WorldWide Local Connect Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the CEO of IonSense, a small technology company, when I started working with WorldWide Local Connect Inc..

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WorldWide Local Connect Inc.?

IonSense was a small company of about ten people. Because of the pandemic, the company’s revenues were down, and they needed a project to pivot and take the company to the next level. I came on board to put a new business plan in place, get some investments, and help grow the company to get acquired. In doing that, I needed to bring in various resources to help me.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

He hired WorldWide Local Connect Inc. to do everything that a CFO does, which includes accounting services and financial advising and planning. Their primary task was to develop a financial strategy and figure out what investments we would need to help us get acquired. 

We started the engagement by putting together a pitch deck. WorldWide Local Connect Inc. handled all of the financial modeling work — they helped me model the business and build our story as I went out and talked to strategic and venture capital investors. They brought in their own tools for the modeling, including a tool that they built for us based on what I needed to show to potential partners and investors.

Aside from that, they also helped us with due diligence, which was a tremendous amount of work, even for a small business. They also brought a bookkeeper, who helped organize our finances and put together and fix a lot of the existing accounting practices within the company. We continue working together on some post-acquisition work.

What is the team composition?

My primary point of contact is Peter (Partner & CEO).

How did you come to work with WorldWide Local Connect Inc.?

Peter was actually recommended to me by another vendor. He came in with a ton of experience as CFO, his offer was fair, and his credentials were unbelievable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $50,000–$100,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We ended up being acquired by a major strategic. I'm now a senior vice president at Bruker Corporation running a brand new division that the group that was acquired, IonSense, is now part of. WorldWide Local Connect Inc. has been a key part of putting my strategy together from financial and business modeling standpoints. I didn’t even think we would get acquired for five years. We had a lot of complicated information we needed to present to strategics and investors, and they did a great job of using highly visual presentations to do so. They were a key element to the success of the engagement, and we wouldn’t have gotten acquired without their help.

How did WorldWide Local Connect Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

WorldWide Local Connect Inc. has performed well in terms of project management. Every time I asked for a new model or something from accounting, they got it to me in a very timely manner. They are never late, and they’re always there to help us. Even though they’re a contractor and they have other clients, they’ve always taken the time and effort to make sure we got things on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m impressed with WorldWide Local Connect Inc.’s ability to learn a business, model it, and put it into a pitch deck very quickly. Aside from that, Peter is a great person with impeccable ethics, and I really enjoy working with him.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to be very clear with your goals, milestones, and requirements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO of Covalent Bonds. We are a data-driven marketing strategy firm

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WorldWide Local Connect Inc., and what were your goals?

We need to prepare the company for future growth and want to make sure we have the correct foundations and processes in place.

SOLUTION

How did you select this firm and what were the deciding factors?

We met Peter through a business plan competition that we were finalists in. We did not know that we needed his help until we met with him! His vast experience and calm demeanor was a deciding factor in our decision to work with him.

Describe the engagement and overall scope of work in detail, including the stages of the partnership and any software or documents used.

Peter has been helping us as an advisor on our financial strategies as we scale. Peter has continued to ask us the right questions so we are always thinking ahead. He has introduced us to other consultants, and suggested operations platforms for us to look into.

Describe their billing or cost structure.

We pay Peter on a retainer basis

How many resources from the firm's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Solely Peter.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the engagement or general feedback about the services?

We cannot say enough good things about our collaboration with Peter. He is integral in our success, and we truly consider him as part of our team.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Consultative

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Peter always makes us feel like we are his only client. We really value his accessibility and willingness to help on strategic issues outside the scope of the original relationship

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No. Peter is great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a small practice center of mental health counseling located in Salem, Massachusetts. We have a 25-member staff, and I’m one of the co-owners.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with WorldWide Local Connect Inc.?

We needed business consulting services. Among other of our financial challenges, our clinicians weren’t meeting the billing expectations, so we needed help to incentivize them with benefits and better contracts.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we asked WorldWide Local Connect Inc. (WWLC) to create a detailed cash flow analysis and revenue report based on the financial information we provided. During this process, they helped us understand the questions we needed to ask to understand our finances and where our revenue was coming from.

WWLC then delivered a detailed three-year analysis, which included budget, cash flow, revenue report, profit-and-loss statements, and balance sheets. Basically, they covered all the different financial areas in which we needed to grow.

Since then, WWLC has kept working with us, providing suggestions for improving our revenue stream and profit margins. Additionally, they consult us regarding employee hiring, make changes to our employment contracts to create better pay structures that better fit our business model, and help us structure our employees' and clinicians’ benefits in a financially feasible way.

