FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (faqs)
Remind me what you can help me with...
In a nutshell, we provide consulting, education, business coaching, and mentoring services to startups, entrepreneurs, and business owners that want to build, or buy software apps the smart way.
We'll help you get from A to B more quickly, more efficiently, and with minimum risk.
We've helped companies of all sizes to create professional, high-quality software products starting from just a basic idea.
Why should I use a consultant, or mentor?
The simple answer is that external, professional input will bring new insights, and a professional perspective, because information on how to build, and manage a tech business isn't common knowledge!
We'll advise you on scenarios you may not yet have thought about, and taking advantage of an expert point-of-view will save you time and money.
We regularly see that things that entrepreneurs like you might spend weeks working on by yourself, can be cleared up in a 30-60 minute chat!
Having a mentor gives you a place to air your concerns, and find answers to the questions that are in your mind relating to what to do, and how to do it. You may have been asking yourself (and Google) a lot of questions, and wondering:
It's common for startups to be missing the answers to some of these very important questions, but when you work with us, we can:
You might choose to "go it alone" and spend hours trawling the Internet, piecing details together to try and work out what you need to do next - a frustrating, and time-consuming exercise, especially if tech isn't your thing, and there may be a steep learning curve.
You might also try asking people you know, but this usually won't be enough to give you the specific answers and information you need to make solid decisions, or give you access to the dedicated time that you need.
Of course, you could join an incubator, or accelerator programme, but these are typically expensive, and competitive. You may be charged thousands, or asked for a stake in your business.
This is why we set up the world's first "Open Incubator". We don't take equity, our services are priced very reasonably, and our mentoring and workshops are flexible, and fit around your timetable. You can find out more about eh Tech Startup Academy™ Programme in our Products and services menu at the top of this page.
Learning through trial-and-error can be expensive!
Making the wrong decisions can increase your chances of failure, and knock your confidence, so trying to cobble information together by yourself is a false economy.
As an inexperienced, or "non-technical" entrepreneur, you may find that you burn through the budget you set aside to build your software far more quickly than anticipated, and go "round in circles" - which wastes time and increases the length of your project.
There are other considerations too; hiring technical staff, the management of a technical team, learning about infrastructure, servers and "back end" essentials, and making sure that your software app is built professionally, and is secure and robust!
Cut out the head scratching and get professional input to help you navigate the challenges, and pitfalls of software development, so you can get your software built quickly and efficiently.
We're here to assist you, help you overcome your challenges, and provide you with answers that are relevant to your personal situation
I want to build a SaaS, mobile app, or web based software. How would you assist me with that?
Software development, and product, and project management are vast topics.
Purposeful Products provides our clients with a clear plan of action, and information to help them make rapid progress when creating software applications, and to do this more effectively than they could do alone.
This typically includes offering practical support, guidance, feedback, a plan of action, and answering questions about:
People who aren't IT Professionals can, and do build apps, but they start at a disadvantage when there are gaps in knowledge and understanding about:
Without prior experience there is a lot of guesswork, blind faith, and hoping for the best that goes on!
We can help you brainstorm, think through your next moves and help you "connect the dots" so you can move forward with the best possible plan.
This is not a solid foundation for starting, and running a new business.
We give our clients a clear, proven pathway, information, education, and share professional best-practice so they can build up their skills and knowledge and develop their understanding of some of the more important technical aspects of their business.
When working with our clients, we point out risks, issues, and common missteps, so they can avoid mistakes and pitfalls that will hold them back, and waste their time, and money.
We also offer practical hands-on services for clients who want us to complete tasks for them.
Ready to get started? If so, you can do so here. Alternatively, send us a message, or ask us a question using the chat feature at the bottom right of your browser window and we'll get right back to you. (Desktop devices only.)
How can you help me if I want to buy software for my business?
We also provide consultancy services in the following areas for businesses looking to buy software:
Is this all confidential?
Absolutely!
It is important to understand that few ideas are truly original and there are many businesses that offer the same, or very similar products and services. At any time other individuals may have the same idea as you - this is one reason why there may be advantages to getting your product out to market as soon as possible.
Having said that, we want to be 100% clear in order to put your mind at rest. We believe that confidentiality, trust and ethics are essential parts of a business relationship.
Therefore, we will not, and do not discuss, or share details of our clients' ideas.
