Small Business Consultants: Improving the Delivery of Outside Assistance

A review of the literature was conducted for the period of 1976 through 1989 in an effort to identify the most effective outside services that small business consultants could use to assist their clients. Results of the review showed that small business consultants provide services that are very effective in improving business performance. In addition, small business clients report a high degree of satisfaction with the services received. A theoretical model was then proposed which highlights the importance of providing services that guide small business clients toward better analysis of their operations and better development of their human resources.