consulting with a GoBusiness Group consultant, the fees for which are applicable toward future services provided by us within 30 days.

Some of our other services such as the Six-Day MBA program and Go Leadership training sessions are provided on a fee-for-service basis depending on the deliverables and time required to complete the project.  Our services are competitively priced for the level of quality and support offered within these services.

In certain situations, we’re open to pursuing equity opportunities which are not priced according to our standard consulting and management structures.  For services that require consultative and/or management roles, our standard consulting and management fee structures apply.

We also have resources which are free. They are yours for the taking and sharing, though we ask that you not resell them for profit without obtaining permission first.

Do you work with companies located outside of the United States?
Yes. Although out primary client base at this time is within the U.S. and Canada, thanks to technology we will work with companies and organizations worldwide.

Process

We’re very busy. Won’t working with you take time away from our employees?
Good question. Whether you are looking for consulting or finance help, meeting with our team and responding to requests for information does indeed require some time. But our goal is to maximize your performance and ROI, not sit around talking about the price of tea in China (unless of course, you are an importer of Chinese tea). We plan ahead and do our work in a way that minimizes disruption. Furthermore, working with your staff when you are busiest is often the best time to do so. Peak times are when we can observe how you, your employees, and your systems handle real world stress — it’s when problems become more evident, as do the solutions. It will be time well spent.

Do you have to visit my business in order to help me?
No.  Although we love the opportunity to visit our clients onsite, we’ve created systems which allow us to manage, consult, and assist businesses regardless of location, and regardless of our ability to visit onsite.  Of course, there are many services that are enhanced by being onsite, including training sessions and certain kinds of analysis. That said, we often manage and consult with clients with whom we’ve never met face-to-face.

I have very loyal employees. How do I know you won’t just come in and start firing my staff?
First of all, congratulations! Whether it’s staff or management, loyalty is not easy to come by. No doubt many consultants come in with axes swinging, recommending drastic workforce reductions to boost the bottom line. Sure, it may work for a while. But more often than not, that’s like throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

We believe that even if you have the best equipment, facility or industry knowledge, it’s people — all the way from the janitor to the CEO — that make or break a company. (Quite frankly, we’ve met some janitors who had more insight and common sense than the CEO, but that’s another story!)

Therefore, termination decisions should not be taken lightly, especially when livelihoods are at stake. We listen, observe, and work with existing employees to assess each individual’s productivity and contribution to the bottom line. Some folks are stars, some are just ok. Some can benefit from intensive training, like our Six Day MBA program.

That said, just because someone is loyal doesn’t mean they’re productive or a good fit. Or that their skills have kept up with the times. Here’s a quick gut check. Ask yourself the simple question: “would we hire this person today”? If the answer is not an immediate yes, then it’s time to dig deeper. Sometimes you may not like they answer you get, sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

As your business adviser, it’s our duty to give you the tools, information and recommendations about how your people perform. As a business leader, it’s your duty to make the final staffing decision and set it into action. Or not.

I don’t want local vendors and competitors to find out I have cash flow problems. Do you share my business information?
Discretion and sensitivity toward client issues are key values at GoBusiness Group. As a result, all our work is kept strictly confidential. Information sent electronically is encrypted as necessary. We never cite references without permission. We do not sell, barter or release any client information, unless we tell you otherwise. Any client data we use in surveys, studies, or benchmarking are kept anonymous. We can be as visible or invisible as your situation dictates.

We have very proprietary information, which we do not want to leak out. Do you sign non-disclosure agreements?
Once we determine that there is a good match between your needs and our capabilities, we can send you a mutual non-disclosure agreement. This protects both parties from disclosure of confidential information. And, if you become a client of GoBusiness Group, our standard engagement contract provides ample protection that covers most circumstances. We’re in this for the long haul, so if there might be a conflict of interest, we’ll let you know.

Buying and Selling

It may be time for me to move on. Can you help me sell my company?
Yes. We can help you determine if your company is ready for market, what the business is worth, how to spruce it up, and the best time to sell all or part of it. Our network of professionals includes those with significant M&A experience, which is particularly relevant for business owners who are going through a “once in a lifetime” sales process. Whether you go ahead with a sale or not, we keep the process confidential and discreet.

Financing and Credit

We have a good business and applied to several banks for loans, but have been rejected at every single one. Can you help us?
That depends. Some companies approach the lending process not knowing how to effectively approach bankers, while some don’t look in the right places. Sometimes a business has a unique situation that conventional lenders don’t – or more likely – won’t understand.  In some cases, alternative forms of financing are more appropriate.

We have several ways to help, ranging from loan packaging assistance to Account Receivable factoring and more. For credit and capital needs under $1 million, we have a special division called KickStart Capital that’s specially designed with the small to medium size business borrower in mind. For larger needs, check out our GoCapital service. Access to money can be tough. Let us help you with the money side, so you can focus on what you do best, your business.

Other

Are your consulting services a tax-deductible business expense?
According to the IRS and IRC§162a and 212, business expenses are the cost of carrying on a trade or business. These expenses are usually deductible if the business is operated to make a profit. To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your trade or business. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your trade or business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

For most clients, that puts us in the yes category, to be sure, consult your tax professional for specific guidance.

Do you provide instructors/speakers for organized events or customized training sessions?
We sure do!  In addition to the training we offer – like our Six Day MBA program – GoBusiness Group’s consultants and leaders are eager to speak to audiences who can benefit from our knowledge and experience.  Scheduling of instructors or speakers is obviously schedule-dependent, so contacting us early to discuss possible topics and dates for the event helps tremendously. Contact us today to discuss your need for speakers, and we’ll do everything we can to accommodate your event.

The services we need don’t quite fit into any of the categories listed on your site. Can you still help us?
Even though we see many of the same problems over and over again, no two situations are identical. Sometimes clients don’t know exactly what’s wrong, but realize that something just doesn’t quite work right. Or they see the symptoms (often in dwindling profits or cash flow) but can’t identify the root cause since they’re too close to the problem. In some cases, they are the problem!

That why, even though we offer standardized programs, much of our advisory and transaction work is custom made. By building teams and services as needed, we’re flexible enough to address many diverse or changing needs. We also have a growing network of service partners that may be of help. We can’t be all things to all people, but we’ll try our best to point you in the right direction. Contact us for a FREE consultation and financial analysis today. We’d love to hear about your opportunity!