From time to time we produce case studies, but unless expressly agreed with the clients involved, we do not include any specific details about your idea, or business.
Can you give me some detailed examples of the work you do for your clients?
We provide professional services in the following areas:
Consultancy, mentoring and business coaching
Product management, requirements management, and business analysis
Feedback, review and testing
Marketing, and pricing strategy
Can you help with large, or longer-term projects?
Yes, we can! Our premium services usually involve us working together for a longer period, and providing additional hands-on practical help with your software project, or the day-to-day management of your technical operations.
This is not an exhaustive list as the work involved in creating software is broad, and requires flexibility according to the type of product being developed.
We will always do our best to address your specific needs, and in some cases, there may be other services that we might perform for you.
If so, we will explain your options based on your product idea and individual circumstances.
You can find a summary of our services in the Products and services menu at the top of this page.
Interested in a FREE 30 minute consultation? Book an appointment, and we can discuss a specific plan based on your current situation.
How do you deliver your services?
We work with customers from around the world, so we usually communicate, and deliver services to our clients via:
Clients get in touch and we set them up with a 60, 90, 120, or 180 minute Call & Service package depending on their needs.
The time is stored in their personal "time bank" and can be used all at once, or in 30 minute blocks. This keeps things flexible, and as we offer a 10% discount when you book 180 minutes, some clients like to "bank" the minutes at a discounted rate, and then use them whenever they like.
Once you buy your Call & Service package, you'll get access to our client calendar and can book in to speak to us at a convenient time.
Let us know your preferred communication channel and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Ready? Contact us for a FREE 30 minute consultation. We'll asnswer any questions that you have and explain how you can make rapid progress.
How long have you been doing this?
We've been delivering software since 2004. We've helped companies of all sizes to create commercial-grade software products from scratch, and have also assisted our clients with the selection, adaptation, and configuration of a wide range of systems including:
You can find out more about us here. Whether you want to build, or buy a software solution we can advise you on the best ways to approach your project, so that you can get the results you want quickly, effectively and with minimum risk.
Start getting the answers you need. Contact us for a free strategy session.
What are your charges?
This depends on whether you're looking for retained services from month-to-month, want one-off questions answered, or require practical help with specific projects.
Drop us a line with your requirements and we'll arrange a FREE 30 minute appointment with you to discuss your needs in more detail.
It's free to ask questions!
Remind me what you can help me with...
In a nutshell, we provide consulting, education, business coaching, and mentoring services to startups, entrepreneurs, and business owners that want to build, or buy software apps the smart way.
We'll help you get from A to B more quickly, more efficiently, and with minimum risk.
We've helped companies of all sizes to create professional, high-quality software products starting from just a basic idea.
Why should I use a consultant, or mentor?
The simple answer is that external, professional input will bring new insights, and a professional perspective, because information on how to build, and manage a tech business isn't common knowledge!
We'll advise you on scenarios you may not yet have thought about, and taking advantage of an expert point-of-view will save you time and money.
We regularly see that things that entrepreneurs like you might spend weeks working on by yourself, can be cleared up in a 30-60 minute chat!
Having a mentor gives you a place to air your concerns, and find answers to the questions that are in your mind relating to what to do, and how to do it. You may have been asking yourself (and Google) a lot of questions, and wondering:
- How will I get my SaaS, web app, or mobile app built?
- What process should I follow? What are the steps that I need to take?
- What about CTOs, technical architects and tech co-founders?
- Should I hire an agency, and project manager, or just a developer?
- How will I manage the work they do for me?
- How can I avoid making unnecessary mistakes, and wasting time and money?
- How will I get the results I want?
It's common for startups to be missing the answers to some of these very important questions, but when you work with us, we can:
- Save you time and effort by guiding you through the software creation process
- Answer your questions and help you get focused on the actions that you need to take
- Speed up your learning curve, and fill in the gaps in your knowledge so you can make faster progress
- Discuss your options, and the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches, so you can make the right business decisions
- Direct you towards business and tech resources that will make it quicker and easier to build, market and sell your product
- Show you how to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes - and help you create a framework to manage the build process
- Help you prepare and plan your next steps, so you can move forward with a clear sense of direction and purpose
You might choose to "go it alone" and spend hours trawling the Internet, piecing details together to try and work out what you need to do next - a frustrating, and time-consuming exercise, especially if tech isn't your thing, and there may be a steep learning curve.
