24.6 Innovations in small-business consulting

It has been assumed for some time that subsidized professional services to small-business clients may be helpful in certain conditions, particularly in developing countries or regions. However, they do not provide a panacea, and donors are constantly looking for more innovative methods to stimulate increased take-up of business services through a variety of channels. The small clients’ needs for information and advice are tremendous and continue to grow because of the increasingly complex institutional setting and difficult business environment of most countries. Small-enterprise owners are usually unable to allocate sufficient time and resources to keep abreast of developments and to take a detached critical look at their business from time to time. Conversely, many consultants and other advisers exhibit a clear preference for largerbusiness clients who have more money, can afford larger assignments and higher fees, and offer technically more interesting work opportunities (and references) to the consultants. Some consultants do not mind working for small clients, but they may fail to appreciate the differences and treat them in the same way as large-business clients.