Business Services Network Cost Comparisons

 In 1994, I decided to create my own logo for my new company, Destiny Software.  I proudly handed this card out for a year before moving on to another design.  Boy, did I have a lot to learn! 

Do it yourself logo and card design, circa 1994. 

While I saved a bundle of money, I didn’t make a lot of impressions on prospects with my homemade logo! 

Unless you are a design school graduate, I recommend professional help in putting a logo together (with similar advice on your web site, marketing plan, recruiting plan, etc. )   For entrepreneurs operating in today’s economy you really have three professional consulting options available to you. 

Option 1.  The age-old path of the highly paid consultant (the HPC).  Until the turn of the century, this was largely the only option available to startups.  There are some very strong branding, design, marketing and staffing consultants out there.   Oftentimes, they say that they like to work with startups.  After all, startups are doing cool work, have lots of passion and can grow into long-term clients.   

But the HPC doesn’t really understand the world of the entrepreneur.  This becomes clear when you get a quote for a marketing and PR retainer of $5,000/month or have a web-site design quote of $10,000.   

Option 2.  The freelancer e-market (the Free-E).  The Free-E represents a new generation of global free-lancers who can hammer out a logo for $250, can slap together a web-site for $500 or will post your executive position for under $1,000.   In addition, free sample business plans, marketing advice and how-to columns by been-there, done-that executives are just a click away.   If we include this dense jungle of free information available on the Internet today, the Free-E represents a cornucopia of cheap information and services.   

So what is the downside to the Free-E?  There are a few.   

First of all, you need to find the service.  The time you spend searching, comparing and choosing could be better spent building your business. 

Secondly, you don’t know who you are getting.  If a friend got a great logo designer through a Free-E service, that doesn’t mean that you will.  You could get a completely different designer when you apply.   

Thirdly, you have to manage the Free-E.  How are you at selecting type treatments or color schemes?  You could have a tremendously talented Free-E, but without proper guidance, the end-product can fall short.

Finally, the Free-E doesn’t know you – and may not even know your business or your culture.  Its much more difficult to personalize something for a person or business you never met, doing business in a locale or culture you’ve never visited. 

Option 3.  The Team and a Dream Business Services Network (BSN).  We have created a formula to leverage the power of Option 1 and Option 2 while keeping a price-point that entrepreneurs can still afford.  

The BSN services follow a simple, but powerful formula: 

Executive Level Expertise + Templatized Wisdom + Affordable Muscle 

	The Executive Level Expertise represents the HPC above.  We’ve recruited some of the most talented local service providers to participate in the BSN offering.  These local experts are like veteran boat captains who steer the BSN offerings in the direction most valuable to your business.
	The Templatized Wisdom is reusable methodology components created by the local experts and Team and a Dream.  This distilled wisdom comes in the form of worksheets, surveys, templates and roadmaps.
	Affordable Muscle.  Our offerings are geared to getting the real work done.  We call upon the Free-E as well as interns and other under-utilized knowledge workers who can do strong execution work under the experienced direction

Team and a Dream Business Services Network Packages – Version 1.0

Committed entrepreneurs who are in the early stages of business creation will be energized with our insightful offerings.  Normally, the offerings below could cost over $50,000 in total if you were to retain professionals to do this work through standard consulting channels.  Team and a Dream has worked hard with local experts to boil down their expertise to a highly targeted set of offerings designed to get your startup off of the ground.

Funding Diagnostic.  For entrepreneurs looking for an informed perspective on their overall chances for raising money from professional investors.  The Funding Diagnostic examines key factors in the areas of management, product, traction and marketplace to assess your weaknesses and provide the basis for a roadmap to funding.  This rapid assessment is based on a review of your business plan and a 30-60 minute conversation. 

Cost: $300.00

Marketing and Public Relations Blitz.  A targeted program to generate sales of your product or service.  The Blitz provides you with a seasoned marketing expert’s advice on your current approach along with a roadmap to get you started on a new approach.  You also receive twenty five hours of roadmap implementation time from a TeamAndADream marketing intern.

Cost: $2750.00

Teaming/Staffing Roadmap.  Avoid costly mistakes and expensive recruiting fees while sourcing and hiring high quality candidates using a professionally designed methodology tailored to your organization. Includes professionally tailored position descriptions, training on the hiring process, professional listing on Monster.com (listing fees extra) and much more.

Cost: $1700.00

Web Site Development.  Have a web site professionally designed for you by Team and a Dream designers.  The package allows you to have 7-10 pages including PDFs or forms, domain name registration, stock images and a month of free updates. 

Cost: $1200.00

Branding and Identity Creation.  Professional creation (using input from two to three design professionals) of a new logo with an application to business cards,letterhead, or any brand extension requested.   Includes web-site update guidelines. 

Cost: $1965.00.

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