bake - January 2014 - 12

management

When to Hire a Consultant
Consultants can bring expertise and experience that your
business does not have otherwise, according to the National

The following tips on when to hire a consultant

Federation of Independent Business. They can help manage

come from the National Federation of Independent

long-term strategies, complete a project that requires highly

Business:

specialized skills or help you get work done efficiently. 
 

› Seeking advisory services

But consultants can be expensive-even when the results

If you feel like your business needs a facelift, or

they produce are substandard. That's why it's crucial as

your competition is trumping you, you may want to

a small business owner to know when you should-and

hire a strategic advisor who can provide guidance

shouldn't-hire a consultant.

on high-level issues and business strategies like
expanding your market. They'll get to know the ins

Kirk Rossberg, owner of Torrance Bakery in Southern

and outs of your business, and give you recommen-

California, says he hired a business consultant this year, as

dations to improve your operations.

well as looked into hiring a public relations team to promote
their innovative products. Torrance Bakery celebrates its
30th anniversary in 2014.

› Helping with short-term projects
Not all consultants are high-level strategic advisers.
Some are experts with a specific skill or area of ex-

"This has been a great year. Register sales have actually

pertise (like marketing, graphic design or information

grown by double digits from the previous quarter of the

technology) that can help your business get through

same period a year ago," he said in mid-December. "Still,

a particularly busy period. Hire a consultant to under-

sometimes you need someone from the outside to look at

take short-term projects when you need additional

your business. Right now, we're focused on managing costs."

assistance or a specialized set of skills. Consultants
can jump right into the project with little training.

Decorated and dessert cakes represent 40% of total sales at
Torrance Bakery, which runs a separate wedding cake show-

› Hiring temporary staff

room next to the bakery, and wedding cakes account for 11%

If you're short-staffed and simply need help on

of sales. Cookie and cupcake sales remain strong. Decorated

work that isn't associated with a project, consul-

cakes pose a challenge to profitability though, as special

tants can help you "get over the hump." They're es-

requests for custom cake designs are going through the roof.

pecially helpful in filling roles left open while you're
trying to find a new full-time employee or when an

Bakery owners might think accepting cake orders online

employee is on leave.

would help alleviate some of the obstacles that cake shops
run into with special orders. But Rossberg points out that

› Finding the right fit

consumer requests for unique cake designs are becoming

Business owners or managers can define the consul-

so common that customers are quick to ask for extras-even

tant's role before bringing someone on. If you can't

online. "About 75% of our online orders now want special

find the right fit, ask yourself if you can defer the

requests," he says.

task at hand.

In general, hiring a consultant can help you solve a partic-

› Define longer term needs

ular problem or turn your business in the right direction.

If you've hired the same consultant for multiple as-

Rossberg says that a regular refresh can help your business

signments, it's time to hire a full-time employee.

gain perspective and stay on the road to profitability.

12 < JAN 2014 | bakemag.com


http://www.bakemag.com

bake - January 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of bake - January 2014

bake - January 2014
Editor's Note - Taking Off with Trends
Table of Contents
News Bites - RBA Roadshow to Cincinnati
Bakery Industry Loses Pioneer
Corbion Offers Hydrated Ancient Grains
Lawrence Earns Sustainability Award
My Favorite Things
Management - When to Hire a Consultant
Labor Front - Health Care 2014
Legislation - The Trans Fat Dilemma
Ingredients - Valentine's Chocolates
Chocolate Tempering
Vanilla Takes Off
Finding Growth
The Biscuit Boom
Biscuit Shops Around the Country
A Fresh Approach to Online Sales
Maintaining Safety
New FDA Defense Rule
Investing in Innovation
The Ancients
Start the Party Early
Macaron Magic
Cake Stars
Cafe - Top Trends for 2014
Products
Product Showcase
Classifieds
Ad Index
bake - January 2014 - BB1
bake - January 2014 - BB2
bake - January 2014 - bake - January 2014
bake - January 2014 - 2
bake - January 2014 - Editor's Note - Taking Off with Trends
bake - January 2014 - 4
bake - January 2014 - 5
bake - January 2014 - 6
bake - January 2014 - Table of Contents
bake - January 2014 - Lawrence Earns Sustainability Award
bake - January 2014 - 9
bake - January 2014 - My Favorite Things
bake - January 2014 - 11
bake - January 2014 - Management - When to Hire a Consultant
bake - January 2014 - 13
bake - January 2014 - Labor Front - Health Care 2014
bake - January 2014 - 15
bake - January 2014 - Legislation - The Trans Fat Dilemma
bake - January 2014 - 17
bake - January 2014 - Ingredients - Valentine's Chocolates
bake - January 2014 - Chocolate Tempering
bake - January 2014 - Vanilla Takes Off
bake - January 2014 - 21
bake - January 2014 - 22
bake - January 2014 - 23
bake - January 2014 - 24
bake - January 2014 - 25
bake - January 2014 - 26
bake - January 2014 - 27
bake - January 2014 - 28
bake - January 2014 - 29
bake - January 2014 - 30
bake - January 2014 - 31
bake - January 2014 - Finding Growth
bake - January 2014 - 33
bake - January 2014 - 34
bake - January 2014 - 35
bake - January 2014 - The Biscuit Boom
bake - January 2014 - 37
bake - January 2014 - Biscuit Shops Around the Country
bake - January 2014 - 39
bake - January 2014 - A Fresh Approach to Online Sales
bake - January 2014 - 41
bake - January 2014 - 42
bake - January 2014 - 43
bake - January 2014 - 44
bake - January 2014 - 45
bake - January 2014 - Maintaining Safety
bake - January 2014 - 47
bake - January 2014 - New FDA Defense Rule
bake - January 2014 - 49
bake - January 2014 - Investing in Innovation
bake - January 2014 - 51
bake - January 2014 - 52
bake - January 2014 - 53
bake - January 2014 - The Ancients
bake - January 2014 - 55
bake - January 2014 - Start the Party Early
bake - January 2014 - 57
bake - January 2014 - 58
bake - January 2014 - 59
bake - January 2014 - Macaron Magic
bake - January 2014 - 61
bake - January 2014 - 62
bake - January 2014 - 63
bake - January 2014 - Cake Stars
bake - January 2014 - 65
bake - January 2014 - 66
bake - January 2014 - 67
bake - January 2014 - Cafe - Top Trends for 2014
bake - January 2014 - 69
bake - January 2014 - 70
bake - January 2014 - 71
bake - January 2014 - Products
bake - January 2014 - Product Showcase
bake - January 2014 - Classifieds
bake - January 2014 - Ad Index
bake - January 2014 - 76
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