Find Top Business Advisory Firms Near You

Business advisors are the best to give counsel and advice to your business on growth, performance and financial matters. Professionals such as accountants and business consultants may also provide advisory services covering financial planning, cash flow management, leadership, risk and strategies. It's important to look for someone with glowing reviews, understands your business and is honest, smart and can work with you for many years. 

What is a business advisor?

Business advisors are experts at advising you on business growth, performance and turnaround, specifically in business strategies and finance such as cash flow management and financial planning. They can be likened to big picture experts who dish out unbiased and objective advice based on their experience and skills.

What is the difference between business advisors and business consultants?

Business advisors play a more indirect role compared to business consultants. Advisors will give counsel and recommendations at a high-level but do not implement the advice. Meanwhile, consultants implement solutions to a problem, at high or low level, and often follow through on the advice of business advisors.

Which is better, business advisory services or mentoring services?

Business advisory services are better when you need a second opinion on your business growth, direction and performance. On the other hand, mentoring services are better when you need more guidance and hand holding especially during the early stages of building a business.

Who should hire business advisors?

Small businesses that need a high-level solution or direction should hire business advisors because they are the pros to hire for business direction, strategies and financial planning. They can work with you for the long term to ensure your business is moving in the right direction.

How to hire the best business advisors or advisory firm for your business?

These are a handful of criteria to look for when choosing and hiring the best business advisor or firm:

• Track record: Find advisors with a solid track record who can walk the talk.
• Talk to previous clients: Nowadays, it's easy to reach out to other small business owners to get their opinions and reviews on a business advisor or firm.
• Fit to be your right hand: An advisor's main job is to give sound and invaluable advice that you can't get elsewhere, which is why you must hire someone who can be like your right hand.
• Trust, transparency, leadership: It's critical to hire someone trustworthy, transparent on pricing and processes and full of leadership qualities.
• Listens to you: A great business advisor should not lord over you from a pedestal but is able to listen to you and exercise patience in order to come up with the best advice.
• Knows more than you: You should always hire advisors who are smarter than you, and it should never be the other way around. He or she can offer a different perspective and solution that you wouldn't have thought of.
• Hire within budget: Ensure your advisor or the advisory firm is clear about their cost and pricing, so you don't get hit with an unexpected big bill.
• Spend time with them: It's crucial to interview them or spend time over coffee before hiring an advisor. This is the time to get to know whether they are the right fit for your business.
• Know when to let go: Equally important as hiring the best advisor, is knowing when to fire one who is not bringing you value. Watch out for red flags, listen to your instinct and part ways quickly.