You might also try asking people you know, but this usually won't be enough to give you the specific answers and information you need to make solid decisions, or give you access to the dedicated time that you need.
Of course, you could join an incubator, or accelerator programme, but these are typically expensive, and competitive. You may be charged thousands, or asked for a stake in your business.
This is why we set up the world's first "Open Incubator". We don't take equity, our services are priced very reasonably, and our mentoring and workshops are flexible, and fit around your timetable. You can find out more about eh Tech Startup Academy™ Programme in our Products and services menu at the top of this page.
Learning through trial-and-error can be expensive!
Making the wrong decisions can increase your chances of failure, and knock your confidence, so trying to cobble information together by yourself is a false economy.
As an inexperienced, or "non-technical" entrepreneur, you may find that you burn through the budget you set aside to build your software far more quickly than anticipated, and go "round in circles" - which wastes time and increases the length of your project.
There are other considerations too; hiring technical staff, the management of a technical team, learning about infrastructure, servers and "back end" essentials, and making sure that your software app is built professionally, and is secure and robust!
Cut out the head scratching and get professional input to help you navigate the challenges, and pitfalls of software development, so you can get your software built quickly and efficiently.
We're here to assist you, help you overcome your challenges, and provide you with answers that are relevant to your personal situation
I want to build a SaaS, mobile app, or web based software. How would you assist me with that?
Software development, and product, and project management are vast topics.
Purposeful Products provides our clients with a clear plan of action, and information to help them make rapid progress when creating software applications, and to do this more effectively than they could do alone.
This typically includes offering practical support, guidance, feedback, a plan of action, and answering questions about:
- Carrying out customer interviews and idea validation
- Prototyping
- Writing technical and functional requirements
- Creating an MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
- Hiring developers
- Managing the development process
- Running a software delivery team
- Overseeing Agile projects
- User / usability testing
- Quality assurance and product testing, and many other practical elements connected with building and launching a software product
People who aren't IT Professionals can, and do build apps, but they start at a disadvantage when there are gaps in knowledge and understanding about:
- What needs to be done
- How to do it
- The best courses of action to take, and how to make the most appropriate decisions and judgement calls
- The range of available options, and
- How to manage the software development and product creation processes
Without prior experience there is a lot of guesswork, blind faith, and hoping for the best that goes on!
We can help you brainstorm, think through your next moves and help you "connect the dots" so you can move forward with the best possible plan.
This is not a solid foundation for starting, and running a new business.
We give our clients a clear, proven pathway, information, education, and share professional best-practice so they can build up their skills and knowledge and develop their understanding of some of the more important technical aspects of their business.
When working with our clients, we point out risks, issues, and common missteps, so they can avoid mistakes and pitfalls that will hold them back, and waste their time, and money.
We also offer practical hands-on services for clients who want us to complete tasks for them.
Ready to get started? If so, you can do so here. Alternatively, send us a message, or ask us a question using the chat feature at the bottom right of your browser window and we'll get right back to you. (Desktop devices only.)
How can you help me if I want to buy software for my business?
We also provide consultancy services in the following areas for businesses looking to buy software:
- The "search and selection" of relevant software options for your business
- Due diligence: vetting software vendors and 3rd party suppliers, and managing risks
- Successfully managing the transition from one product to another
- Negotiating terms / contracts, and SLAs (Service Level Agreements)
Is this all confidential?
Absolutely!
It is important to understand that few ideas are truly original and there are many businesses that offer the same, or very similar products and services. At any time other individuals may have the same idea as you - this is one reason why there may be advantages to getting your product out to market as soon as possible.
Having said that, we want to be 100% clear in order to put your mind at rest. We believe that confidentiality, trust and ethics are essential parts of a business relationship.
Therefore, we will not, and do not discuss, or share details of our clients' ideas.
From time to time we produce case studies, but unless expressly agreed with the clients involved, we do not include any specific details about your idea, or business.
Can you give me some detailed examples of the work you do for your clients?
