Management consultancy for SMEs

We have excellent business know-how and many years of practical experience in the field of business management and controlling. Take advantage of our expertise!

Be aware of your goals, get an overview of your numbers, secure your returns and remain financially independent. Our goal is always to connect with your needs, your potential resources and the market potential for expanding your success. How is this supposed to work? Quite simply: Actual analysis - potential analysis - action-oriented measures with implementation controlling.

Have a conversation with us and we will convince you! You will see: we speak your language.

Start-up consulting

There is nothing more complex than starting a business! The complexity of an idea seems almost limitless. This makes it all the more important to analyse, define and ultimately plan the different phases of the foundation in a structured manner.

The foundation consists of the following phases:

1. Idea or project
2. Conception and planning
3. Realization or startup
4. Consolidation or consolidation phase

In the development of ideas, one's own motive and entrepreneurial qualification are in the forefront. In the design and planning phase, all business-relevant aspects are analysed and worked out with the aim of determining the viability of the project. Opportunities and risks are compared and assessed as the bottom line. The right funding is also of lasting importance for start-ups! The implementation phase begins with the foundation of the company and implements all the milestones relevant in the business plan Step by Step. Legal and tax support is a natural part of success and sustainability for this phase.

The final phase distinguishes the successful entrepreneur, because at this stage it is always clear to what extent the planning differs from the actual course of the company's development. Are you an entrepreneur or do you fail to make the necessary decisions?There is so much that can be done right, but also a lot of things could be done wrong. We have been experts in business start-ups in a wide range of industries since 2006. We supported more than 260 start-ups of well-known companies in the start-up phase and, if desired, also in the consolidation phase. Many jobs were created sustainably with us! After about 4 to 5 years, the consolidation phase is usually completed.

Management consulting (strategy consulting)

Management pursues long-term corporate goals that concern the company's future security and enhances the value.In view of the current situations within the company, competition and the development of the markets, a roadmap for the company is developed. Market positioning, unique selling points and critical features for securing the future are incorporated into the "FIT FOR FUTURE" method developed by us. With this method, we will discuss the current situation together with you in advance. The results of the elaboration will be made available to you as a management guide. The continuous review and adaptation of this guideline is an integral part of our tried-and-tested method.

The strategy process aims to involve all relevant target groups in the company through its structured approach. A special focus is placed on the sustainable implementation of the strategy, with the aim of increasing the company's value in the long term. During the implementation, we also support you in internal operational communication, so that your employees can be recruited for the changes in the company.

The main topics of management consulting are in particular:

Strategy, competitive and growth strategies, business models, transactions

• Organization, Restructuring, Cost Reduction, Process Optimization, and Organizational       Development
• Leadership, Corporate Culture, Leadership, Management systems, Personnel development
• Production, Production program, Productivity increase, lean management
• Logistics, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, increase in efficiency
• Marketing, Brand Management, Product Management, Pricing, Sales Policy, PR, Customer Management

Market Analysis & Positioning: Quo Vadis – Where to Go?

In order to achieve business goals, knowledge of the markets, customers and competitors is of central importance. With the help of this knowledge, you can then position yourself correctly on the market. 

We analyze market data and develop a catalogue of measures to place products and services where demand takes place and can prevail. By qualifying as a service consultant, according to the model of the academic university in Lahr, results can be applied sustainably for your success. With an effective and systematic approach, a comprehensive roadmap is tailored to your project based on the technical requirements of products and services, customer needs and a competitive comparison.

Market analyses 

The motives of market analyses in companies are very diverse. There are a few reasons for looking for new distribution channels, new target groups or the general increase in existing products and services. In particular, the analysis shows the driving forces of a market:

• Customers / Consumers
• Suppliers / Producers
• Replacement provider
• Potential newcomers and the barriers to entry that exist for such newcomers
• Already active competitors in the market

Implementation of a Market Analysis

Every market with its offers and its target group has its own special characteristics. A market analysis starts in our own company. The basis for the market analysis is the individual attributes of the products and services compared to the competition. In doing so, the existing potential and existing resources in the company must be meaningfully included. This basis can be used to identify the target groups and their needs together with market requirements. The aim of the market analysis must be to position the products and services with the defined target group and to increase sales according to the potential. We obtain relevant market data for this purpose and can use our network to create sound market analyses for the strategic orientation of your company.

Results of a Market Analysis: 

• Analysis of the results with regard to the information relevant to the client
• Structured, decision-oriented preparation of data according to the defined project objectives
• Assessment of market potential
• Assessment costs for marketing activities (marketing budgeting)

Innovation Consulting

The increasingly complex demands in the economic world, the ever-faster moving innovation cycles as well as rising energy costs and the increasing digitalization make it necessary for small and medium-sized enterprises in particular to constantly expand their competence and keep up to date with the latest technology development, management methods and process design.

It is precisely in this area that the view from the outside is valuable. In addition, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs supports the analysis, recommendations for action and their support for practical implementation, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, with advisory grants.

