The Clear Vision experience

What you can expect from The Clear Vision Experience:

• A business partner that will listen to your needs and wishes


• A business partner that will work hard to get to know you, your business and the unique goals and objectives you have


• A business partner that will work hard to really make a difference to your life


• An allocated team who will be dedicated to keeping you fully informed about your affairs and always be on the look out for new ideas to help you


• Ideas and information to be presented to you in plain English


• Your telephone calls and written correspondence to be dealt with swiftly and efficiently


• To receive referrals from us whenever we believe our contacts could benefit from your products and services


• To be able to get hold of us from 8am Monday to Friday


• A no suprises fixed fee policy so you never get any unexpected bills



• The value you receive from our services to exceed the price you pay for them

We have reproduced a small selection of real life stories here, as examples of the ways in which our clients are already enjoying an exceptional experience.

These stories really happened. We are happy to request permission from our clients to discuss them further with you. To view the stories, make a selection from the following headings.

• Changing People's Lives


• Our Added Value Services


• Our Financial Expertise


• Our Media Expertise


• Bank Negotiation


• Using Our Network

Changing People's Lives

On 25th November 2005, Clear Vision client and pioneering orthdontic business Elleven Orthondontics won the "Best Overall Practice 2005" and "Best Specialist Referral Practice 2005" at the prestigious Private Dentist Awards ceremony held in Cafe Royal, Piccadilly.

Based in the Harley Street district of London, Elleven provides an innovative orthodontic experience to UK and international clients.

Clear Vision has worked with the Elleven partners on a Making It Happen consultancy programme since November 2004. We have also provided them with an ongoing BoardView service.

Our work with the partners began with a Vision Day which defined their personal goals and set out an action plan to achieve the business vision. Following the Vision Day, Elleven Parner Eric Tonge said:

"As you know, prior to working with yourselves, my fellow partner and I has no cohesive vision or strategic plan for the business going forward. Our first meeting with you involved setting out our personal goals and defining our vision for the business. You also helped to gauge where we are in pursuit of the vision, in terms of providing a unique orthodontic 'experience' for our clients, rather than simply providing a functional service."

Commenting on winning the awards, Elleven Partner Neil Counihan commented:

"Clear Vision has been instrumental in moulding, forming, and driving our business in a short space of time, to become the 'Best Specialist Referral Practice' and 'Best Overall Practice' in the UK. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Clear Vision. It has not always been the easiest route but has proved to be the most rewarding. I am convinced that developing a vision and moving towards it in measured quantifiable steps is the only way to start and continue in business. It is without hesitation that I share our success with you and congratulate everyone for the large input they have given to the success of Elleven...so far!!"

To find out how our consultancy programmes can help your business, call us on 01249 712074.

July 2005 - How to increase capacity but work less hours - the Clear Vision way!

Clear Vision is currently working with the partners of a London based orthodontic practice, providing a BoardView and consultancy service.

During the BoardView sessions, it had become apparent that the pressures on the partners’ scheduling of appointments and working hours were not only preventing them from spending more time working ON their business strategically, but also restricting the amount of time spent with their families and pursuing their personal goals.

Both partners were working at the London practice as well as at other regional firms. This resulted in long days, a lot of travelling and a lack of time and energy to dedicate to their families. At the London practice, both partners were working 11am – 7pm, two days per week. Neither worked on Mondays and their surgery therefore laid idle on this day.

Clear Vision Managing Director Rob Walsh reviewed their working practices and scheduling with them and devised an alternative approach which not only involved them working less hours, but actually increased the appointment capacity for patients.

Working shifts have now been rearranged into ten sessions – five morning (9am-2pm) and five afternoon (2pm – 7pm). Each partner is covering three sessions per week, with an additional orthodontist covering four. The partners’ working hours at this practice have therefore reduced by an hour and their shift patterns allow them to spend half the day away from the business.

The actual increase in capacity can be measured as 48%, the revenue from which will more than cover the salary of the additional orthodontist.

Clear Vision have also helped the partners map out and implement the necessary resources and systems required to make this change. The partners can therefore relax as they spend extra time away from the practice, in the knowledge the business will continue to run smoothly and efficiently without them there.

In fact, the partners are so impressed by the development of their business and the positive effects on their lives as result of the Clear Vision consultancy programme, they are currently entering for five different awards at the Private Dentistry Awards 2005.

Watch this space!

June 2005 - Translating a Vision into Action

News of the Clear Vision Experience is spreading far and wide. In December 2004, we were asked by a dentist in Dubai to help him define the business vision he had in his head and translate it into an action plan for his dental practice.

