Your business isn't performing as it should. What needs to change?
Perhaps revenue is growing but profitability isn't. Cash flow is under pressure. Costs have increased, operational problems are affecting performance or the business has lost direction.
You may understand some of the problems but be uncertain about their causes, priorities or solutions.
The important question isn't simply what's going wrong. It's what can realistically be done to improve the position.
Gibson Strategic Solutions helps business owners, directors and investors understand the challenges facing a business, identify practical solutions and implement meaningful change.
When something needs to change.
Businesses rarely encounter problems in isolation. Financial performance, operational efficiency, management effectiveness and commercial strategy are often closely connected.
We work with businesses experiencing situations such as:
- Revenue growth without corresponding improvements in profitability.
- Persistent cash flow pressure or declining margins.
- Increasing costs and inefficient operations.
- Underperforming teams, departments or business units.
- Weak financial or management information.
- Ineffective sales, marketing or customer acquisition.
- Difficulties implementing growth or transformation plans.
- Shareholder or investor concerns about performance.
- A business that has become too dependent on its owner or a small number of individuals.
These issues do not necessarily mean a business is fundamentally unsound.
They may indicate that its strategy, operations, financial structure or management approach needs to change.
Diagnose before prescribing.
It is tempting to respond to disappointing performance by cutting costs, increasing sales activity or changing personnel.
Sometimes those measures are appropriate. Sometimes they address symptoms rather than causes.
Our starting point is to understand how the business actually operates.
That may involve reviewing:
Financial performance
Revenue, profitability, cash flow, working capital, costs and the reliability of management information.
Commercial performance
Customers, pricing, sales conversion, market position, products and services.
Operations
Processes, technology, capacity, productivity and delivery.
People and leadership
Management structures, accountability, skills and decision-making.
Strategy
The business model, competitive position, objectives and realistic opportunities.
The depth of assessment depends on the circumstances. The objective is to establish a reliable picture without creating unnecessary cost or delay.
From diagnosis to a practical improvement plan.
Once the issues are understood, we work with the business to establish priorities and develop a realistic course of action.
Depending on the circumstances, that might include:
- Improving cash flow management and financial visibility.
- Reviewing pricing, margins and commercial performance.
- Reducing unnecessary expenditure.
- Redesigning operational processes.
- Improving sales and customer conversion.
- Strengthening management information and accountability.
- Introducing appropriate technology and automation.
- Restructuring teams or management responsibilities.
- Developing and implementing a revised business strategy.
Not every business needs a major transformation programme.
Sometimes a relatively small number of well-chosen interventions can materially improve performance.
The priority is identifying the changes that will make the greatest commercial difference.
Change needs to happen, not simply be recommended.
An improvement plan is only valuable if the business has the capacity and commitment to deliver it.
GSS can remain involved during implementation, working with owners, directors, management teams and other advisers.
Our involvement may include establishing priorities, coordinating workstreams, introducing performance measures, supporting management decisions and helping resolve obstacles.
We can also provide interim or fractional leadership where the circumstances and engagement require it.
The objective is to create measurable improvements and leave the business better equipped to sustain them.
Sometimes the right answer is a different direction.
Not every business problem can be resolved through operational improvement.
A business may require additional funding, a more fundamental restructuring, a change of ownership or an orderly exit.
Part of our role is recognising when a different approach is necessary.
Where appropriate, we help clients explore those alternatives and work alongside specialist advisers.
- Fund It
- Restructure It
- Sell It
- Close It
What could your business look like in six months?
If your business isn't performing as it should, the first step is understanding why and what can realistically be changed.