Pro Serv Blogs

Pro Serv Blogs

Bulletproofing Your Small Service Firm: How to Avoid Being Exploited by Large Corporations

For founders of small service firms that cater to large corporations, navigating the intricate landscape of client relationships can be daunting. Many of us have experienced the frustrations and challenges that come with negotiating contracts, master service agreements, and statements of work. However, there is one game-changing leverage that often goes overlooked but can significantly impact your business – prepayment.

Pro Serv Blogs

Establishing Your Expertise: Building Your Brand & Authority Through Authorship

In today’s competitive world of boutique professional services, establishing your brand and authority is more important than ever. While there are numerous strategies to achieve this, today we’ll focus on one of the most impactful methods: writing a book. After all, you can’t spell authority without author. Here are three steps to becoming an author and enhancing your professional standing, and why partnering with a professional publisher is the smartest choice.

Pro Serv Blogs

Unlocking the Competitive Edge: The Power of Estimator Tools for Boutique Professional Service Firms

In the dynamic landscape of professional service firms, staying ahead of the competition is no small feat. To establish your firm as a trusted expert, clients demand not only a unique point of view but also the ability to back it up with hard evidence. This is where Estimator Tools come into play, providing boutique professional service firms with a powerful edge that can set them apart from the rest. In this blog post, we’ll explore the significance of Estimator Tools and showcase how Collective 54’s Firm Estimator Tool can guide you towards success.

Pro Serv Blogs

Unlocking Success with Collective 54: A Fractional CFO’s Journey

Meet Bill, the founder of a thriving fractional CFO firm. His story is a testament to the power of community and the invaluable support he found through Collective 54, a mastermind community tailored for professionals like him. Let’s dive into Bill’s journey and discover why he not only became a member but also regularly refers others to this game-changing community.

Pro Serv Blogs

Transform Your Marketing Agency with Collective 54: A Success Story

In the fast-paced world of marketing, success often depends on your ability to close deals effectively and consistently. This is the story of Sarah, the founder of a small marketing agency who faced a common challenge in the industry – generating sales opportunities but struggling to close them at the end of a sales campaign. Sarah’s journey with Collective 54 not only transformed her agency but also her perspective on what’s possible when you’re part of a mastermind community.

Pro Serv Blogs

From Struggling Solo Founder to Thriving Firm: The Power of Giving and Joining Collective 54

There’s a common thread among founders of boutique professional service firms – the pursuit of success, growth, and ultimately, a life-changing exit. Today, we’re going to share the inspiring journey of a brilliant founder who specializes in customizing and implementing the Snowflake software application. His story is not just about expertise but also about the transformative power of understanding when to give away value and when to charge for it.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Eject Button of Exits: Opportunities and Perils of Acquihires

Founders, executives, and investors in professional services firms should be generally familiar with the motivations, elements, and commercial considerations that attend “acquihires.” These transactions not only present a viable (if not optimal) path to exit a professional services business, but they also present attractive opportunities to assemble qualified teams, import unique knowledge and capabilities, and ultimately grow or defend market share. This article seeks to help the leaders of professional services firms understand the circumstances in which they might be involved in an acquihire (either as seller or buyer), the motivations of each party in such circumstances, and common structures for acquihire transactions.

Pro Serv Blogs

The Payroll Peril-o-Meter: A Tool to Help Young Firms Survive

If you’re a founder of a young and small professional service firm, you know the constant struggle of keeping your business afloat. The late nights, the relentless pursuit of clients, and the endless worries about making payroll each month are all too familiar. But fear not, for there’s a tool that can help you navigate these treacherous waters – the Payroll Peril-o-Meter. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to this powerful tool that can be a game-changer for your business.

Pro Serv Blogs

How Good Are You at Predicting the Future? Reflections on Attempting to Time the Market for your Exit

The road to a successful exit is littered with the bodies of entrepreneurs that have attempted to time the market1. Lest you become another casualty, I wanted to give you some things to consider before you try your hand at predicting how future macroeconomic or sector-specific conditions are likely to unfold. Start by accepting that you are never going to know the perfect time to sell with 100% certainty.

Pro Serv Blogs

Transforming Your Professional Service Firm’s Pricing Strategy for Success

As founders of small service firms in the US with 10-250 employees, you understand the significance of a well-crafted pricing strategy. Pricing isn’t just about setting a number; it’s about defining your firm’s value and ensuring sustainable growth. In this article, we’ll explore how a professional service firm’s pricing strategy evolves through the three lifecycle stages – Grow, Scale, and Exit, based on the framework presented in my book, “The Boutique: How to Start, Scale, and Sell a Professional Service Firm.”