Frequently Asked Questions

Before starting Moon LLC, Brandon Moon was responsible for growing a small business in the highly competitive sensor manufacturing industry.  The business was transformed from a "Lifestyle Business" (see the answer to "What is a Lifestyle Business?" below) into a consistently profitable manufacturing facility.  By focusing on competitive advantage, several niche markets in diverse industries were expanded.  In five years, the company's total revenue tripled.  To support the sales growth, departments for Engineering, Outside Sales, and Quality Control were created.   During this tremendous period of growth, Brandon negotiated the purchase of (2) competing businesses and oversaw production capacity of greater than 300%. 

Brandon's practical experience of growing and transforming a small company into a profitable and competitive business is built on formal training that includes a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering (BSME - Texas Tech University - 2008) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA - University of Houston - 2013).  The MBA included courses related to Organizational Change that included: Mergers & Acquisitions; Organizational Behavior & Management; Strategic Management; and Technology Commercialization.

With practical and theoretical experience, Moon LLC has the skills to help you achieve your goals.  Schedule a free consultation today to discuss where your business is heading. 

There are countless possibilities for structuring and executing growth initiatives tailored to your unique business goals. Often, it can be challenging to focus on these opportunities while managing the day-to-day operations. Moon LLC can act as an extension of your team, dedicated to defining, planning, and executing the steps that will propel your business to new heights.

Moon LLC is prepared to identify, analyze, and capitalize on opportunities that align with your growth objectives. Whether it's penetrating new markets, developing innovative products or services, or implementing organizational changes, we proactively approach these areas while safeguarding your competitive edge. By leveraging our expertise, we help you explore untapped markets, enhance existing offerings, and streamline operations to maximize efficiency and profitability.

We also assist in establishing strategic partnerships and alliances that can open doors to new opportunities. By understanding your criteria for suitable collaborations, Moon LLC can find and negotiate with partners who align with your vision and values. This proactive approach expands your network and resources while maintaining your business's integrity and identity.

If your plan involves strengthening your leadership team, developing internal talent, or preparing for future challenges, Moon LLC has the skills to ensure your business is equipped for sustained growth. We can help assess the strengths and areas for improvement within your team, develop training programs to address skill gaps, and create growth strategies that leverage the unique capabilities of your staff.

Whether you need assistance in evaluating growth options, assessing market potential, or enhancing organizational performance, Moon LLC is ready to help. Through collaborative discussions and a personalized approach, we develop strategies that align with your vision and set the stage for long-term success.

A growth strategy is important for all small businesses, though the specific reasons may vary from one business to another. Reasons might include the desire to expand your market presence, increase profitability, stay competitive in a changing industry, or diversify your products and services. Timing for implementing a growth strategy can also vary based on your goals and circumstances, ranging from immediate action to planning for growth over the next several years. Just like with the success of your business so far, being prepared and proactive is what's most important.

DON'T MISS OUT ON YOUR BUSINESS'S FULL POTENTIAL

History is full of examples of businesses that failed to plan for future growth beyond their current operations. In one example, a company missed significant opportunities because it didn't have a growth strategy in place. Competitors who planned ahead captured larger market shares, leaving the unprepared company struggling to keep up. By not planning for growth, businesses can end up achieving only a fraction of what could have been possible with proper foresight.

PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS

Moon LLC has the experience to help with this planning, as well as the industry reach to identify opportunities that align with your goals. We prioritize confidentiality and only share your business information with your permission. By teaming up with Moon LLC, we will develop a customized strategy that's right for reaching your growth objectives.

Whether you need help evaluating market expansion options, assessing the strengths of your team, or developing new products and services, Moon LLC is ready to assist. Through collaborative discussions and a deep understanding of your business, we can develop a growth plan that leverages your strengths and addresses any challenges, ensuring you're well-positioned for future success.

That's fantastic! Moon LLC specializes in assisting businesses like yours in achieving growth and reaching new levels of success. We understand that many businesses are focused on expansion and innovation, and we're here to support you during these exciting stages.

GROWTH STRATEGIES TAILORED TO YOUR BUSINESS

Moon LLC offers a range of services to help you enter new markets, develop new products, and navigate organizational changes. These activities are essential for increasing the value of your business and ensuring long-term success. We delve into these strategies in more detail in other FAQs below.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS (M&A)

Mergers and acquisitions are powerful tools during the growth phase of a business. While the idea of M&A can seem daunting, Moon LLC has the expertise to guide you through the process. By understanding your goals and target conditions, we can conduct market research, identify and evaluate potential companies, and even initiate contact and begin negotiations on your behalf. Partnering with Moon LLC allows you to explore these opportunities while maintaining confidentiality until you're ready to proceed.

YOUR PARTNER IN GROWTH

Whether your sole focus is to grow your organization or you're exploring new opportunities, Moon LLC is ready to assist you. We are committed to supporting your growth initiatives and helping you navigate the complexities of expanding your business. Our goal is to empower you with the strategies and tools necessary to achieve your vision and drive your business forward.

Entering new markets and growing market-share in existing markets can be a difficult exercise and often requires specialized skills.  Moon LLC can help your team conduct competitive analysis, customer surveys, marketing campaigns, and other activities to ensure your efforts have the highest return on investment.  

New market penetration and growing market-share in existing markets is the most important part of a growth strategy.  This can be especially difficult for small businesses with limited resources.  Moon LLC's focus is on 4 key principles: know the competition, know your strengths, know the market needs, and execute a plan to bridge the gap.  A high level review of different types of competition is below:

There will undoubtedly be competition in potential markets you wish to develop or grow market-share.  Understanding your direct competition by knowing their strengths and weaknesses can help prepare a successful strategy.  For example, maybe the competition's strengths are too costly to engage directly.  A successful option might be to look for a way to collaborate with the "competitor".  This will be successful if there is a win-win outcome for both parties.  Forming allies in this way is not a new concept.  As Sun Tzu stated in the Art of War written in the 5th century BC: "Ground which forms the key to three contiguous states so that he who occupies it first has most of the Empire at his command is a ground of intersecting highways." "On the ground of intersecting highways, join hands with your allies."  

OTHER COMPETITION TYPES

A competition type that is just as important as direct competition is replacement competition.  In replacement competition, another company offers a different product or service that negates the need for your offering.  An example of this type of competition is a fast food restaurant vs. a grocery store.  It is cheaper to purchase groceries individually and construct your own burger.  To some patrons, the grocery store approach is not convenient though.  It is important to understand these options through the eyes of the market so that your benefits can be highlighted.  Understanding the replacement options will also help you narrow in on the type of customer that sees the most value in your product or service.  

The type of competition that is most often overlooked is hidden competition.  Every potential customer has the option not to purchase any product or service to fill the need that your offering fills.  An example in the instrumentation industry of hidden competition is a potential customer's decision to run assets to failure.  In doing so, there is no need for instrumentation used for condition monitoring of assets.  Why would a "do nothing" approach be selected?  What would the benefit of not using any product or solution be?  Answering these questions objectively and without bias will allow a successful strategy to be developed.

Understanding your strengths, the needs of the market, and executing a plan to bridge the gap is just as important as understanding the competition.  Moon LLC, leads the analysis and execution of the four key principals needed to enter new markets or gain market-share in existing markets.  

Moon LLC offers services in Research and Development, Engineering, as well as conducting test market research to ensure the successful launch of new products.  We utilize an extensive background in 3D modeling and prototyping to help develop the products you have envisioned.  We assist with design improvements and material recommendations based on our experience in related fields.  After you have the product designed, how do you launch the product to maximize the success?  We conduct test market analysis, user surveys, market potential analysis and other tools to ensure the best success of your new product.

Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert I. Sutton write in the book Hard Facts, Dangerous Half-Truths, and Total Nonsense: Profiting from Evidence-Based Management (published by Harvard Business School Press - 2007), "If you resist new ways of thinking or acting, if you aren’t ready to start Winning Through Innovation, if you are always worried about Who Moved My Cheese?, if you chafe at advice like If It Ain’t Broke, Break It, and are frozen in your tracks by The Change Monster, it is better for you and everyone else if you “get off the bus” and make room for those who are ready and willing to embrace change and innovation.  This is a very harsh delivery but consider: the world around us is changing at an accelerated rate like never seen before.  

Your customers are being bombarded everyday with sales calls from competing companies.  Buyers are changing companies through the "Great Reshuffle" and taking their trusted suppliers with them.  New products are being developed that are giving customers alternatives that make their life easier.  Employees are more difficult to hire, train, motivate, and retain.  As Heraclitus said, "the only constant in life is change."  Moon LLC is ready to help your organization embrace change and grow your company exponentially.

As mentioned in the answer to the above question, Why should my company change?, change is constant. Being prepared for change starts with an up-to-date business plan that should be reviewed every 1-3 years.  Moon LLC is in the perfect position to help you review your business plan: from the outside of your organization.  We bring an unbiased view to ensure that focus of the business is in line with market needs, navigating competition, and best positioned with the strengths of your business.  

Moon LLC can help you execute the development of a new division, creating a new department, roll out a new training module, or any other fundamental change that your business needs.  Through unbiased planning, mitigating potential pitfalls, and methodical execution, Moon LLC is ready to help you tackle the most difficult organizational change related challenges. 

Wikipedia defines a Lifestyle Business as "a business set up and run by its founders primarily with the aim of living or maintaining a certain lifestyle.  It's meant to be a business which adjusts to the lifestyle - so that the founder can live their life as they like."  This business structure is great while the owner is receiving the immediate benefit of the business.  The problem comes when the owner is ready for the next chapter of their life.  

Many Lifestyle Businesses are not consistently profitable, given that this is not the ultimate goal of the business.  To the typical Venture Capital (VC) Investor, a business that is not consistently profitable has a low value and these investors often provide low-ball offers that can be downright disrespectful.  Schedule a free consultation with Moon LLC if you are interested in discussing how to prepare for a life after a Lifestyle Business.