In addition to those services, WWLC has helped us in a variety of ways. For example, they helped us apply for the Paycheck Protection Program loan. They’ve also helped us understand our taxes better and figure out how to reduce them, changing our business’ tax model.

What is the team composition?

We work mainly with Peter (Co-Founder).

How did you come to work with WorldWide Local Connect Inc.?

Initially, we were referred to one of WWLC’s partners through a local organization that provided us with business consulting services for free. We liked this person’s work so much that we engaged with WWLC, and they connected us with Peter.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $6,000–$8,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We met Peter’s partner around 2016. They provided us with monthly business consulting for some time, but they then identified different areas of growth where we needed more specialized financial consulting. Thus, we were referred to Peter and started working with WWLC around April 2020. Our engagement is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve grown significantly over the last couple of years, and we’ve been able to do it faster than anticipated, thanks to WWLC’s involvement. Their suggestions have also improved our hiring and retention to support our growth. Additionally, we’ve been able to provide our clinicians with life insurance, a benefit that we didn’t even imagine affording before.

We’re extremely satisfied with WWLC’s work, and we want to continue working with them. Initially, we thought that they would only show us numbers, but they’ve taken the time to analyze those numbers in-depth to provide results.

How did WorldWide Local Connect Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

WWLC performs very well. Everything is upfront, and their contracts are very clear, as is their communication regarding deliverables and timelines. We check in every other week. During our meetings, they provide us with updated information about our billing and revenue.

What did you find most impressive about them?

WWLC knows what it takes to create a successful business, and their strong point is their personalized approach to their clients. They make us feel that they care about our business and want us to succeed. Those characteristics are the reason why I would recommend them over other business consultants.

Peter is very knowledgeable and takes the time to get to know his clients personally. Additionally, he is very interested in understanding our business and how we want to run it. He also has made great recommendations, but he’s very willing to understand our workplace culture and how our values match our financial model.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so; I don’t have any complaints.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Show up to the meetings, come in with questions, and be very engaged overall. Working with WWLC needs to be more like a partnership than a business arrangement so that they can help you succeed. Additionally, respect their time and be willing to learn from them; they’re very knowledgeable.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My dad owns a local diner for the past 43 years. I work there full time and handle the marketing and social media, aspect of the business while also helping run the business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WorldWide Local Connect Inc.?

To create a website and to create to go menus

SOLUTION

How did you select WorldWide Local Connect Inc.?

I googled “ local website designers” and read some reviews.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

For the menu, he first gathered all the information of the diner, logo, the history, menu, target audience etc. We then went over different lay outs for the website. Next we figured out what tabs we wanted to put in the website. After putting everything together he provided a preview of the website before it would get viewed by the public.

For the to go menus, I provided what is on the menu. We then figured out the size of the to go menu, the color, font size. Then we added a few pictures which he recommended.

What was the team composition?

Hans worked closely with me and always kept me in communication with anything that came up and any changes i requested.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The website has generated alot more foot traffic and to go orders. customers have said “we found you diner online through your website” For the to go menus, we ordered 500 menus and went through them in only a few months. I had to order another 500 to go menus right after that. Customers have complimented the to go menus, their look and their style.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Hans was regularly in communication with me. He would follow up every week with what has been done and the next steps. Any email i sent , he would answer it in minutes. Hans was very easy to get a hold of and communicate with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was very impressed with how well Hans would communicate with me. Any questions i had he would be happy to answer. The team helped explain what they were doing and the next steps in the project. The quality of his work is exceptional! I was please with all of the projects Hans has done with me.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

No, everything has been perfect with every project done by this company.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm a sole proprietorship of a Massage Therapy Practice in Maynard, MA

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WorldWide Local Connect Inc., and what were your goals?

I experienced a professional well done enhancement of my productive website.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

A former client of mine and his great reputation for doing well thought out quality work.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Everything was integrated flawlessly.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

1

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Not measured, but a much improved traffic.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Great communication and follow-up

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I enjoyed their enthusiasm and the all-around business experience.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

He is on top of my web maintenance

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own a small data company focused on the utilities market and B2B sales lead generation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire WorldWide Local Connect Inc., and what were your goals?

They brought our website up to date and in the process taught us a lot about how technology has changed in the last ten years

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

They were referred to us by one of our clients

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

They took us through the process of updating our website including providing wire frames, search engine optimization and appropriate language and keywords for the website. They also monitored the site on a monthly basis to provide us with suggested tweaks to the site.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

Since this was a smaller job we primarily dealt with a project manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We definitely had an increase in inquires for two of our product lines. We were satisfied.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Laid back to correspond with but firm on their deadlines

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

They gave us a professional site and taught us a lot about how much technology has changed since we last had our site updated. They were very patient, which I liked the most.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

No, not really