Size Does Matter!

Do you sometimes feel a bit "uneasy" about doing business with a small company? Do you feel that you re probably best served by hiring a large firm to help you? Would you rather spend more money with a larger firm because you feel that they re worth it? There s something you need to know. When looking for a job, a new vendor or a resource to hire for a project... large firms may not be the best answer for you. Don t be Embarrassed to Tell Your Clients That You re a Small Business. I personally know many small business owners who try to act and look bigger than they really are. Why is that do you think? Maybe it s because they believe it s their client s perception that giant companies can do more. Well, when you really take a good look at this issue... it s the giant companies that are usually the ones who deliver the weakest customer service. They are the ones that are harder to reach by email or phone. They are the ones that forget who you are. They are the ones that transfer you from department to department because they don t know what to do with you or really understand your needs. I guess there is no other way to say this than to just say it. If you re a small company - BE PROUD! Why? Because you have so much to offer anyone who ever decides to do business with you. Here Are the Top 6 Reasons to Do Business With a Small Company 1. Big means slow. Slow like the turtle. And although in the race against the hare... the turtle always wins, it s not the case in business. Nimble, quick, flexible, these are three criteria to being able to handle a problem. Big businesses often stumble profusely in this area. Because they re so big... they get in their own way. How? Take a look at these reasons: a. Too many policies and procedures and an inability to be flexible b. Too lengthy of a chain of command c. Too long response and service time and eventually too many customer complaints Why is it that convenience stores are so popular? Because you can get what you want, when you want it. Sure the price may be higher, but price loses many times when it comes to convenience. 2. It is our policy to... "Who cares?" It doesn t matter what their policy states. If a customer isn t happy, explaining your policy doesn t do much to solve your problem. And doesn t it make you angrier when they tell you that the policy was created for YOUR benefit? Small business owners love the policies of big business. And the bigger the better! A big policy usually means a dissatisfied customer. A dissatisfied customer who is forced to deal with policy... will leave. Small businesses can adjust immediately and make decisions on the fly and more often than not, those decisions will benefit their customers. If the policy of a small business owner isn t working for their clients, they can throw it out the window and create a new one. A big company is tied to multiple board-of-director meetings and attorney reviews before they can ever change their policy. Think about that for a minute. 3. Who are you again? Those four words will never be spoken by the small company. Why? Because they value each and every client that calls on them. They take the time to know them and understand their needs. There is no replacement for personal service. How nice is it to be able to pick up the phone and actually speak to the same person who not only knows your business, they know your situation personally. Again, there is no replacement for that - ever. Your time is very important. You don t have time for reiteration, getting transferred or put on hold and dealing with people who don t really care. They say they do (because that s what their told to do)... but they really don t. Not really. And it s not there fault, it s just the way it is. 4. We ll let you know. So basically, if a decision must be made, it won t be made today or tomorrow. Too many procedures and policies and a long chain of command cripples the decision making process of a big company. However, customer-focused organizations are not that way at all. It is all about the customer. Small companies can address things immediately. Things like billing policies, new product decisions, personal customizations or contract approvals can be decided upon and addressed very quickly and that s to your benefit. 5. Small companies have "real experts". That s a fact. Large companies are known to have too much fluff (hiring "bodies", not experts), internal strife, internal competition and many other issues that come with being "big". They can get a strong market position by spending a ton of money on advertising... and so the "perception" is that they must be good at what they do. In some instances, that s true... but in so many others - it s absolutely false. And keep in mind... who do you think ultimately pays for all of that advertising? You do - the consumer. It s built into the price of doing business with a larger firm. Small companies have the expertise and knowledge to be leveraged as a trusted resource. When you want something done or need a service - who are you going to call? Trust the experts of a lean, customer-focused organization with the right subject matter expertise to get the job done right for you the first time. 6. The ability to stay lean and outsource. Outsourcing means you can get the best of the best to work with you as a partner and simultaneously run a cost-effective, profitable operation. Outsourcing allows a small company to spend a good part of their time focused on doing the right thing by their clients. Additionally, outsourcing can lead to a more efficient and profitable organization - this is innovation at work. It s important for small companies to maintain the same level of superior customer service when outsourcing certain projects. However, if the outsourcing is done right, it can be very cost-effective for the company - a cost savings that ultimately gets passed on to you - the consumer. I could go on and on about the advantages of being small. These points are only the tip of the iceberg. While big corporations do have their advantages, small businesses can out maneuver and out service them every time! So the next time someone asks how many employees do you have or how big your company is... stick your chest out and say "not too many... and we like it that way."



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