Most companies do more than one thing. They make a variety of products that make sense together or similarly a handful or more of related services. I would argue that many companies don't know exactly what they make on each. The fire-drills around daily operations often prevent companies from taking a hard look at specific costs. Using a restructuring consultant could be very helpful in this way. Per John Dimovski, Co-Founder of Harmon Partners, "Many companies define growth as sales growth, rather than more appropriately, profitability growth. Accurate product costing is a fundamental element of running a healthy and profitable business and is one of the first items addressed in when assisting a company with performance improvement initiatives."

As companies get a better handle on their costs for specific products, they may be able to approach customers and get improved pricing for unprofitable products. Sometimes companies can get improved pricing on their own, but it makes sense to work with a consultant. Per Alex Calderone, Calderone Advisory Group, "Getting price increases from customers is possible, but the negotiation needs to be backed up with analytical rigor and empirical data that justifies the request, something that consulting firms like ours help clients with frequently".  Further, he adds "There is only one certainty-if they don't ask, their prices will never go up, and the more likely outcome is downward pressure over time". 

While many companies consider themselves lean operators, we are deep into an economic expansion. It is only normal to have some unnecessary or superfluous expenses creep in. As Chuck Mouranie, Partner and Managing Director, EDSI points out "a continuous scrutiny of the organizational structure helps to assess true needs".  Further, he remarks "the competitive nature of the business relies on quicker decisions and agility. Fighting overhead bloat helps keep companies sharp and now is a good time to have an independent set of eyes looking those over".