Business Consultancy and Coaching Services That Drive Real Growth
Running a business comes with pressure, uncertainty, and constant decisions. At Total Books, we provide practical business consultancy and coaching that helps you plan, act, and grow with confidence. From strategy and systems to accountability and leadership, we bring structure to your ambition.
What Is Business Consultancy and Coaching?
Business consultancy and coaching work together to support both your business and your personal growth as a leader. At Total Books, we combine strategic insight with practical accountability to help you build a stronger, more focused business.
- Business consultancy solves problems, improves systems, and sharpens your strategy
- Business coaching helps you stay focused, set goals, and lead with clarity
- Combined approach gives you expert advice plus consistent follow-through
- Total Books offers both, tailored to your business stage, sector, and goals
Who We Help
We work with ambitious business owners, directors, and leadership teams who want more clarity, control, and consistency in how they run and grow their businesses. Whether you’re just starting out or planning to scale, we tailor our support to match your goals and challenges.
- Start-ups needing structure, direction, and strategic focus
- SMEs preparing for growth, funding, or succession
- Sole traders and service providers looking to improve profitability
- Business partners managing operations, teams, or transitions
- Firms across trades, tech, creatives, and professional services
- Leaders seeking accountability, improved decision-making, and long-term planning
Our consultancy and coaching are built to support real-world business goals — with insight, strategy, and action you can rely on.
Did you know?
Our Business Consultancy and Coaching Services
From planning and profitability to automation and leadership, we support the financial and operational areas that matter most — all backed by expert insight and real-world experience.
Our business consultancy and coaching services help you:
- Create a clear strategy and align it with financial goals
- Improve profitability and plug performance gaps
- Use financial data to guide everyday decision-making
- Automate systems and reduce manual processes
- Plan for exit, scale, or succession
- Stay accountable and focused as a business leader
- Get FD-level insight without the cost of hiring in-house
Strategic Business Planning
Strategic planning helps you move from guesswork to clear direction. We review your business model, challenge outdated assumptions, and help you build a roadmap based on real numbers and achievable targets. Together, we define your purpose, ideal customer profile, and value proposition — then translate these into SMART goals that drive decision-making.
We focus on aligning your long-term vision with short-term action. This means clarifying pricing strategy, mapping revenue drivers, and addressing areas of weakness or missed opportunity. You’ll leave with a one-page strategic plan and measurable KPIs to track progress over the next 12 months.
Whether you’re planning your next growth phase or resetting direction, we give you clarity, focus, and a practical plan to move forward with confidence.
Cashflow and Profit Improvement Reviews
Many businesses work hard without seeing profit or cash in the bank. We help you understand why. Our profit and cashflow review looks beyond the surface — analysing margins, overheads, customer mix, and pricing to uncover what’s holding your business back.
Using tools like the Value Gap Calculator, we compare actual vs potential performance to highlight where money is leaking and where opportunity is being missed. You’ll get practical advice on controlling costs, improving pricing, and freeing up cash tied up in the wrong places.
This review isn’t about spreadsheets — it’s about helping you run a business that’s both profitable and sustainable. Whether you’re struggling to pay suppliers or planning to scale, we give you the clarity you need to make cashflow work in your favour.
Financial Insight & Annual Accounts Reviews
Your accounts can tell you more than just what happened last year. We use them to help you understand how your business is performing today — and what you can do next to improve.
Our annual review goes beyond compliance. We connect your numbers to your goals, showing you how to boost profit, reduce risk, and make stronger decisions. We flag opportunities for better cost control, highlight underperforming areas, and bring hidden patterns to the surface.
We also check if your financial setup still supports your plans — from structure and dividends to forecasting and planning. By the end, you’ll have a clearer picture of where your business stands and what steps you can take to move forward with purpose.
Benchmarking and Industry Comparison
Do you know how your business stacks up against others in your sector? Our benchmarking service helps you find out. We compare your performance using 7 key financial indicators — including EBITDA, revenue per employee, gross margin, and cash days — to reveal where you’re leading, lagging, or holding steady.
We pull data from your existing systems like Xero, Sage, or QuickBooks, or work with manual reports where needed. From there, we show you how small improvements in the right areas can have a big impact on profit and value.
Benchmarking isn’t about keeping up with the competition — it’s about learning where to focus for measurable growth. It’s ideal for business owners who want to stop guessing and start making data-backed decisions.
Business Coaching and Accountability Support
Running a business can be lonely — and it’s easy to lose focus when you’re pulled in every direction. Our coaching keeps you grounded and moving forward. We support business owners, partners, and directors with regular check-ins, performance reviews, and planning sessions.
We help you set clear quarterly goals, prioritise tasks that actually matter, and stay on track even when things get chaotic. You’ll gain a trusted sounding board to test ideas, troubleshoot issues, and keep momentum.
