1. Types of Services Provided.

One decision you will need to make regarding outplacement is whether your displaced workers would benefit most from group or individual one-on-one outplacement. For majority of outplaced employees, if your budget permits, individual outplacement is preferred option since it provides one-on-one support that will help them move forward more quickly than they would on their own.

If you decide they would benefit most from individual outplacement, you will then need to determine what services would be most valuable to your displaced employees. One option would be to select an outplacement firm that develops their resume and cover letter for them. Another option would be an outplacement firm that offers office space and a computer for displaced worker to prepare their own job search materials. 2. Areas of Specialty.

Another factor to consider when selecting an outplacement firm is whether it is important to you that they have experience working with type of displaced employees you will be sending them. A related factor is whether it is important to you that outplacement company specializes in dealing with companies like yours.

If their areas of specialty are important to you, review outplacement company's web site and other marketing materials to see what their specialty is or ask them directly. If an outplacement firm's expertise lies in serving large companies displacing administrative staff and your small business is displacing experienced managers, this outplacement firm may not be best fit for you.

3. Experience with Current Job Search Practices.

How important is it to you that outplacement firm be experienced with Internet job search techniques? Is it likely that Internet will play a key role in your displaced employees' job search strategy?

FALURE! Nobody wants to think about unthinkable. However, if many failed business owners would have given this subject more thought and research, it may have saved them thousands, tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Running a business is quite like growing vegetables. You must know when to plant, when to water, when to pick and when, if needed, to "burn it all down and start anew". A failed attempt at anything is not a pleasant thought. For many an entrepreneur there will come a time when you simply need to stop, recap your mistakes, refocus your energies, call it quits and if you still have heart for it, start over. Starting over may mean rebuilding your present business or closing those doors for good.

This doesn't mean you should give up at drop of a dime. This article is for those of you who have done everything you can and it just isn't enough. It's time for you to take a good, hard look at your business. Take an inventory of your past efforts and accomplishments.

Here are top "signs" to look for: