Have you ever hired an outside expert / consultant for your business?

It can be very effective as long as you know what you expect for their services. You can not do everything yourself as a business owner. Find what you are the best in and stick to it. make sure you get references (and check them) They can seem expensive (up front) but if you have utilized them properly it will save you in the end. What you don';t want is a consultant that has been misguided as to your needs. If you waste there time spinning you wheels it will cost you.

We work with outside consultants and freelancers all the time. Most of the time it saves us in time as much as money.

Yes.

I hired an outside PR firm to handle the public relations for my small business. It worked very well actually, I think the company got the recognition it deserved thanks to the help of trained professionals.

My company was only known to those who had purchased goods from it, most people in the greater area didn't know about it. So the PR firm helped raise awareness of the company, helping write press kits and media pitches for local newspapers and tv stations.

no sir