In addition to the innovation development of concrete projects, technology-open research and development are also eligible. These are granted in the form of grants and low-interest loans to small and medium-sized enterprises to finance research and innovation projects. In doing so, cooperation with research institutions is particularly encouraged so that new scientific knowledge can be quickly transformed into marketable products.

In order to maintain international competitiveness, small and medium-sized enterprises must also be able to survive the innovation race. It is therefore particularly important for this area to cooperate with research institutions whose research and development work is specifically geared to their needs and whose results can be transferred and implemented quickly and efficiently. The decisive factor here is to plan the competence of the company in parallel in addition to existing business processes of the possible requirements.

Innovation

As an accredited consultant for RKW Baden Württemberg GmbH and the EEDI 2 certification of the Lahr University of Applied Sciences, Averas Consulting is involved in the results on the topic "successful technical services" and "Industry 4.0". Especially thanks to the strong network at RKW Baden Württemberg, we are a partner and pilot for innovative progress for SMEs. Get in touch and find out about the inexhaustible possibilities. Especially in this area, there is support from the federal government and the state for development projects and the associated consulting services.

Maintaining or increasing competitiveness has steadily increased in dynamics over the past 25 years and is therefore now forcing companies to take a separate management view. The most important aspects of innovation management are the targeted or controlled

• replacement of old processes and technical processes,
• the design of new service processes,
• Removal of internal interfaces and related information
• Building a corporate network.

Due to the fast pace, especially in competitive markets, margins are often too low to be given a livelihood from the core business (mostly project transactions). As a result, in contrast to the past, the service sectors in companies have had to develop more strongly, such as service sector in mechanical engineering companies. One of the core objectives of innovation management therefore pursues the goal of implementing existing and new customers more strongly in their own process. Therefore, the current trend with Industry 4.0 is also a logical development of this spirit of innovation. It will lead to a stronger relationship with the customer and an increase in sales per customer. It will also be more difficult for competitors to oust their competitors in the future if they can maintain their innovation activities.

Staff development

It seems to be getting harder and harder to find employees for a company – especially good employees! Whereas in the past an employee has remained loyal to a company for a lifetime, today this is less and less the case when compared. For companies with high demands on jobs and corresponding employee qualification, it is therefore all the more important to take a close look at this value-adding part of the company. The qualification, the commitment and above all the motivation of the employees are the decisive success factors for the company. Just as in a product life cycle, the behavior of the employees in the respective phases is often very different. Thus, an employee behaves differently in the early success phase than in the saturated phase or even in the recession.

Another important factor for personnel development is the organizational basis in the company. It is often shown that crucial regulations only seem to exist or obviously do not exist at all. As a result of this shortcoming, the company loses valuable values in the company, which sooner or later can lead to doom.

In recent years, we have accompanied many companies in this process and are professional, sensitive and process-oriented in improving the performance of the company significantly.

Funding advice: Research & Analysis

The fundingscheme is a paradise for companies in Germany thanks to the numerous programmes of the state, the federal government and the EU up to 10,000 funding’s can be selected for a wide range of issues and projects.

However, it is not always advisable to simply accept so-called "gifts from the state". Rather, it is important to align yourself consciously and specifically according to the current business circumstances and future needs. After all, funding programmes also set conditions and requirements. The main tasks in the funding consultancy are to evaluate these and to compare them precisely with opportunities and risks. This is an art we master. We support companies in their research and analysis.

Application

The next step is to submit an application. The "funding language" provides its own terminology. As an entrepreneur, one is usually not trained for this or lacks experience, which can often lead to questions, loops or even rejections of applications submitted. We submit the application together with you and accompany the process until the approval decision. Our goal is always the successful processing up to the disbursement of the funds. We ensure that the funding is disbursed quickly and that all deadlines are met. Even after the funding has been disbursed, we are at your disposal in all matters relating to funding.

Business plan consulting

Although the Business plan is primarily for the business community itself, it enables the Entrepreneur to use a better way to think through and check his visions.

Business plans are usually drawn up for financing needs.

The most common reasons for creating business plans are:

• Foundation and succession
• Growth and operational financing
• Project financing
• Equity capital
• Venture capital
• Company crisis (mostly restructuring report according to IDW S6)

The minimum requirements for a business plan are profitability planning, usually in conjunction with a liquidity plan. Proof of the ability to re-pay debt is imperative for banks, as it is an immovable requirement in the Banking Act.

All other components in the business plan depend on the respective requirements and needs. For founders, for example the market with its competition and planned market entry is of great importance. On other occasions, the focus can again be on completely different priorities. A business plan does not have to become a thick book, but must be able to provide the right information for the appropriate decision-makers such as banks.

In the many discussions we have had with banks over the years, it is always clear that our individual elaborations are viewed positively.It is not recommended to go to a financing interview with a planning full of "empty text modules". The financing partner can immediately recognize this and drills for plausible reasons for the project. This can be a reason for rejecting a project, and as such could mean that the project funds will be denied by the financing partner. Planning must convince from the beginning and create trust. After all, it is not for nothing that the Latin word "credo" is used in the term credit, of faith or trust.

We can coach and support you through your project and in the preparation and the creation. There are also government subsidies for small and medium-sized enterprises to draw up business plans.