We are a Business Development Company providing corporate level strategies & solutions to small businesses throughout the nation and across the world.
But what/who are we really? Simply put we are Problem Solvers! Every business has problems and we want to be the company you come to when looking for strategies to solve the problems. BVE’s Success Strategist are creative, intelligent and experienced businesspeople who want to help your business grow. However, if that’s not enough insight consider our track record.
We have helped a small DC based company grossing roughly $150,000 annually to $14,600,000 annually.
After 1 “initial consultation” helped a client realize a 25% increase in profits for a service that will last the for the life of their business.
Our strategic partnerships give us access to multiple subject matter experts in more than 10 different disciplines.
We have assisted with international acquisition deals in over 3 different countries.
BVE’s “Success Strategist” have:
Taught Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Marketing & Law at the University level for over 10 years.
Collectively completed over 350 hours of professional education after completing our various Degrees.
Sat in your seat with our own companies, so we know the struggles and drive to grow.
Have managed over 5 Million in investable assets.
30 years of combined Entrepreneurial experience.
Consulted Start-ups with limited capital resources and infinite potential to Midcap companies grossing over $20,000,000 annually still looking to expand.
Have a desire to make our client’s company stand out among their competition.
Additionally, our proprietary team approach leverages the talents of our entire team to support your company as it grows.
In short, we are a company of entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Schedule an appointment with a “BVE Success Strategist” today and see what we can do for your company.
Bold Vision Enterprises – BVE – believes that the proper Business Life Cycle of any good company is comprised of 8 separate and distinct stages.
1. Development Stage
Too often, the Development Stage is overlooked. This is the Planning Period immediately following your decision to start your own business. During this time you begin to Develop theFramework for your idea. Polling and Feasibility Studies are essential at this stage. Start creating a Conversion Plan to leave your job, if applicable, and to properly position yourself prior to starting your own business. You have to continually develop your Value Proposition and Differentiator concepts. This would be a good time to start developing a Rough Business Plan. Ask yourself “WHY?” Then identify your “HOW”!
2. Seed Stage
This is a challenging stage. More often than not, this is the deep planning period before taking the big leap. Protect yourself, your assets (including Intellectual Property!), and your business by Legally Forming Your Business. Finish, or at least outline, your Business Plan. Before stepping away from your safety net, consult a Business Advisor and Financial Advisor to make sure you can financially withstand the hardships that often engulf entrepreneurs in the early years of business. It would be advisable to have between 6 months to a year’s worth of salary saved before taking the big leap. In this stage, Build Your Team and Secure Your Advisors. Respect your time and create a Daily and/or Weekly Schedule. Develop a strong Financial Infrastructure.
3. Start-Up Stage
The business is formally created. You start Selling Your Products or Services to your, hopefully, Warm Market. Many new business owners hurt themselves at this stage by under-estimating the difficulty of Penetrating the Market Place and Appropriately Pricing their services and/or products. In this stage Profits, Expenses and Human Capital often are not in harmony and many business owners experience real Concerns and/or Hardships. Engage Your Team regularly. Ask for Constructive Criticism. Remove Negative People from Your Inner Circle.
4. Growth Stage
You have made it beyond the start-up phase and your business is Self-Sustaining, but the requirements of Managing Day-to-Day Activities are boxing you in. You know you have to grow, but you don’t know how. The idea of Removing Yourself from the day to day activities of the business causes anxiety, but you know it has to be done. Engage your team, talk to your advisors. Conduct a SWOT Analysis of your business. Most innovations in this stage come from those outside your company. Know how to be Agile. Make Data-Driven Decisions, instead of relying on your gut. Instincts are important, but learn to know when to Trust Your Numbers.
5. Established Stage
You have a mature company. You have been in business for more than a handful of years and income is stable. You are, hopefully, Tracking KPIs and sharing the findings with your team and advisors. Don’t Get Too Comfortable in this Space. Competition is all around you, waiting to pounce. This is when you want to continuously Identify Your Differentiators. Conduct another SWOT analysis and pay close attention to findings. Make sure your business’s Accounting System that is custom designed for your company, not a standard quick fix out of a box.
6. Expansion Stage
Before implementing your Expansion Strategy, Assess Your Business Model, Operational Structure, Brand, and Pricing Models with your advisors. Complacency can lead to you to becoming a “hobbyist” instead of a business owner! Give your “wants” strong consideration before attempting to expand. Stick to Your Expansion Plan but try to Remain True to Your Overall Mission, Vision and Principles. Recognize and embrace the Hardships that Often Accompany Expansion and Know When Enough Is Enough.
7. Decline Stage
This is another critical stage that requires careful and strategic planning and Honest Internal Reflection. If your business is around for any extended period of time, there will be Difficult Periods, Missed Projections, Periods of Decline, etc. Your interest could be dwindling or maybe you want to start or focus on another business. Go back to your WHY. Is it the same? If not, what has changed? In this stage, you need to start thinking about your Exit Strategy. How do you get the most out of your next move? Consider any Contractual Obligations reducing the company’s agility or attractiveness to potential buyers. Prepare your staff, if necessary, for what’s next. Be sure to communicate Your Decision to all parties affected so no one feels blindsided. Get financial, business and legal counsel to assure you’re making a responsible decision. Arrange for a proper Business Valuation and avoid over-valuing the business. Emotional ties can act as blinders when it comes to business departing from a business!
8. Exit Stage
This is your opportunity plan for the next phase of your life and to Leave a Legacy and lasting memory of you and your company. Again, keep open lines of communication between your staff and your clients. Everyone will appreciate this in the end. Re-visit The Bridges You Have Built, you never know where your road will lead!
Brent Simpson is a serial entrepreneur, internationally sought after speaker & growth strategist, creative problem solver, venture capitalist, sales trainer,
BVE’S FREE INDEPENDENT 5 MINUTE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
How to Level Up?
Every business is different, however no matter what industry or what stage in the business life your company is in there are certain ways to move forward in order to Level Up.
First, define what “Level Up” means to you and your business. For some it will mean improving your internal technology platforms to reduce human capital costs and improve efficiencies. For others it may mean preparing for an acquisition or merger. Again, BVE understand there are a myriad of other definitions, so you have to decide what it means for you. It could simply mean turning your passion into your business for others. Either way this may be a good time to conduct a Gap Analysis.
Then define what Level Up means for your business take a moment to understand your company’s current culture capacity and needs. Too often business owners try to grow based on fear and/or industry trends. Movements such as these can unintentionally cause the company to migrate away from the mission and vision leading to greater confusion. Be honest about you and/or your team’s capabilities. Bringing on professional advisors at this level may prove to be beneficial in the long run.
Next, create a Level Up implantation plan with timeline and share it with your team. This is where you want to utilize your project management skills. You can use a sequential linear process, flow charts, value stream maps, or any other methodology you feel comfortable using. Be sure to implement some type of tracking tool to keep everyone on task.
Finally, Once the plan has been completed have someone who is not on the team review everything. This will help you get an outside perspective. For this you could utilize a Board Member who wasn’t involved in the planning process, Mentor or feel free to contact BVE for a single consultation session.
