In any small to medium-size business, there comes a time when you don't know exactly what to do or how to do it. That's when you need an outside appraisal of your business and the way it operates. Too many businesses fail as a result of insular thinking. Sometimes, you're so close to the trees, it takes an outsider to see the forest. Don't let your business succumb to stuck-inside-the-box thinking. Read on to find out how to recognize the need for a consultant.

Hiring a consultant in the following situations can grow, or even save your company.

1. When you don't know exactly what to do or how to do it.

2. When you need an outside appraisal of your business and the way

it operates.

3. When you need a special talent or desire an exceptionally high-level of competence in some field.

4. When you want to review some special issue in your business.

5. When you need help in long-range planning.

6. When you want to project or predict the effects of possible expansion or diversification.

7. When you are looking for new ideas or a fresh approach.

8. When you need help preparing a proposal.

9. When anonymous representation of your company by an outside party is advantageous for negotiations, mergers and acquisitions.

10. When a short-term project requires special expertise that no one on your staff possesses; but you do not want to hire another full-time employee.

Consultants offer other hidden advantages for your company.

Consider some of the other advantages that consultants offer: Often times, consultants see situations that have gone unnoticed by regular staff. They can also upgrade the education and experience of your staff. A consultant is specifically oriented toward producing results; and you only pay them for the time you use them.

Using a Consultant to Help Your Business Grow.

Hiring a consultant is the surest way to know whether your business is operating as efficiently as possible, and ensure that you are accessing your maximum market penetration. Use a consultant to discover the strengths and weaknesses within your business and put that new information to work.

The top 5 advantages of using a consultant:

1. Consultants see situations that have gone unnoticed by regular staff.

2. Consultants upgrade the education and experience of your staff.

3. A consultant is specifically oriented toward producing results.

4. You pay only for the time you use them.

5. Gives you extra staff without permanent obligations.

A consultant could help your business in ways you never imagined.

Shifts in industries or economics often prove challenging to companies that aren't ahead of the curve. Perhaps you're a start-up about to pitch a new account, but have no idea how you'd handle the volume if you landed it. Here are a few other examples of companies that have benefited by the help of a consultant:

* A radio station, overshadowed by ever-growing conglomerates, helped its sales department develop new short and long-term sales strategies.

* A real-estate firm secured anonymous representation to an outside party, which proved advantageous in their negotiations for investment capital and acquisitions.

* An independent restaurant owner discovered a fresh approach to a problem she couldn't solve internally.

* A staffing firm obtained an outside appraisal of their business and how it was operating.

* A small catering company used a consultant to help prepare a proposal for a large-scale, long-term project that would take its operations to a new level.

* A start-up pet supply chain was able to project the effects of possible expansion or diversification.

Take a hard look at your business today. How could a consulting service help you reach your goals?