As a general rule everyone in business is trying to find better ways of operating their business. They want to know how they can service their customers better and how to generate better results from the resources they have employed in their business activity.

Step one is to review what the business currently looks like:
What is your turnover?
How many employees?
What outlays do they have for rent, equipment repayments, etc?
What time do they have available to put into their business and is the forecast for this to increase or decrease?
What funds do they have available to operate the business and what timeframe will it take to burn through these funds if sales reduce or dry up?

Step two is to examine the trading landscape.
Are they in a market where there are aggressive competitors everywhere stealing customers and causing their market share to dry up?
Are they in an economic backwater where the best outcome would be for the business to relocate to another area where the number of customers and the chance of success are better?

Step three is to review the business plan which should outline at least the one and three year goals. This should include a turnover target, estimates of costs and profit target. It should also outline the time commitment from the owner of the business to test whether the goals are achievable. For example: if the owner has to work twelve hour days seven days a week then chances are that they will burn out and the business may collapse.

Step four is to take another step back and look at five, ten and fifteen year goals. What is the business owner aiming for over these timeframes? Does success mean six or eight weeks of holidays every year? A beach house or new boat? Having a clear picture of your long term 'why' is important.

Step five is to share these goals and aspirations with people. At the very least it would be sharing these details with your spouse however generally business owners share these details with their accountant as their accountant has a thorough understanding of their business and a good appreciation of how the business operates.

Sometimes business owners face situations where they can't see the wood for the trees. Owners appreciate being able to talk to their accountant and bounce ideas around. Running an idea past someone external to your business is a good way of getting unbiased feedback. Do you have a sounding board? Are you receiving valuable advice to operate and improve your business? You don't have to go it alone.