All our client relationships are governed by a letter of engagement that defines the terms of agreement, performance standards to be met by the Consultant, expectation of each party and processes to ensure our services meet the professional standards of the Business Development Network.
The following is an example of typical clauses from a letter of engagement with a BDN consultant.
1. Our commitment
The Business Development Network undertakes to working with you, the Client, to achieve the goals that you have identified in the planning process. We commit to providing you with access to experienced and talented business improvement specialists and the ability to take advantage and benefit from our experience with the development of best practice solutions with a broad range of Clients.
2. Your commitment
The Client agrees to demonstrate commitment by preparing for and attending scheduled meetings and using their best endeavours to apply the strategies agreed upon and to utilise the resources and tools provided.
3. Confidentiality
The Business Development Network and the Client agree that any business information provided and received from the other during the term of this agreement will be treated in confidence. The Business Builders Group will not share any specific client information with any other clients or other professionals with out the Client’s express permission. All electronic and paper documents relating to the Client’s business held by the Business Development Network will be stored in a secure environment, and any breach of security will immediately be notified to the Client.
4. Our guarantee
Our guarantee is to deliver value to your business through the provision of specialist business improvement advice and recommendations. If for any reason the Client believes that the relationship and services provided are not delivering value then the client will have no obligation to pay for the service provided during the period in question.
5. Confirmation of Expectations
To ensure the success of the Business Improvement Programme it is important that the expectations of both parties are clear and understood. The following expectations are confirmed for the Consultant and the Business Owner.
A. Your Expectations of the Consultant
- To respond to your requests for assistance and information within a reasonable timeframe and advise you of other commitments that may prevent responses within the timeframes you require
- To demonstrate and advise how business development resources are to be used
- To respect the confidentiality of information that you provide about your business
- To promote your business within the BDN Client network
- To provide frank and objective advice together with identifying what actions or failures to act by the Business Owner, are adversely affecting the achievement of the agreed goals
- To initiate the regular reviews and identify what information is required by the Consultant prior to the review
- To attend scheduled meetings and complete agreed tasks by the agreed date. To communicate as soon as possible any reason that may prevent the Consultant meeting agreed commitments
- To provide routine activity reports that enable the Business Owner to track how the Consultant’s time is being utilised
- To make recommendations about which products and services available from the BDN strategic partners would benefit the Business Owner
B. The Consultant’s expectations of you as the Business Owner
- As the business owner we recognise your right to chose not to follow our advice
- However, for our advice to have an impact on your business we expect you to commit to and implement the agreed actions to improve business performance and address the issues that have been identified
- To provide all relevant information that is required to develop and monitor initiatives to achieve your goals
- To provide the information required by the Consultant prior to the regular reviews to ensure that the time committed to the reviews is productive and focused on maintaining and increasing progress toward your goals
- To advise the Consultant of any commitments that will impact on your ability to implement agreed initiatives to improve the performance of your business
- To use the business building tools and resources provided by the Consultant
- To provide the Consultant with advance advice, where possible, of issues that require urgent attention by the Consultant
- To be available for scheduled meetings and provide reasonable notice of commitments that will require meetings to be rescheduled
6. Process for resolution of issues
It is our intention to provide you with the highest quality of business consulting services. However, in the event that an issue arose where the Business Owner had concerns about the level of services provided by the Consultant then the following process is available to the Business Owner:
Step 1 - The Business Owner explains their concerns to the Consultant and provides an opportunity for these to be addressed
Step 2 - If Step 1 fails to achieve a satisfactory resolution or the Business Owner believes it is necessary to seek the input of a third party then their concerns will be presented to the Chairman of the Business Development Network. The Chairman will mediate between the parties to achieve a resolution acceptable to both the Business Owner and the Consultant.
Within the range of options that are available to resolve issues is the ability to assign, with agreement, another Consultant to work with the Business Owner.
