10. Increase in Retention: The retention of both employees and clients may significantly increase.

Many business owners don't recognize need for a business coach or consultant until they run into problems, either with expansion of a business, or with addition of employees. Any expansion or addition of employees adds to business chores, and shifts focus and duties of employees. This is when problems more than likely become apparent, although these problems already probably existed to some degree before expansion or addition.

An actual example follows:

Katherine R. had significant success with her marketing business right from start. The business was popular with clients, and employees were added routinely over years. In beginning, base clientele was small business owners, however, as time went on, mid-sized to larger businesses were added, and more employees were added. The new clientele, however, were "different" from older clientele, and "older" employees had more difficulty dealing with new clientele. The new clientele were less friendly overall (they were much busier), and older employees were not used to this new style of behavior and interaction.

A business coach/consultant was called in, and using his suggestions, i.e. role playing with older employees, incentives and scripts, and other basic "reworking" of employee duties and interaction, problems were solved.

Care does need to be given in choice of a business coach/consultant, and business owner should check into references, credentials, and personality of coach themselves. In order for success to occur, a business owner and all employees must feel trust when dealing with coach/consultant, and therefore choice of individual must be both careful and personal.

Overall, a good business coach or consultant can improve a business significantly, and clear up any problems either before or after they occur. If a business has money for this type of service, it can be very beneficial for "health" of business.

Are those who make these decisions that far removed up "corporate ladder" they can't see this isn't customer care at all and having opposite effect?

Each and every one of our customers and consultants should be made to feel like they are our most important one. If we don't take care of them, someone or some other company will.

Small and home businesses have an incredible opportunity to take back customer care and relationships way it is supposed to be. We are in an incredible position to "take care of business". Technology is wonderful. Without technology, there would be no internet and many of us would not be in business. However, there is no technology on this earth that can replace human connections. Technology will never replace our customers knowing that there is someone who truly cares about their needs.

So, how about you? Are you taking care of business?

Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who specializes in personalization and customer care for all her clients.

She exchanged her suits, hose and heels for working at home in her "jammies" and is on a mission to empower other women to do the same.