How Can WS Business Advisory Help You?
Both Business Advisors and business consultants focus on helping to solve business problems. The key difference is that consultants are specialists, solving singular problems for your business, i.e. they’re hands-on, doing the work for you.
A certified business advisor takes the approach of improving you (and your leadership team) so that you can solve these problems in-house. It’s an ongoing transfer of skills. Advisors typically provide insights, tools, and structure. They also challenge your thinking around business efficiencies.
| Feature | Certified Business Advisor (Warrick Strydom – WSBA) | Business Consultant (Specialist) |
| Primary Focus | Long-term growth, leadership development, and operational independence. | Solving a singular, specific problem (e.g., implementing a new system). |
| Engagement Role | Coach, Mentor, and Challenger. Improves the owner and team to solve problems. | Hands-On Implementer. Does the work for the business. |
| Core Goal | Transfer of skills and knowledge; building internal capability and time freedom. | Delivery of a specific project or deliverable; completing a task. |
| Duration of Work | Typically ongoing relationship (Advisory); focused on sustained transformation. | Short-term project-based; engagement ends when the specific problem is fixed. |
| Key Output | Insights, tools, structure, improved business valuation, and a self-sufficient leadership team. | A finished task, a report, a completed system implementation, or a specific fix. |
| Value Proposition | Strategic Partnership that builds away from the owner, enhancing exit readiness. | Expert Specialization to fix an immediate, technical, or specific functional issue. |
| Analogy | Teaching the team to fish (sustainable, long-term self-sufficiency). | Catching a fish for the team (immediate, short-term relief). |
Exit Succession Planning
>50% of SME business exits are unexpected. We help you understand and prepare for exit.
WS Business Advisory Services
EXPERTISE & KNOWLEDGE
25+ Years Small to Large Business Experience.
OBJECTIVITY
Correct, Train, Support.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Stay on track and achieve your goals.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Free up time, focus on your core business activities.
NETWORKING
Extensive networks and connection opportunities.
WS Business Advisory – Client Personas
An advisor has been a role people have assigned me with since I can remember. In my family, friendship, faith and professional circles. This is not because I’m some guru but rather because I’ve always enjoyed helping people make better decisions and live with fewer regrets.
What is the Business Advisor persona?
A Business Advisor is someone with significant experience in the commercial world. I’ve led teams of varying sizes in highly entrepreneurial environments, with company sizes ranging from ten to nine hundred employees and everything in-between. He has thrived in senior roles especially as the point-leader, in building customer-centric teams and cultures that deliver extraordinary results.
Who should work with WS Business Advisory?
I work with growth-minded Entrepreneurs who founded and/or own businesses ranging from R5M to R500M in annual revenue. I coach many of these rain-makers’ senior team members too as part of ongoing succession planning and owner-decentralisation.
Entrepreneurs should look for business advisor personas who:
- • Have either start-up and/or business ownership experience
• See the world differently from you and from each other
• Know people, particularly people you don’t know who might be useful
• Aren’t afraid to challenge you and ask tough questions
• Advise but leave enough room for you to make the best decision
• Have the time to focus and actually help
• Share your passion and are inspired by your vision