Signal Mountain resident and employee benefits consultant Rick Brines is expanding his efforts to help small business owners as the local representative of Cincinnati-based The Growth Coach, for which he received his certification in August.
With more than 40 representatives located in all 50 states, The Growth Coach was started by a CPA 11 years ago and focuses on helping businesses which have already achieved some degree of success to reach the next level.
"I felt it was a service that would be well received in the Chattanooga area," said Brines, who has served as an employee benefits consultant for more than 30 years. "To my knowledge in this market there is no one that provides the level of training, direction and ongoing accountability for small business owners that the growth coach offers."
The program is directed toward owners of small businesses three years and older and involves workshops held quarterly over two years. Brines said he helps participants determine the direction in which they want to take their business and then bridge the gap between where their business is now and where they want it to be.
"In essence, it's a GPS [Global Positioning System] for small businesses," he said.
The goal is to help business owners grow their business in less time so they have more free time to do the things they like to do, said Brines.
"Most business owners feel like they're trapped in their business," he said. "I help them to work on their business rather than work in their business, acting as a CEO rather than an employee."
Before the first workshop, Brines said he meets with potential participants to determine whether the program is right for them. These "discovery meetings" are free of charge and typically last around two hours, he said.
Participants use strategic planning booklets to lay out plans for their business, addressing their strengths, goals, money-making opportunities and ways they can maximize their talent in writing.
"They can refer to it often and it serves as a constant reminder of their commitment to improving their business," said Brines.
His first scheduled workshop begins Feb. 9, and will be held at a yet undetermined location convenient for participants. Brines said possible locations might be the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Small Business Development Center or a local hotel's conference rooms.
Workshops are limited to seven to 12 people to encourage meaningful participant interaction, and each workshop lasts between six and eight hours.
If after the first quarterly workshop participants feel unsatisfied with their experience, Brines offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee.
He said he is also available to business owners for one-on-one coaching as well as to companies for two- to three-day seminars.