Whether you’re planning a big move or just trying to stay consistent, our accountability coaching gives you space to think clearly, act strategically, and grow confidently — with someone in your corner who truly understands business.
Business Transformation & Systems Automation
Many businesses run on outdated processes that waste time and increase costs. We help you change that. Our transformation service focuses on intelligent automation — using tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT, and RPA through our partner, Valentia, to streamline operations.
We start by identifying tasks you repeat manually — then replace them with systems that are up to five times faster and 100% accurate. From admin to reporting, payroll to approvals, we build digital processes that free your team and improve accuracy.
We also assess your business for AI-readiness — helping you prepare for the future and lead with confidence in a tech-driven economy. It’s practical, measurable change that supports real growth.
Tax Planning for Growth and Exit
Tax planning is criticalto keeping more of what you earn — and setting up for long-term success. We align your tax strategy with your business goals, helping you manage profit extraction, reduce tax liabilities, and plan for future milestones.
We look at dividend strategy, allowances, group structuring, business asset relief, and capital gains planning — especially if you’re growing, restructuring, or preparing to exit. Our approach makes sure tax doesn’t eat into your growth or hold you back from investment.
You’ll get clear, tailored advice from tax experts who understand both compliance and strategy — and how to use tax planning as a tool for growth, not just a year-end chore.
Mergers, Acquisitions, and Exit Strategy
If you’re thinking about selling your business, bringing in investors, or preparing for succession, we can help you get everything in order. We support business owners through each stage of the exit process — from improving valuation to managing risk and restructuring.
We review your systems, streamline financials, and identify red flags that could impact a deal. We also provide pre-exit tax planning, advise on share structure, and help you decide the most efficient way to extract value.
Whether you’re planning a full sale, stepping back from day-to-day operations, or seeking funding for the next stage — our advice is built to protect your interests and support a successful transition.
Virtual Finance Director (VFD) Services
A Virtual FD gives you access to high-level financial support without the cost of hiring a full-time director. We act as your part-time finance lead — guiding you through strategy, forecasting, reporting, and key financial decisions.
We work closely with your leadership team to build budgets, monitor KPIs, and assess business risks. We also help you prepare for funding rounds, manage growth sustainably, and keep your cashflow under control.
Whether you need monthly check-ins or quarterly reporting, our VFD service gives you the financial clarity and strategic support to lead with confidence — without overextending your team or your budget.
Learn more about our Virtual Finance Office Support.
Why Choose Total Books for Business Advisory?
With over 30 years of combined experience, we provide expert business consultancy and coaching to help you lead with clarity and confidence. Our support is built around strategy, financial insight, and ongoing accountability — tailored to your goals.
What sets us apart:
- Led by Buhir Rafiq (MAAT), trusted advisor and practice principal
- Local insight from offices in Cardiff, Newport, and Bristol
- Proven results across professional services, trades, tech, and SMEs
- A balanced mix of strategy, finance, and leadership support
- Practical advice with real follow-through — not just theory
Book a Free Consultation with an experienced business growth advisor
Take the first step toward smarter business decisions. Whether you need strategic direction or personal accountability support, our team is ready to help you grow with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between business coaching and consultancy?
Business consultancy focuses on solving problems, improving systems, and designing strategy. Coaching supports you as a leader — helping you stay focused, set goals, and remain accountable. Total Books provides both for maximum impact.
How can business coaching help me grow faster?
Business coaching helps you identify blind spots, improve leadership decisions, and stay focused on strategic outcomes. It’s ideal for owners juggling multiple roles or facing growth bottlenecks.
What does a benchmarking review include?
We assess your business against 7 key financial metrics — such as revenue per employee, EBITDA, and cash days — and compare your results with sector standards to spot areas for improvement.
Can I automate parts of my business with your help?
Yes. We identify repetitive, manual processes and replace them with AI-driven automation, using tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT, and RPA integrations to improve accuracy and speed.
Is your consultancy industry-specific?
We work across sectors — including trades, tech, creatives, and professional services — and tailor our insights based on real-world data from each field.
Do I need a Virtual FD if I already have an accountant?
A Virtual FD gives you strategic financial direction, not just compliance. It’s ideal when you need forecasting, board reporting, or capital advice beyond bookkeeping and returns.
Can you help me prepare my business for sale?
Absolutely. We guide you through valuation prep, tax planning, operational clean-up, and exit strategy. The earlier we get involved, the better your outcome.
How often should I meet with a business coach or consultant?
We recommend monthly or quarterly sessions, depending on your goals. Regular contact keeps you on track and ensures you adapt quickly to changes or challenges.
Do I need both coaching and consultancy?
Most growing businesses benefit from both. Consultancy provides strategy, coaching builds consistency and execution. Together, they create focused momentum and long-term results.
How is your approach different from other advisers?
We combine financial expertise, automation tools, and strategic insight — all delivered with ongoing accountability. Our work is grounded in data but driven by your goals.
