Have you been spinning your wheels? Is your business stuck in the mud?

Relax. It's to be expected.

"Very few contractors are hard-wired to run a business professionally," claims Ron Roberts, author of www.FilthyRichContractor.com and President of The Contractor's Business Coach. "Most contractors know operations, but don't really understand the nuances of selling, customer service, human resource, financial management, and so on."

Maybe you should consider getting some professional help.

The Business Coach
When considering your options for outside assistance, you should look into the following four avenues:

• Peer Group
• Functional Specialist
• Management Consultant
• Coaching Program
• Business Coach

Peer Groups: You meet with 4 to 8 out-of-town contractors of your kind, one to four times a year to compare business systems and offer suggestions. Usually a hired facilitator leads the day long meetings.

Functional Specialist: You retain a consultant who is an expert in a single area of your business. Examples would be a sales trainer, marketing consultant, or a CPA.

Management Consultant: You retain a consultant who will analyze your business and then design custom systems for it. Usually these systems are one or more of the following: job descriptions, performance evaluations, compensation plans, strategic plan, and budget.

Coaching Program: You purchase a packaged program that includes a combination of videos, seminars, telephone support, and home-study courses.