Welcome to International Development Services Community

On behalf of JA Inc., it is my privilege to inform you of our complete satisfaction with Ivan and his time, scope of work completed, and changes implemented in our business. We are excited about the direction the business is headed, with the main goal to reduce operating costs in order to increase profit margin. Our management team thoroughly believes that the benefits to be gained by implementing the changes Ivan has presented will positively impact our business, especially in dollars saved. We estimate the cash return to be from 1% (120,000) to quite possibly up to 20% (2 million). We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but our management team is committed to the job. I have been able to work steadily with Ivan on each of the programs developed, and once we are through our harvest season, Nick and Frank will be able to devote more time to the program. The cost analysis, planning and budgeting, and margin mix have begun to show us how to more accurately account for our costs, develop actual fees, bill out our costs and fees for each operation, track our time and expenses, all in a manner that will bring more profit to our operating company. In using the programs, I have already seen a direct impact on time and money saved. My office is now able to track, account, and bill outside vendors more accurately and efficiently. For example, instead of our typical delay of 4 to 6 months to bill customers, I am now able to send out an invoice in 2 weeks. The interest savings on that particular bill was $2,500.00. If I am able to be timelier with 5 vendors on 10 bills each, that is a savings of $125,000. The ability to accurately track our labor is developing and being implemented through management meetings and scheduling. By evaluating each employee’s performance, we are now cognizant of how our employees are utilizing their time. This is done by reviewing time sheets on a weekly basis. We have been able to direct questions to team leaders who have been able to correct hours worked as needed, thus accurately tracking our labors costs. Knowing our cost for custom operations will give us a more accurate account of whether or not we should outsource an operation, or if we need to plan and complete the operation ourselves. In the past, we have not had an accurate base line of what our costs are. We now can objectively evaluate and plan our operations and inputs in real time, as opposed to using historical data. This can prove to be a huge opportunity for cash savings. We will only know once we have spent the time utilizing the programs, an inputting our own data budget. Finally, the biggest return on investment we see for our business is to maximize our margin mix. Currently, we have not had the ability to accurately evaluate the break-even point of sales, or have a profit plan. Even though we cannot control commodity pricing, we can control our decisions to be profitable, basing those decisions on zero-basis budgeting, rather than past history.

In March 2016 I realized that the company was growing and was going to continue to grow more than I had thought possible when I first purchased it. I realized quickly that the information available to run the company during this growth was inadequate and that the systems were not in place to control the cost necessary. I had horrible visions of me being a text book example of the “he went out of business because he grew too fast and didn’t know how to manage it,” scenario. I engaged IDS to help me get the systems and the structure in place to handle the growth of the company. When Rami showed up he was very quick to identify key areas that needed to change and processes that needed to be put into place and enforced. He focused on the inventory management and the estimation process as two key areas that drive the projects costs in the company. The tools he gave us are fantastic and the instruction he gave to the staff on how to use them were spot on. We could not have produced these tools and processes ourselves. Without Rami we would still be in the Stone Age. The entire engagement has been a pleasure; it felt like somebody has taken us out of the old beat up car and put us in a formula one race car, and showed us how to make it perform at its highest level. How fun is that!!! Ramus has been awesome and I look forward to working with him further in the future.

Over the past several weeks you have worked with me and my company’s personnel to develop a much needed plan for the future of Century Tennis. Your concern and dedication to research and development of a plan to turn our organization around, has been a great help in our understanding the fundamental problems and issues that has plagued our company. I am very pleased and satisfied with the results and tactical remedies presented and look forward to implementing fully your suggestions. With your help, we have already begun to implement those changes and feel good about the future of Century Tennis. In addition, your attention to detail, communication with the staff, supplying us the tools needed and frankness has been an “eye opening” experience. I want to thank you for all your help and hope we can count on you again in the future.

When first approached about the idea of having a Consultant reside in my location for several weeks telling me what I needed to do, and receiving a substantial fee in doing so, I was apprehensive, to say the least. I know how frustrating it is to run a small business and there were several items, goals and initiative that were not being accomplished on my own. Once I took a deep breath and considered my frustrations, I agreed to “submit” to your approach to turn my firm into thriving, well positioned company. Before being approached by IDS, I had owned and operated my firm for 23 years, with the last several years being very profitable and mostly rewarding. However, I was missing many details and realized I was getting by and knew I needed help. Since learning of a medical condition in 2012, I have been thinking of selling my company. In addition, my firm was going to prepare it for sale. Now that I have received your firm’s coaching, I’m confident the company cannot only transition from being a DBE firm, but also one step in a much improved position to sell. IDS identified several issues that are holding the company from achieving greater success: • A cumbersome and difficult accounting system. • Lack of a Project Management system. • Lack of several accounting checks and balanced assuring financial statements. • Lack of detailed understanding of financial statements and how to build systems to identify and correct errors and identify areas of concern. • Identifying several steps in aligning the company goals with the employee’s aspirations. • Monthly routines to know breakeven points, true employee cost, accurately pricing the cost of a labor. • Developing an employee incentive program. • Developing an accurate accrual accounting system with check and balances. We had been operating the last 6 years using accounting software that was cumbersome and difficult to use. IDS enabled me to see the value in migrating to QuickBooks. They imported the last 5 years of accounting SOPs specifically directed at QuickBooks and worked with my bookkeeper to insure she was up to speed. IDS also prepare several custom accounting reports that are easily run after each month has been closed. These reports will allow us to monitor the firm’s financial status and enable us to quickly identify necessary adjustments. The onsite business consultant, Daryl, was extremely knowledgeable and assisted myself and staff members in learning our new systems and processes. IDS also helped us implement a Project Management system. With Daryl’s guidance, we implemented Bill Quick, which integrates with QuickBooks. Before Bill Quick’s, each employee prepared daily timesheets. Each timesheet was processed by 4 different departments, causing sever duplication and wasted time. Now each employee enters time through Bill Quick, and we can monitor to remain on budget and on schedule. Now Daryl will not be in our office daily and we begin “flying solo.” I am anxious to see us work thorough the new process on our own. I am expecting to see great returns on the investment with IDS.

