Frequently Asked Questions

• Why don’t you list pricing for services ?
• That sure would make life easier but unfortunately it is difficult if not impossible to do.  I guess the best way to answer this is for you to think of me as a doctor for your business. Much like it is impossible for the doctor to determine what may be slowing you down a bit and what treatment to suggest without seeing you and conducting some preliminary tests, the same holds true for a business consultant. And though you may have a good feel for what’s ailing your business sometimes the symptoms are an indication of something else which may be easier or harder to resolve.  
• I’m a small business, can I afford your services?
• Yes. I created this company, the services, and pricing specifically for privately-held small businesses as a equally capable yet affordable alternative to the big firms. We have a wide range of engagement approaches and pricing (see below). I tend to avoid the hourly approach and lean towards more fixed project pricing so you have a clear idea of the cost from start to finish. We do offer hourly business coaching for when you need a qualified outside sounding board for a new business idea or issue.  
• Why the free one-hour coffee meeting? Can’t I talk to you about my issues over the phone?
• Next to your family and home your business ranks as one of the most important things in your life. As such you should be cautious about who you share details of your business with. Having a website doesn’t qualify someone to be a consultant. Whether it is me or someone else I encourage you to meet, to get a feel for the quality of their experience and advice. This is one reason I offer the free one-hour coffee chat. The second reason is personal. I want to get a feel myself for who you are as a business owner and how committed you are to act on advice and follow though with the necessary changes to overcome the challenge you face. As you can see both of us will benefit from this coffee meeting. And it’s FREE!  Contact us to schedule your meeting now.   
• What should I look for when selecting a business consultant or coach?
• If you believe as I do that the role of a consultant is to transfer his/her set of tools (skills) for growing a business to you and that his/her tools come from actual hands-on experience then I would look primarily for two things, (1) the variety of his/her experience (sales, operations, etc...) – reflected by the roles he has served in companies, and (2)  the depth or quality of his experience – measured by his/her accomplishments. Lastly, an “expert” cannot be self appointed.  It takes others to recognize someone as an expert. If you can’t tell yourself if the person you are considering is an 'expert' look to see who out there (respected business publications, buisnesses (ATL Tech Village), recognitions, awards, universities, etc...) values and recognizes their expertise. It should be readily apparent on their website and LinkedIn page. See my LinkedIn page
• How else can I get a feel for your expertise?
• I routinely share experiences and advice for business owners through my written articles, some of which have been published by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Gwinnett Business Journal, Business Insider and Atlanta Journal Constitution. All of the articles can be found on my blog here. There is a subscription feature so you won’t miss the latest article. You can also follow me on twitter where I share other articles or resources my clients would benefit from.
• Can’t I use my accountant or lawyer as my business consultant?
• If someone is suing you, use a lawyer. If you have bookkeeping issues, use a CPA. But if you are looking for marketing or sales strategy advice, or advice on new markets to expand to, then my answer is absolutely not. It goes back to the issue I addressed in an earlier question.  You become an expert in a given field through training and hands-on experience.  Lawyers are trained in the nuances of law, accountants in bookkeeping and tax compliance.  Neither one of these professions are known for marketing, branding, sales, or operations. If they truly have your interest at heart they would refer you to the experts that do. 
• I’ve never engaged a consultant before.  What will the experience be like?
• Well, early on I will be asking a lot of questions about your company, your product or service, and your clients. The engineer in me needs data before I venture to give any advice. You will find that I like to use stories from past clients or relevant personal experiences to support any recommendation I may make.  I am a firm believer growth is not something you stumble upon. There is thought and analysis behind what direction to take and how best to get there. I am blunt and direct.  I am not shy about telling you candidly when the course you are considering is wrong. I will support why I feel that way and share alternatives. But at the same time, it is your business, and I will respect and support your final decision. 
• What’s the difference between your firm and a marketing company?
• Too many companies have thrown thousands of dollars away on social media, websites, car wraps, billboards, ads, flyers and brochures with nothing to show other than the fleeting good feeling they had when the product was first unveiled. You will find that most marketing firms are “creative” firms. I admire and respect their creativity and firmly endorse their services with one major condition – that you know with detailed specificity what you are trying to achieve with your marketing dollars and it can’t just be, “I want more customers”. Allegro will help you do the important analysis of your business and create a plan for growth before ever meeting with a marketing firm. With our information, analysis, and plan you will be better equipped to evaluate a firms ability to take the actions you want within a budget you’ve defined. Our Lead Growth page will show you how Allegro can help you generate quality leads for your business.
• Will you share references? 
• Absolutely. I start with the assumption that my clients prefer confidentiality when engaging our services. That said, my clients have been kind enough to offer to speak to potential new clients to share their experience with Allegro. You will be pleased with what they have to say.
• I am a professional services company (CPA, marketing, outsourced payroll, etc....).  Would you be interested in partnering with our firm to offer services to your clients – if we will pay a commission to you? 
• We get this question nearly every week. Our policy is firm. We will not take a commission for referring a service provider to our clients. If you want to be someone we recommend you’ll have to show us evidence of your work. If we feel you are well qualified we will gladly suggest your service and typically two other competitors for our client to choose from. We will never present one choice. America was built on competition and competing is good for all parties.