"Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential"
Winston S. Churchill
Every business needs a strategy to succeed. At S4S we know that successful strategic leadership is about formulating appropriate strategies (understanding core competencies and weaknesses) and effective implementation (“walking the talk”)
Business plans and financial forecasts are essential communication tools between your business and its important stakeholders (banks, investors, creditors). Additionally, they provide a focal point for measuring progress toward achievement of strategic aims. Clear and accurate financial reporting of past and current performance allied with lucid presentation of future plans and forecasts will inspire trust from lenders and increase the chances of gaining new investment.
It is extremely rare for businesses to grow without requiring extra funding for working capital and capital investment. If you are not in a position to provide this yourself there are plenty of suitable funding opportunities available. Your chances of gaining access to these sources however, will be substantially enhanced by employing S4S to present your plans in language the lender understands.
If you are contemplating a change in the ownership of your business you will want to maximise the value you receive from it sale. S4S will help you through the process by assessing the specific requirements of shareholders, management and staff, recommend the best exit strategy and appropriate timescales with a view to optimising shareholder value.
S4S will ensure that your own finance team (no matter how big) is managed effectively on a day to day basis and mentor the junior members of the team as their development proceeds towards taking more responsibility within your growing business.
According to a recent report by Deloitte, UK companies have £64bn tied up in excess working capital. Clearly managing cash and working capital is vital to the health and vitality of your business but can quickly become a disproportionate burden on your precious time. S4S has the experience and expertise to free up the cash you currently have invested in slow-moving stock lines, late paying customers and inefficient billing processes.
The knowledge and experience S4S provides will help drive continuous improvement of your business processes, eliminating waste, reducing costs and focusing on maximising the potential of your organisation.
Accurate and timely reporting of the performance of your business is an essential management tool to help you stay in control. S4S has the expertise to provide clear and concise management reports covering all your key performance criteria (product margins, overhead costs, cash flow, etc.)
As your business grows the burden of compliance with statutory regulation inevitably increases at the same time. Failure to comply with VAT rules, for example, can result in significant extra cost for the business. Similarly, as your business grows it will, in all likelihood, outgrow the processes that worked for it before. IT systems usually provide solutions but are expensive and time consuming to implement. S4S understands business risk and is experienced at IT system implementation and business process change.