The Business Journey
We view growing a business as a journey that makes its way though many different phases and will need different kinds of help along the way.
Whatever stage of the journey your business has reached, our team has the skill and expertise to help you to the next stage.
Read on to see how we can help guide you through your journey.
Starting out
Starting a business is one of the most exciting and scary journeys you can embark upon. And as with most journeys, the better prepared you are when you set out, the more pleasurable and less hazardous the journey becomes - which is where we come in.
At nortons, we will talk through your business ideas with you, helping you to hone your business plan and assisting with the whole set up process. The advice you receive will be honest and accurate, so if we don't believe your idea will fly, we will say so! But convince us that your idea is sound and we will support you completely, sharing your journey from day one and adjusting our services to meet your changing needs along the way.
Growing pains
Having made those first tentative steps, your business is now ready to move forward: the business is established, you have a few customers, there's some money coming in and you feel confident enough to take those first big steps towards growth.
nortons uses structured proprietary ways of helping businesses though this critical period, offering you people tax, HR, marketing and sales advice. We can also help you with raising capital - both from the equity markets and the banks.
Moving on
Success brings with it challenges that need expert help and advice. In the early stages of your journey, things were quite simple, but growth brings with it more complicated issues that need professional attention. You might have considered turning to the major firms, but have been put off by the fees. nortons provides an affordable alternative.
nortons will assess your needs and make sure that you get the service you need. We recognise that growth can be expensive and you need to watch the budget, so if you don't need all our services, we won't pressurize you to use them. You will get honest advice and recommendations about the appropriate services that can add value to your business at this particular stage of your journey - a tailored package that will be just right for where you are - no more, no less.
Shoulder to lean on
There are times when running your own business can be lonely. Everyone needs to talk to someone occasionally about business, but it's not always appropriate to share your thoughts with the team or your family. The answer is a business mentor - someone who can talk to you and offer you the right kind of advice based on knowledge and experience of businesses just like yours.
nortons has a number of skilled business mentors they can call on, who will offer guidance and advice when you need it most. Occasionally, it may even be helpful to appoint them as non-executive directors to your business; but often, they work best as 'critical friends'.
Bumpy Road
No business journey runs smoothly. There are always issues that need to be dealt with, and some will be more tricky than others. Economic downturns, client defections, staff illnesses and many other challenges will need to be addressed along the way.
But don't make any rash decisions - the best approach is to talk to an expert first and get their advice. Sitting down with one of our team may help you reach an independent and objective perspective of the issues you face and help you through the crisis.
nortons service range from financial and organisational restructuring to voluntary arrangements with creditors and all stops in between.
Dead end
Working hard but getting no-where? Many companies reach a point where they work hard every year by don't seem to make any impression on the marketplace. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to talk to us.
We work with you to analyse your business from a number of different angles, from finance and staffing to sales, competition and the marketplace. We will then help you develop a new plan that will take a new perspective on your business and bring it back to life. Sometimes this analysis results in a need to exit or buy or sell the business, and in these cases, we bring in our expert corporate finance advisers to help you gain the best valuation or find the right partner.
Pit stop
Sometimes, you simply need an ear. We are always available to spend time with you on the phone or over a coffee to discuss how to fix something or to deal with a particular issue. It's all part of the service.