I would like to thank you and your team for the time and commitment that you have provided over the last two months help guide our company through some very tough waters. As I told Ron on the day that we engaged in your services, “As President and CEO of our company, I was well of the tools your team will bring to our organization but have failed at trying to bring them into practice on my own. It is under your senior mentorship and guidance that we will be able to make this change a reality." I’m proud and happy to say that not only have you been able to get the tools ingrained in to our practices, you have been able to line up the financials resources we needed to accommodate recent growth and provide mentorship for our leadership. For this we will always be grateful. Thank you again for your time and commitment.

Native Solutions has greatly benefited from the services provided by IDS Business Consultants. I’m certain we were on the fast track to bankruptcy prior to our working with your team and specifically Thomas. Thomas has helped to develop and establish new policies, procedures and important metrics for our management team to evaluate operating costs and gross margin to stabilize our profitability and cash flow. With these metrics, Thomas was able to uncover many of the inefficiencies contributing to our year loss of profitability and reinvestment capability. In addition to these vital operational changes, Thomas has also established general liability and bond insurance claims to help recover lost income in prior periods due to disruptive data loss, loss of a long time client and a subcontract in default. Thomas has helped out team overcome communication deficiencies and has encouraged more personal methods of interacting with clients and vendors. This effort has proved to be very successful in negotiating better terms with vendors, and has improved accounts receivable turn over. Further, Thomas has helped to implement very positive changes in the roles and responsibilities of management, sales and administrative personnel that make our team more efficient and accountable for daily activities which contribute to the overall success of the company moving forward. Thomas is an outstanding business manager and professional. He’s quick to solve problems and nothing seems impossible with him on the team! Thank you for the opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation that Thomas contribution was recognized immediately and will have a long lasting benefit to NS. IDS clients will be very fortunate to have him assigned to the case.

I am writing this as a referral for the services provided by IDS. I own a small medical marijuana company in Colorado. I was doing ok but felt that I was lacking in one are on particular and that is the “Business of Business.” IDS came by one day and pitched me on what they could offer and it seemed like something I could benefit from. After meeting with the original consultant they sent another guy for a complimentary follow up. I decided to pursue this and hire them and give it a try. This is when I met “my guy” Jeff. Jeff sat with me for roughly two weeks and we went through my business A-Z. We looked at my production side where we cultivated marijuana and all the systems in place. Then dove into my dispensary where we sold the product. He got me familiar with many of the systems used and general practices. Jeff was a very guy to talk to and I didn’t mind having him around. The cost of hiring IDS for a small company like mine is hard to stomach and cost me a lot of sleep. However, the cost of going out of business was much worse. I’m just beginning this process but am feeling very optimistic. Jeff helped guide me through increased production, higher sales average and behind the scenes systems to help me navigate margins, forecasting profits and cash management. I now have a much clearer vision of where I want to go with my company and have been given a map of how to get there. Within a year’s time I see a vast improvement on my company and quality of life. I would highly recommend Jeff and truly meant it when I say “He is a swell guy.” To me he seemed a straight shooter and a guy who has lots of life experiences to draw from. I look forward to implementing everything he taught me and using him as a resource when the need arises.

Looking back at the end of 2015, the corporation was in a state of confusion. We were in a financial position of desperation that we had not seen in a very long time. Our leadership was demonstrating symptoms of insecurity, and self-doubt about our success in 2016. Financial fear was distracting our sales and service teams, and the success of solving customer problems turned to second-guessing methods that were already proven. When faced with the decision of whether to stand and fight or simply walk away, we were given an opportunity to change our position and turn our circumstances of confusion into a state of confidence. The decision for me was easy to make despite the expense of the training, and postponing the corporate tax-filing, and our personal tax filing for 2015. The opportunity for solving multiple problems in a very short period of time is exactly the solution we needed. This was an answer to many prayers, and this decision was made easily, because God would provide for every single dollar needed. My family and I believe in one Truth and only one Truth, and we have been given the task to show this Truth through our lives in business and in pleasure. When the Lord provides for wisdom and knowledge it will be done under his plan with whoever is chosen; therefore, I am thankful and very satisfied with the training and the knowledge that your company has delivered. Every person that represents your company has been professional, courteous, and accountable to our agreement. We are very satisfied in the direction that we are moving, and we will continue to use the tools and techniques for the success of our commitment to each other. Our success is your success, and we intend to do business in the future with your company. We look forward to doing business again.

