What does Grant Consulting do?

We help agency owners and management teams get their agencies running right. We work with them on issues such as focusing management teams on common goals, improving client services and products, firing up new business approaches, streamlining organizational structures for better efficiency and profitability, and intensifying employee commitment and performance. We also help with long range planning (including succession), straightening out interdepartmental conflicts and bottlenecks, and financial issues. Think of us as an ex officio COO. To keep up with our services and receive articles about the above kinds of issues, just sign up for our free e-newsletter Grant’s Client Brief.

Why would an agency need a consultant?

Being an agency principal is a lonely job. Sometimes you need to bounce an idea off a seasoned professional, or talk over frustrations—maybe to help you break through a roadblock. An objective, outside opinion from someone who really knows the agency business can make a big difference. But more than anything, we act as a catalyst, a facilitator. One agency owner said his place was like a basketball team that knew what to do—drive to the hoop, make the free throws, capitalize on turnovers, etc.—but how to get it done was another matter. That’s where we help.

But it doesn’t seem like we should have to pay for those kinds of things.

If you’re completely happy with how your agency is running, and you’re making progress toward your goals at a rate acceptable to you, then you’re right. But often we find agency principals are, well, stuck. Some feel their executive team doesn’t have enough drive or focus. Maybe it’s unclear where the agency has to go next to be successful. Sometimes the staff is not accountable enough; we’re often called in to help define roles and responsibilities, especially on the executive team.

There are all kinds of “agency consultants.” What sets you apart?

Several things. First of all we work on an individual basis with only a limited number of growing agencies. We know agency issues and can compare your operating methods and efficiencies to other similar operations. Second, we don’t sell off-the-shelf programs. When it comes to specific agency management challenges, we don’t believe one size fits all. Third, we’re committed to longer-term relationships that result in lasting positive. That means you won’t have someone fly in, give you a thick binder full of things you already know, drop an invoice on your desk, and disappear. We’ll agree up front about what you want to change, what you want to accomplish, and how we’ll measure progress—then we’ll help you make it happen. Our focus throughout is on measurable results. Oh, and we are not a “selection” consultant you need to schmooze to get recommended to a prospective client.

Anything else?

Well, the relationships we build become pretty personal. We place a premium on chemistry and trust, because the more we learn about your specific situation, the better we’ll be able to help you get where you want to go. You should know that nearly every client we’ve worked with has brought us back for additional help as they grew and their needs changed. That’s how much they value our contribution to their success. 

We all say our clients are happy.

Sure, but please talk with ours. Take a look at who our clients are and what they say about us. We’re also happy to provide phone numbers to reach agency managers and owners we’ve worked with over the years. Call them, and they’ll tell you everything you want to know about us. If you’re an AAAA member, you might want to check with them, too. Of course they can’t endorse any one consultant, but they’ve certainly given us many referrals over the years (and reprinted several articles from our newsletters in some of their publications). If you’re a member, they can tell you what other members we’ve worked with think about us.

What’s your background?

Here’s the resume. Chief Operating Officer, General Manager, Director of Operations, Director of Client Services, and Account Manager at Fahlgren, Ketchum, SRK, and MARC. And on the client side, Manager of Marketing Communications at Westinghouse. We are an accredited member of the Institute of Management Consultants, started Grant Consulting in 1992, and publish Grant’s Client Brief, an e-newsletter exclusively for principals of growing agencies. For more biographical information, see Experience.

What kinds of agencies do you work with?

Advertising, direct, public relations, sales promotion and media, usually with billings of about $5 to $200 million and a few beyond. See the list of our clients.  We especially enjoy helping agencies move to the next level.

What does it cost?

Costs are based on agency size and the type and length of the specific project, which means we’d need to spend a little time on the phone discussing exactly what you want to accomplish before this question can be answered. Ours is a highly specialized service and, frankly, not cheap. But we get results. And since our services are tailored to your specific needs, we’re able to work on a "not-to-exceed" project basis so you’ll know up front what it will cost. There are no meters running and no surprises. We’re not ashamed to say that our fees are both an expression of the confidence we have in meeting your objectives and our ability to produce exceptional results that will help you generate considerably more income for your agency.

OK, we’d like to know more. What do we do next?

Call Joe Grant at 239/394-8220 or send an email to joe@joegrantconsulting.com. Tell us about your situation, what you want to accomplish, where you want to be in a couple of years. We can get specific about things, answer your questions, and give you a pretty good feel for what your project will cost and how long it will take. A few minutes on the phone could end up making a big difference in your agency’s success. And even your personal happiness.