The Impact of Consulting on Small Business: A Further Examination

Abstract

The present study focuses on the impact of consulting on small businesses and identifies the reasons why small businesses do not implement some of the recommendations that they receive from consultants. A mail survey of 126 businesses that had sought assistance from the SBDC at the University of Utah was conducted. Results obtained from 106 respondents (84% response rate) indicate that overall, business manager/owners were highly satisfied with the services they received and that they found them useful. They also reported that the consulting had a positive impact on their business. Appropriateness and lack of consultant expertise were cited as primary reasons for not implementing some of the recommendations. The results are discussed in terms of areas in which the SBDCs could improve the assistance they provide small businesses and future directions for research.