How to Find the Best Bang for Your Buck Consultant

If your establishment is either in an inspiration or desperation mode?, here is what you should look for when finding a restaurant/retail establishment consultant to help you improve your business.

If your establishment is in trouble, or if you just want to maximize operations, then getting a consultant is a worthwhile investment.

Establishment do get better when the people in them, become better and sometimes you need a gentle nudge to push you in the right direction. If you are one of those establishment that is content and happy being stuck in the middle (what is known as the land of average), that’s fine. Just know that change comes to all eventually whether you invite it or not.

  Know this: a professional consultant's only drive and purpose is to improve your business in a way that works long term for you. If in your initial meeting your consultant wants you to settle for average performance, send them away.

    To take no action actually is an action. It’s just not a smart one.

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4 Steps to Follow

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1) Require Real World Experience

   Sad to say that anyone can claim to be a restaurant establishment consultant today. There are "consultants" that stalk the internet with very little credibility...except that they worked as a bartender, cook, or server for a few years and think that's all it takes. Or they stocked shelves and worked as a cashier to qualify as a retail consultant.

  Personally, I think that a consultant should have restaurant/retail ownership experience. You need someone who truly understands the pressure of being a restaurant/retail establishment owner - not just an employee. Most (former) employees may know their specific job very well, but not all of them understand all the roles that the position of restaurant/retail establishment owner encompasses.

  Another question you need to ask a consultant you're considering is this: Tell me about your failures. If a consultant cannot be open and take ownership for the faults they have had, stay clear. Failures are truly the greatest lessons in life and while you do want a consultant with a solid track record of results, you also want someone who have make mistakes and taken those lessons to help others.

2)  Make Sure They Are Well-Rounded

  When looking for your future restaurant/retail establishment consultant you will want to explore:

1. which areas of your business need the most assistance, and...

2. does that consultant have the skillset to take your project to the next level.

  If your business need is improvement in the Facilities/Building/Site side?, you'll need a consultant with Facilities/Building/Site experience...real hands on, in the dirt facilities experience. They should have held a position as an executive Director, Facilities or Project Manager for many years. You will find people out there that can design a killer PM program, yet when it comes to setting that Scope of work and frequency up to be executed in your business they can't pull it off.

  Really outstanding consultants actually work with other outstanding consultants to bring a wealth of skills to a project. Remember that outstanding people associate with other outstanding people and they want the same thing: to make your restaurant/retail establishment better. Synergy is a catalyst to massive growth.

3) Ask for Deliverables

  Qualified consultants will give you a list of actionable items and will give you what are known as deliverables. These are the items they promised to bring to the project.

  Be wary of consultants that do not offer up a solid plan with actionable steps and deadlines. A consultant who says that they just “go with the flow” is not a true professional. An outstanding consultant will have done their due diligence on you. They will know more about you than you think.   They will have a plan.

  Now, that plan my alter and change once they get into the project. However, being able to adapt without losing sight of the end result is the mark of a highly-qualified restaurant/retail establishment consultant. It is known as pivoting or as an Agile organization.

  All qualified consultants have a process map that they use. Just like when you build a house, you have a set of plans on how to get from the drawing board to actually moving in and living in the building. The consultant should be able to walk you through their process step-by-step. If they cannot explain it to you in clear and concise communication, their chance of success is very slim.

4) Find a Personable Match

  Make sure you spend some quality time getting to know the consultant before you bring them onboard. Just like in all relationships, not everyone is meant to be together. You definitely want to find a consultant that you can talk to openly and with full transparency.

  Don’t keep secrets from your consultant. The consultant-client relationship is one built upon trust. It’s far better to be up front and give them full disclosure than have them find out halfway into the project. A professional consultant is not there to judge you. They are there to help you. Maybe you’ve made some bad decisions - did you learn from them, or are you still doing them?

  When you find a consultant that is a good match you’ll will find that you will have open conversations that will move you and your business forward. A great consultant will ask you challenging questions that force you to search for quality solutions. There will be times you might not like the process and will even feel a little uncomfortable. That’s good. We know that the truth will set you free.

It’s just that sometimes it will upset you first.

  For the record, I am a restaurant consultant, I’m also a former Director of Facilities and a Regional Facility Manager . When I come into your restaurant or Retail Establishment, as a consultant, know that I am not going to lower my standards so you can stay comfortable. You hired me to make you better. You can be mediocre all on your own.

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You Have My Word

James Mouland

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