In just six months, the Clear Vision Making It Happen consultancy programme has helped the owner achieve the following:

• Define his personal goals for his family and himself
• Set out a personal development programme to strengthen his weaker skills
• Define his vision for the business in line with his personal goals and communicate it effectively to his team
• Set out a full Business Plan to develop the business in line with his vision and personal goals
• Create a monthly One Page Business PlanTM to measure and monitor the key underlying success factors that drive the profits and cashflow of the business – net profit has subsequently increased by 100% in six months
• Review the organisation structure for the business - profile all the team members, redefine team roles to ensure each individual’s strengths are fully exploited and each member’s personal goals addressed
• Establish a team training and appraisal system
• Review the corporate structure of the business, and establish separate growth and marketing plans for the different areas to create a replicatable (and saleable!) business model
• Extend the training of his dental nurses to become treatment co-ordinators who hand-hold every patient from arrival to departure. This has helped to increase treatment conversions from 1 in 8 to over 3 in 4
• Benchmark and increase the price of his services twice with the loss of less than 1% of patients
• Establish and implement a differentiated marketing strategy which has been instrumental in reactivating over 400 patients who had stopped visiting the dentist
• Establish and implement a systemised patient contact programme to ensure patients continue to visit the practice, remember every visit favourably and continue to refer new patients
• Define and implement a distinguished ‘New Customer Visit System’ to really WOW new patients and ensure they go away talking about their experience at the practice (referrals have risen from 2 per month to 12 per month in the six month period)
• Systemise his business, in particular the patient-facing systems that contribute to providing them with a truly memorable and exceptional visit to the dentist
• Set up financial systems to generate tailored monthly management information which aids strategic decisions and keeps the bank manager satisfied and informed at all times
• Locate and secure larger premises to enable the business to undertake phase two of the development programme and move further towards the owner reaching his personal goals through the realisation of his business vision

July 2005 - Clear Vision Helps Client Take It To The Next Level

A Clear Vision client had been in business as a sole trader for three years. His business had been relatively successful but relied heavily on him, which prevented him from having the time to stand back and plan strategically. In its current form, his business was not helping him work towards his personal goals.

Clear Vision offered the business owner a FREE Business Builder Review to help him form an action plan to take his business to the next level. The BBR is a 2-3 hour consultancy session which effectively takes a snapshot of a business and identifies ‘quick win’ ideas to kick start the process of change.

The following was achieved during the session:

• The business owner defined his personal goals and specific ideas were identified to push these forward


• The vision for the business was discussed


• The business owner’s professional goals were set out and targets set thereon


• A clear summary of action points was drawn up at the end of the session for the business owner to go away with

We have subsequently provided our client with a document detailing the entire BBR. He was delighted with the session and is now purposefully driving his business forward.

July 2005 - "Renewing a Sense of Direction"

Clear Vision was asked by the owner of a local hospitality company to conduct a ‘Vision Day’ for his business.

For some time, the owner had recognised that although his business was successful, he needed it to move onwards and upwards if he was to achieve his professional and personal goals. He explained his feelings to us, borrowing a quote from Charles Handy, author of ‘The Empty Raincoat’: “If you keep on going the way you are, you will miss the road to the future”

He felt that the business lacked vision and the directors and staff roles required more definition.

The Vision Day was held at the Clear Vision office to give the owners the chance to change their perspectives and to ensure there were no interruptions.

The following was achieved during the session:

• Both business owners defined their personal goals and ‘quick win’ ideas were identified to push these forward


• The vision for the business was discussed and defined


• The strengths and weaknesses of the current business were reviewed and priority areas for improvement highlighted


• The strengths and weaknesses of the Directors were discussed and roles redefined accordingly


• The wider organisation structure was reviewed and redefined and action points set out


• A summary of actions going forward was drawn up

Following the Vision Day, the business owner wrote to us to tell us that he was "immensely enthused with a clear sense of purpose and renewed sense of direction".

Our Added Value Services

January 2006 - The Clear Vision Health Check

Our Vision Days continue to bring about weird and wonderful results!

The ‘Vision Day’ is the kick-start session for many of the consultancy programmes we work on to help our clients develop their businesses. It is an intensive day which asks many fundamental questions of the business owner, to assess just how well they are doing in pursuit of their goals and sets out a personal and professional action plan going forward.

