Do you make the most out of your Business?
A business should serve its owner. Stefan Neuss explains how internal processes, online client acquisition and a smart ownership structure get the most out of a company.
A business should serve its owner, not the other way round. That is the starting point of Stefan Neuss, founder of WERA Capital Partners. Many entrepreneurs build a company but never optimise it fully. In turbulent times, he says, every effort must bring the highest possible return, and the way to get there is to optimise the business internally and externally.
Internal optimisation: processes first
The first step is simple. Owners should write down every process: what happens in the business each day. Once the processes are written down, the workflows can be mapped, and then they can be digitalised.
A steady flow of premium clients
The second internal task is to find the most effective and independent way to win new premium clients. Referrals and early-morning networking breakfasts can be a bonus, Neuss says, but they are not a system. Today the steady flow of clients comes from online marketing and social media. His advice: stop only consuming social media and start producing content that attracts clients.
External optimisation: the ownership structure
The external side is about who owns the business. Neuss names two reasons why this matters. First, what is held in your personal name can be taken away from you, while assets held in a well-designed structure are better protected. Second, the ownership structure decides which tax advantages are available.
He stresses that every recommendation must stay within the law. "Legal tax optimisation is the key," he says. This covers corporation tax, inheritance tax and the planning of a future exit.
A plan in steps
Internal and external optimisation can be carried out step by step over a few weeks or months. WERA Capital Partners offers a free 15-minute private conversation to find out where a business stands and what can be improved.