As business owners slowly unearth themselves from the rubble of the recession, they realize that in order for their businesses to get back on track, they have some serious rebuilding to do. If you find yourself in this same position, realize that you’re not alone—countless entrepreneurs are currently looking for ways to restructure and rebuild their businesses back to thriving ventures. The following three steps can help:
Focus on your strengths. Assess your practice and determine what, exactly, you do best. Are you good at saving failing businesses? Or perhaps you have a talent for making businesses more profitable? Or maybe you’re personable, friendly and trustworthy? The truth is, you could be a combination of these things, but only when you recognize your own strengths can you better promote them. In a recent BNET article entitled “Rebuild Your Personal Brand Starting with Strengths, author Sean Silverthorne said, “You can’t, and shouldn’t, start over from scratch. Never mind that it’s impossible to change your DNA, your personality, your innate strengths. In fact, the best starting point for an effective remake of Brand Me is to sit down with a piece of paper and list your own unique selling propositions.”
Diversify product offerings. In 2008 the recession left Valley Screen Process Co. with a significant reduction in their clientele. In 2009, they rebuilt their business, launching OleeKids.org, a site enabling parents to create custom decals using their kids’ pictures. Owner Karen Barnett explained, “With the excess time we had on our hands, we did what should have been done all along, which was to diversify our product offerings.”
If you intend to continue your business only offering accounting services, then to grow that business you must draw more clients who need those services. That’s doable, but there are other, more effective ways to build your business. Consider this; if you were to add complementary services, like tax preparation, QuickBooks consulting, loan application services, and business turnaround help, your current clients are likely to request some of those services as well. Without sending out fliers, postcards, or doing one radio commercial, you could increase your billable hours simply by informing current clients of your expanded offerings.
Reintroduce yourself. Once you’ve redefined and redirected your efforts, you can reintroduce your business to the area through marketing. With the attention on your strengths and new product offerings, you may be surprised how quickly your business grows.
Partner with Universal to Rebuild Your Practice
Universal Accounting Center may not be an official partner in your business, but we are in the business of helping build stronger, more profitable practices. Regardless of your current strengths, the Universal Practice Builder (UPB) program will enable you to attract and retain more clients, enabling you to rebuild a more stable practice. Here’s just a sampling of what you will gain from enrolling in this phenomenal program:
- A guarantee of $30,000 in new annualized billings in only 12 months
- The skills to become a Profit Expert for each of your clients
- 12 marketing strategies that you can implement immediately
- A process which can produce 15 to 25 qualified leads per month
- 3 months of coaching via telephone and Internet
- Training to use QuickBooks to attract more clients
- Access to a plan proven to help retain clients
- 5 business assessments
- A customized business website
- An iron-clad guarantee
Recover from the recession by making efforts to rebuild your practice. Allow us to show you how. Call 1-877-833-7909 now to enroll in the Universal Practice Builder Program.
Resources
Girard, Lisa. “From Rock Bottom to Rebirth.” 14 March 2011 Entrepreneur.com
Silverthorne, Sean. “Rebuild Your Personal Brand Starting with Strengths.” 10 March 2011 BNET.com