We provide professional services in the following areas:
Consultancy, mentoring and business coaching
- We’ll answer any questions you have about your idea, plans, prototype, or evolving product
- Inform you about useful software, tools, resources and techniques relevant to your idea, your software application, or your business to help you run it in a productive manner
- Brainstorming, and practical problem solving in relation to your idea, and product
- Providing feedback on your business plans, and helping you to refine your idea, and resolve practical problems and challenges in relation to your product
- Goal setting, action planning, and working with you to define, and achieve your business goals
- Help you get organised with our business process management services
Product management, requirements management, and business analysis
- We'll help you map user journeys and workflows for your application, and support you in creating wireframes and prototypes
- Review, and provide feedback on your existing wireframes and prototypes.
- Assessing your product for usability and user experience (UX) flaws
- Working with you to define, and prioritise your feature-set, technical tasks, MVP, and other business tasks
- Providing guidance on software development techniques, processes and tasks
- Preparing product requirements and specifications for your team
- Writing user stories, and producing technical and functional requirements for your developers, including database storage, performance, security, and other factors
Feedback, review and testing
- User testing approaches and techniques
- Product testing, quality assurance (QA), and reporting of bugs and issues
Marketing, and pricing strategy
- We’ll provide guidance on how and where to market your app
- Tools, and products to help you with the marketing and promotion of your product
- We’ll provide guidance on pricing models for mobile and SaaS products
Can you help with large, or longer-term projects?
Yes, we can! Our premium services usually involve us working together for a longer period, and providing additional hands-on practical help with your software project, or the day-to-day management of your technical operations.
- Creating bespoke project plans, your product roadmap and release plan to outline the expected evolution of your product, the planning of your launch, and subsequent software releases
- Writing professional technical and functional requirements for your developers, and breaking concepts for software down from early, high-level ideas into detailed, specific tasks for technical teams
- The management, and coordination of your agency, technical team, or developers to create and deliver your product
- Implementing productive working routines, or Agile development processes (SCRUM, Kanban etc.)
This is not an exhaustive list as the work involved in creating software is broad, and requires flexibility according to the type of product being developed.
We will always do our best to address your specific needs, and in some cases, there may be other services that we might perform for you.
If so, we will explain your options based on your product idea and individual circumstances.
You can find a summary of our services in the Products and services menu at the top of this page.
Interested in a FREE 30 minute consultation? Book an appointment, and we can discuss a specific plan based on your current situation.
How do you deliver your services?
We work with customers from around the world, so we usually communicate, and deliver services to our clients via:
- Telephone
- Email / Text based customer support
- Online voice calls
- Online video / videoconferencing tools. (We have our own easy to use videoconferencing facilities, so all you have to do is join us via a smartphone, or web browser!)
- Professionally written reports
Clients get in touch and we set them up with a 60, 90, 120, or 180 minute Call & Service package depending on their needs.
The time is stored in their personal "time bank" and can be used all at once, or in 30 minute blocks. This keeps things flexible, and as we offer a 10% discount when you book 180 minutes, some clients like to "bank" the minutes at a discounted rate, and then use them whenever they like.
Once you buy your Call & Service package, you'll get access to our client calendar and can book in to speak to us at a convenient time.
Let us know your preferred communication channel and we'll do our best to accommodate you.
Ready? Contact us for a FREE 30 minute consultation. We'll asnswer any questions that you have and explain how you can make rapid progress.
How long have you been doing this?
We've been delivering software since 2004. We've helped companies of all sizes to create commercial-grade software products from scratch, and have also assisted our clients with the selection, adaptation, and configuration of a wide range of systems including:
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
- Content Management (CMS) Systems
- Reporting systems
- Help desk systems
- Tag management systems for marketing
- Travel booking systems
- Sales / commission management systems
- Consumer search directories
- Online calculators for property and finance
- Web applications
- Mobile apps
- Websites
You can find out more about us here. Whether you want to build, or buy a software solution we can advise you on the best ways to approach your project, so that you can get the results you want quickly, effectively and with minimum risk.
Start getting the answers you need. Contact us for a free strategy session.
What are your charges?
This depends on whether you're looking for retained services from month-to-month, want one-off questions answered, or require practical help with specific projects.
Drop us a line with your requirements and we'll arrange a FREE 30 minute appointment with you to discuss your needs in more detail.
It's free to ask questions!
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Address:
5-7 Buck Street, Camden, London, NW1 8NJ Copyright © 2021. Purposeful Group. All Rights Reserved.
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