Consultation · Entrepreneurship & Early-Stage Ventures
Early-stage consultation: reviewing a start-up business model and its management
The early-stage consultation examines a start-up business model and its management during the first months. It takes the form of a written note or a 60-minute videoconference. The deliverable identifies the critical assumptions, the indicators to monitor and the priorities for the next six months. As for the time frame, the note is delivered 5 working days after receipt of complete information. The videoconference slot, for its part, falls at least 7 days after booking (priority slot possible within 5 working days), Tuesday to Thursday.
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Languages: French
Note: 5 working days after receipt of complete information; videoconference: slot set at least 7 days after booking (priority slot within 5 working days, without right of withdrawal), Tuesday to Thursday
Formats: Written note; Video conference 60 min
Situations concerning a start-up business model
- A young company invoices its first clients without having verified its revenue model.
- Prospecting, invoicing and cash flow are not subject to any regular monitoring.
- A self-employed entrepreneur takes on one assignment after another without visibility over costs.
- An incubated project sponsor is preparing the next phase of the project and must clarify its assumptions.
- A company less than three years old observes a gap between its first results and its financial forecast.
Process
- The collection first covers the project and its first results. This step takes place asynchronously, based on the information transmitted.
- Next, ASKonsult reviews the business model through four components: clients, offer, revenue and costs. This review reveals the implicit assumptions of the project.
- The review then covers management, using Workbook O-09. It examines the monitoring of prospecting, invoicing and cash flow.
- The analysis then identifies the assumptions to verify and the indicators to monitor. It links each assumption to the indicators that make it possible to track it.
- Finally, the debrief takes the form of a written note, transmitted asynchronously, or a synchronous 60-minute videoconference.
Deliverable
The deliverable consists of a guidance note or, by videoconference, a session record. It first identifies the critical assumptions of the start-up business model. It then specifies the indicators to monitor in order to verify them. Finally, it sets the priorities for the next six months. The note is delivered 5 working days after receipt of complete information. Before any delivery, ASKonsult submits the document to a final review.
Prerequisites
The review of the start-up business model relies on a presentation of the project and on the first business figures. The financial forecast supplements these items where it exists; its absence does not prevent the review. The client transmits these documents through the secure area and is responsible for their accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the note and the videoconference?
The guidance note provides a written medium, useful for tracking priorities over the months. The 60-minute videoconference, by contrast, favours direct exchange on the project and its first results. It gives rise to a session record. In both cases, the content covers the critical assumptions, the indicators and the priorities for the next six months.
Within what time frame does the consultation take place?
The note is delivered 5 working days after receipt of complete information. For the videoconference, the slot falls at least 7 days after booking (priority slot possible within 5 working days) after receipt of the information, Tuesday to Thursday. These time frames remain indicative and run from receipt of a complete file. In addition, an admissibility check precedes any commitment, in order to rule out requests outside the scope.
Why monitor management from the first months?
A young company runs out of steam when its revenue model remains to be verified. Likewise, the absence of monitoring of prospecting, invoicing and cash flow weakens the first months. This is why the consultation combines the review of the start-up business model with the review of its management. The indicators adopted then serve as regular reference points.
What role does the interactive assistance play?
An interactive assistance tool (IA-04) may support the completion of Workbook O-09. It explains the sections, clarifies what is expected and checks the consistency of the answers. However, the assistance issues no opinion and does not assess any particular situation. The analysis and the deliverable are the responsibility of ASKonsult, after human review and validation.
Does the right of withdrawal apply?
With regard to a consumer client, a seven-day right of withdrawal applies. The slot is then set at least 7 days after booking. Conversely, a priority slot less than 7 days away entails immediate performance, without a right of withdrawal. In this case, ASKonsult obtains the client’s express consent before performance, after providing information on its consequences.
How does ASKonsult handle the information transmitted?
ASKonsult treats as confidential the information and documents transmitted by the client. Exchanges take place exclusively through the secure area and serve solely the purposes of the consultation. Moreover, this confidentiality obligation survives the end of the relationship. The client, for its part, is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information it transmits.
What follow-up after the consultation?
When the project calls for structured work, the Business plan and financial forecast package (K-02) or the Investor pitch coaching package (K-03) takes over. When the need becomes recurring, the Reference subscription (A-01) offers regular support. In addition, the sales (C-02), pitch (C-03) and financing and grants (C-11) consultations address related subjects.
Out of scope
The consultation does not cover the legal incorporation of the company. It also excludes bookkeeping and the preparation of the financial forecast. In addition, the search for financing falls outside its scope. The consultation thus focuses on the review of the model, the review of management and the ranking of priorities.
- Prepared by ASKonsult
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Consulting firm not registered with the Bar; no representation before the courts and no act reserved to the regulated legal professions.