We had been struggling with how and why we were not doing as well as we felt we should have with the time and investment going in to our company. We thought it was quite a risk to take on consulting, but knew it would be helpful for us now and in the future. We were correct! Barry has been with us learning our interesting business and helping us see where we had some gaps. We have been just as much of challenge to him as he has been for us! We have a much better understanding of how we need to approach things in the future and get us motivated to get there. We have now completed consulting, and look forward to our challenges ahead as this is still just the beginning. We now feel like we have the necessary tools to accomplish what we have laid out ahead for us. Thank you for all the help, and we look forward to growing with Barry as a “check in” every once in a while to help remind us of our direction.

The IDS Company has been a company life saver for us. For a couple months my bookkeeper and I were trying to get a handle on what was happening with the business-we went from $2 million dollar a year company to $5 million a year company and did everything the same-problem was we seemed to be going backwards. We had talks on what we needed to do to turn it around but each week did nothing and knew some things we needed to do but another week went by with no time to do anything to get a handle on our situation. A gentleman stopped in on Friday about 4:00 and gave me information and hit on a couple issues that this company could help with. He said all I have to do is agree to have someone come in and would only cost about $1,200.00and that I would never regret it. I agreed. Jerry was the first person to come in and talk with us on things IDS could help with. His knowledge and point blank slap in the face facts sold me on that he truly knew our faults and offered firm direction on a few immediate things that needed to happen-immediately. Through his questions and our answers he started hitting the nail on the heat time after time! After a couple days we signed on having Konrad and another come in to go through everything- financial and our business plan. Konrad had the expertise to ask many quality questions to our team each week-gave us the ammunition and taught us many different ways of fact checking how our company was doing financially and what matrix was doing on different fronts. Through the first couple weeks we started doing the things necessary to follow in the footsteps that we were guided to do. We started getting things done because we were sold on the entire directional package that Konrad was offering. During our final few days of Konrad’s direction, I started wondering about when and how any follow-ups would happen. How would we actually perform knowing Konrad would not be there to help being the backbone and how would we perform with the tools and knowledge we were given. Should have known this company has ALL bases covered-Konrad went through all our guides and matrixes and explained how each month we need to report in so if anything started to falter-someone would step in and get us back on track! I am so impressed! I had a meeting with my bookkeeper and told him that we must be doing something right. When we were in dire need someone above was watching out for us and sent us the help and direction we needed! The company was IDS. This company has people that know how to help! Great Company! Great people-going to miss Konrad-he has become a friend to all of us and will miss him! Mark Ballman

As our 7 week journey with Jim ends, we are thoroughly impressed with progress made and the amount of support this gentleman gave us. The accomplishments and goals that have taken place with the company as a whole are astounding. Jim has shown us a “new light,” on how structure and chain of command make all the difference in a company. We have known this but for someone to personally sit down with us and map it out, is absolutely amazing. Jim has helped in so many ways with our new program being installed, compete employee handbook, etc. Marty and I are personally saddened upon his departure. As Jim moves on to another family, we can only hope that the rest of our journey with your company with be as smooth, knowledgeable, and delightful as Jim Hamilton has been to our M & D family.

This letter serves as a description and critique, all positive, of services provided by IDS through Konrad. Over the last few weeks Konrad has introduced and implemented the methods brought forth in the plan designed by your firm. Konrad has grasped the operations and type of business we have, which has made applying the plan to our business seamless. Konrad consistently displayed a professional approach to teaching and implementing the different process that were needed to develop our business and bring it into the 21st century. He worked very well with our staff and myself as an owner. Some of the items which have brought value form IDS’s services would consist of having a yearly budget for fiscal 1026 and 2017 that are updated at the close of each month. As an owner I will be able to better track our expenses and expected profits. Konrad implemented numerous matrices that pertain to job costing to assist in proposing work and building a sales forecast to take back the market we have lost to outside competitors. These matrices have already assisted our firm to win bids during the process. Konrad created job task/duties for each group of employees so our firm can hold each employee accountable for their individual duties, along with a rating sheet to gauge how well or poorly they are performing their duties. Konrad created an incentive plan so our firm can tie employee’s bonuses to their work performance, ending our trend of across-the-board bonuses at the end of the year. Other meaningful and implemented services were provided by Konrad, but I do not have enough time do delve into each one. Our firm is very pleased with the value provided by tour firm through Konrad and look forward to seeing a net profit increase from the implementation of your plan.