Every Vision Day begins with a review of the client’s personal goals, as it is important that every business can provide for what the owners personally want to achieve. We often ask our clients to complete an exercise which analyses the balance between the major elements of their life:

• Family


• Business


• Health


• Wealth


• Fun


• Community

During this exercise, a recent Vision Day client revealed that he continues to suffer with a bad back, which was having an adverse impact on both his business and personal life.

As we are eager to help change our clients’ professional AND personal lives for the better, we put the client in touch with another business owner for whom we recently ran a Vision Day. This individual is a spinal specialist and is set to improve the comfort, health and happiness of our client.

March 2005 - Multiple WOWs for Clear Vision Client

The Managing Director of an air conditioning company visited the Clear Vision office for a board meeting, as part of his ongoing consultancy programme.

On arrival our receptionist had predicted and pre-prepared his preferred refreshments during his time with us.

He was also pleased to receive a letter summarising his tax position to take away as he left, having only requested it during the meeting.

Finally, we presented him with easter eggs for his children to enjoy and a bottle of champagne for himself.

He was clearly bowled over by a not-so-average visit to his accountant!

June 2004 - Clear Vision provides added value Mystery Shopper Service

During his consultancy programme with Clear Vision, the Director of a local firm revealed that he was unsure that his business was positioned correctly in the marketplace to attract his ideal customer.

We were able to provide him with an effective method of evaluating his business against his competitors from a customer’s perspective, through our ‘Mystery Shopper’ service.

A member of the Clear Vision team posed as a potential customer and contacted four local firms to invite them to her house to quote on the relevant product. She evaluated each firm and provided a comprehensive report to our client on the following factors:

• The initial telephone call


• The affability of the person visiting her house


• How carefully they measured up


• What they were able to show her visually


• What they could do – innovation / designs


• Quality / presentation of the quote


• Price


• How / if they followed up the quote


• Overall experience of dealing with the firm

This exercise revealed that our client’s firm was correctly positioned in terms of price to attract the desired target audience. It also highlighted that the designs produced and use of software were on a par or above local competitors. The quality of the quote provided was the best in the area.

A further customer feedback exercise managed by Clear Vision backed up the results of the Mystery Shopper survey, with customers confirming they were very happy with the service provided and the workmanship was a good standard.

The service provided by our client’s subcontractor while installing the products was highlighted as less consistent. As a result of the additional help from Clear Vision, our client was able to implement systems to ensure a consistently high level of service was provided by the subcontractor.

March 2004 - Happy Employees = Happy Clear Vision Client

The employees of a Clear Vision client had complained for some time that their payslips did not disclose how many hours they had been paid in that month’s salary and how many had been held over to be paid in next month’s pay packet.

Once the company had become a Clear Vision client, our payroll bureau was delighted to solve this issue for the business. Each payslip is now personalised with appropriate details to inform each individual about the hours paid at a glance.

The subsequent feedback from the client was hugely positive.

June 2005 - Clear Vision takes the Strain of Research

Following a strategy session with the owner of a garden product manufacturing business, Clear Vision produced a consultancy document which contained details of the many action points discussed for the client to carry out.

Unbeknown to the client, a member of the Clear Vision team set about completing one of the more lengthy tasks on his behalf, following the session.

Our team member conducted an internet trawl to collate information on the many horticultural shows being held during the year, so the client could evaluate them all and make appropriate strategic marketing decisions. She also ordered information by post to include for the client.

We were pleased to present the client with a pack of information, including all the necessary contact information for him to apply for a stand at the shows.

This information contributed to his marketing strategy for the following 12 months.

Our Financial Expertise

January 2004 - Clear Vision increases customer’s profit margin by 35% during first consultancy session

During the first BoardView session with Clear Vision, an orthodontist explained that his practice was offering three different products to transform patients’ smiles.

These were:

• Product 1 – a clear bracket system taking an average of 18 months to complete treatment


• Product 2 – a clear bracket system taking an average of two years to complete treatment


• Product 3 – an ugly metal bracket system taking an average of 12 months to complete treatment

The business’s sales and marketing effort centred round the promotion of product 1 at this time. This product is backed by a large American corporate and is promoted via flashy marketing literature.

We asked him what margins the business was making on the different products and the number of patient appointments per treatment programme. The stats were as follows:

• Product 1 - 65% profit margin, 18 month programme / 10 appointments


• Product 2 - 95% profit margin, 24 month programme / 16 appointments


• Product 3 - 95% profit margin, 12 month programme / 8 appointments

Our client took on board that his sales and marketing strategy was flawed in light of these figures. The business immediately refocused marketing efforts to promote product 3.

