Management consulting is really business consulting with an attitude.  

              Mission/Philosophy

            The Mission of the Company is to provide aspects of large-company   consulting services to small and medium-sized companies. To provide             sophisticated services that are affordable and relevant, while

            remaining sensitive to the cash constraints inherent in smaller

            companies. Project fees are always pre-stated, with “no surprises”

            at the completion of the project. Projects are always completed

            within agreed-upon timeframes. Any extra time needed to complete a

            project is done at no cost to the client, and no project is finished

            until the client is satisfied with the work promised. Back to

                  Top

            About the Principal(s)

            Jerome L. (Jerry) Bernstein is a Magna cum Laude graduate of

            Williams College, Williamstown, MA, and a graduate of the Law School

            at Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Bernstein has over 25 years

            experience in building his multi-profit center company from its

            start-up to over $147,000,000 in annual revenues, with company

            growth financed by cash flow. He was selected Employer of the Year

            twice in the 1980s. He is in demand for speeches to small business

            groups and has been published several times. Back to Top

            Partial List of Clients

            The Wesleyan Consulting Group considers itself a fiduciary to its

            clients – both present and past – and neither publishes or sells

            client lists. Client letters of recommendation (on client

            letterhead) are available and will be faxed upon request. Back

                  to Top

            Client Comments

            “Due to your merchandising efforts our stagnant sales have

            quadrupled in the past two years. Even more impressive, our unit

            gross profit has risen, and fixed overhead has declined. Thank you…

            thank you… thank you.”

            Apparel Manufacturer

            “Your staff has given us all that was contracted for and more. From

            the initial interview through the end of the product delivered, your

            staff has performed in a most professional manner.”

            Industrial Service Company

            “I can say without any hesitation you performed as well or better

            than originally promised. We appreciated your clear insights, your

            candor, and your diplomacy.”

            Retailer

            “All in all, I am most pleased with the results. As you may

            remember, I balked at the expense of the project and almost

            cancelled at the last minute. I have to say if you hadn’t talked me

            out of canceling I would not be in business today.”

            Drayage Company

            “For me, the most impressive job has been the training along the way

            that has given me more insight into the company and the tools I will

            need to take our company to the next level.”

            Electronics Distributor

                  Back to Top

15-Minute Business Check-up

 

This brief Business Check-up covers five areas of your business.  Those areas being: Financial, Marketing, Management, Operations and General.  THIS AUDIT IS BY NO MEANS COMPREHENSIVE!  It is however, designed to give you a quick way to evaluate key areas and highlight items where improvements are needed.  If you were to improve in just a few of these areas you would see tremendous benefits to your business.

 

Be objective with your answers!  The whole idea is to highlight areas that can be improved upon so your business can run smoother, your customers are happier, your employees are more productive and the business is more profitable.

 

I.  General

 

• Is business better than last year?  Yes    No

 

2)  In the last 3-6 months have you lost any customers?     Yes    No

 

3)  Have you hired anyone in the past 3-6 months?    Yes    No

 

4)  Have you fired or laid off anyone in the last 3-6 months?    Yes    No

 

5)  Do you wake up feeling excited about the day ahead?    Yes    No

 

6)  Is there someone you’d like to fire?    Yes    No

 

7)  Are you proud of your accomplishments?    Yes    No

 

8)  Are you dependent on a major customer or a major supplier?    Yes    No

 

9)  Do you like the people you work with?    Yes    No

 

10) Do you have a succession plan?    Yes    No

II.  Finance

 

• I have and maintain a computerized bookkeeping system and/or use an accountant to track my business financial data.  Yes    No

 

• I understand what information is contained in a balance sheet and what the numbers mean.  Yes    No

 

• I know which expense items are not necessary to the successful operation of my business.

 Yes    No

 

• I prepare a budget or forecast, annually.  Yes    No

 

• I know all the ways to raise capital or finance for my business.  Yes    No

 

• I use detailed cash-flow projections to guide the liquidity of my business.

   Yes    No

 

• I know what my current financial ratios are and use them in my short and long term business planning.  Yes    No

 

• I know how my business is viewed as a credit risk by lenders and suppliers.

                      Yes    No

 

• I have a written business plan and update it annually.  Yes    No

 

• I understand my business insurance requirements.     Yes    No

 

 

III.  Marketing

 

• I know the exact profile of my best customers and use this to target our marketing to get more of the same types of customers.  Yes    No

 

• I know exactly what benefits and features my customers are looking for from a company such as mine.  Yes    No

 

• I have clearly identified my company’s greatest strength.  Yes    No

 

• Our marketing tells our customers and prospects exactly how they will benefit by working with us.  Yes    No

 

• Our marketing materials, sales letters, routine offers, etc. always clearly explain what’s in it for the customer.  Yes    No

 

• I remove the customer’s risk in all transactions they undertake with us by offering powerful guarantees.  Yes    No

 

• I have a systematic referral process that I use routinely in our day-to-day business.

 Yes    No

 

• I regularly keep in touch with customers through routine mailings, offers, newsletters, etc.  Yes    No

 

• I know what the triggers are that cause my customer to buy.  Yes    No

 

• I have a formal system to monitor and track prospects and customers.   Yes    No

 

 

IV.  Management

 

 

 

• Have your basic, continuing objectives and policies been carefully worked out, clearly stated, and translated into long range plans?  Yes    No

 

• Is your Board of Directors constructive and well balanced? Are its members alert, active, qualified, and conversant with company problems?   Yes    No

 

• Have your long-range plans been translated into specific objectives and programs, carefully coordinated as to the part each department will play?  Yes    No

 

• Are you keeping ahead of competitors in technical development, managerial and plant capacity, share of market, and overall profitability?  Yes    No

 

• Is each key executive thoroughly qualified to fill his/her position? Does he/she do so with energy, initiative, and enthusiasm?   Yes    No

 

• Have you established realistic means of measuring actual performance as compared to plans, budgets, standards, and quotas?  Yes    No

 

• Does all necessary information flow quickly and freely to those who must make action decisions?  Yes    No

 

• Does your organization plan assure smooth, effective teamwork in handling sudden emergencies and new programs, as well as routine situations and activities?

 Yes    No

 

• Can you find time for planning, public relations, calls on major customers and suppliers, informational employee contacts, etc., or do you often become bogged down with detail?

 Yes    No

 

• Do you take advantage of assistance available from outside professional specialists?

 Yes    No

 

 

V.  Operations

 

1)  Job descriptions and authority for responsibilities are clearly stated.   Yes    No

 

2)  Do you have a formal program for motivating employees?      Yes    No

 

3)  Do your employees understand how they will be rated for promotion and salary  increases?   Yes    No

 

• Do your experienced employees help train new and part-time employees?

                                                  Yes    No

 

5)   Do you know your exact overhead costs?   Yes    No

 

6)   Do you ask for suggestions on ways to improve your operation?   Yes    No

 

7)   I am good at delegating responsibilities?   Yes    No

 

• I have and use an Employee handbook?  Yes    No

 

• We have a current comprehensive evaluation of our competitor’s products, service and pricing?  Yes    No

 

• I feel that our operation is MORE productive currently as compared to the past?

 Yes    No