The new strategy was a success and the product with those ugly metal brackets has since become a fashion statement in London. So much so, manufacturers are currently designing bejewelled metal braces that really can’t be ignored!

Our client’s business has since been nominated for the New Practice of the Year Award at The Private Dentistry Awards.

The profits of the business have subsequently been transformed (profit margin raised by 35%) as a result of this one piece of advice from Clear Vision. At the board meeting six months later, the client announced that his patient base numbered 4 product one customers, 3 product two customers and 45 product three customers.

That’s action!!!

August 2005 - Clear Vision deflects Inland Revenue heat!

A Clear Vision client was concerned to receive an unexpected letter from the Inland Revenue pursuing over £10,000 in underpaid PAYE / National Insurance contributions. Moreover, the IR was adding interest to the ‘debt’ by the day!

A Clear Vision team member went out to see the client and review the relevant historical records. She located the P35 from which the IR had derived its figures. Having reviewed the calculations, she verified that the client did, in fact, owe nothing.

On contacting the IR, she was able to prove that the calculation made was incorrect and demonstrate that a vital figure had not been entered onto the IR computer system. The IR then recognised the error and confirmed that our client could disregard the demand.

One relieved client!

December 2005 - Clear Vision identifies loss making account & eases client's cash flow

As part of our client’s accounts production we analysed each of the contracts for his construction business.

Our client had not previously evaluated the cost of his contracts against the length of each in this way. Our analysis showed that one contract was making a loss.

We then brought this contract into the accounts to reflect the overall loss which reduced the company’s tax burden and so helped improve cashflow.

Our Media Expertise

December 2004 - Clear Vision helps client shout about his success and successfully raises profile of business!

A Clear Vision client was pleased to tell us that his media production company had won a prestigious award at the West of England Royal Television Society Awards.

We recommended that he shouted about his success and offered to produce a Press Release on his behalf.

We also suggested a photo of him with the award would increase the chances of the Release getting picked up by journalists. One of our team drove specially to his office, camera in hand, to take the photograph. She also submitted and systematically followed up the Release with the relevant local journalists.

An article about our client’s success appeared in four local newspapers and the profile of his company increased significantly as a result.

January 2005 - Clear Vision makes mortgage brokerage newsworthy!

A new Clear Vision client mentioned to us that he would like to promote his new mortgage brokerage but didn’t know how. As a new business, he had very little money to spend on marketing.

We suggested exploiting the power of free advertising by producing and circulating a press release to local newspaper editors. Our client had no prior experience of approaching the press and felt that the commencement of his business was not exciting enough to make the news.

Clear Vision believes that any business can find a way of getting in the press. Following a short brainstorm session, we put together the Press Release for him and suggested a rather unusual ‘angle’ to make the opening of his business more newsworthy. We also advised him on a suitable photograph to send out with the Release.

A press article subsequently appeared in the Gloucestershire Gazette!

Bank Negotiation

December 2004 - Clear Vision turns around bank situation in 48hrs

A local entrepreneur approached Clear Vision to discuss our accountancy and consultancy services in connection with his business start-up.

While discussing which services he was going to take up with us, he told us that he had a bank lined up for his new business but was not happy with the terms they were offering, in particular the fact that they required personal guarantees against his home and were not prepared to consider the new venture under the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme (“SFLGS”).

Within 48 hours Clear Vision had introduced another bank to him, accompanied him to the meeting and helped him secure an agreement in principle on a package which involved an SFLGS application and included a lower rate of interest than the original bank he had contacted. No personal guarantee was needed.

July 2005 - Clear Vision input improves bank funding package

Clear Vision was asked to help a new client looking for business funding. We suggested he meet his bank manager for an open discussion. He asked us to sit in on the meeting.

Our funding specialist, Sadie McDonald, was able to negotiate successfully with the bank manager to reduce the client’s interest rate on a loan/overdraft by 1%. In addition, the bank manager was asking for security on the loan in the form of a personal guarantee on the client’s private property. Sadie also successfully negotiated an alternative funding package which meant this guarantee was not required.

Using Our Network

September 2004 - Clear Vision solves client’s broadband issue within one hour

A Local businessman, and existing Clear Vision client, came in for his annual accounts clearance meeting.

While discussing his annual accounts and reviewing future issues and challenges, we asked him what else we could help him with. He mentioned that he had an ongoing issue regarding the provision of broadband services in his area, for his student accommodation. This issue was significant as broadband facilities were important in differentiating him from other student landlords.

We were able to put him in touch with a suitable provider and the two were discussing a solution to his problems within the hour.