About Us

The Challenge

Small Businesses are important to the growth of jobs in the United States. More than 600,000 businesses are started each year and over one-half will fail due to lack of experience on the owner’s part within 2-4 years. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics, “About two-thirds of businesses with employees survive at least 2 years and about half survive at least 5 years. As one would expect, after the first few relatively volatile years, survival rates flatten out.”
The challenge to launching and building successful ventures is to have a solid plan-and then work that plan. However, most entrepreneurs don’t have the skills to even write much less research and develop the financials for a solid plan. They need skilled coaches to ensure that they are following the plan. They also need to know when they need to alter the plan.

The VQG Solution

Our solution is to provide education, planning, global guidance and one-on-one coaching and consulting for Entrepreneurs and Small/Medium Business (SMB) owners-whether they are starting a new child care facility or expanding into global markets.

The VQG program is based on our proprietary 3-2-1- Launch Process©. We start by conducting a thorough Situation Analysis to determine the right model and the Big Idea.  Then we conduct detailed Research to determine the feasibility of the Idea. Only then will we develop a comprehensive Business Plan. It’s important to note that no two plans are alike. A plan for the launch of a childcare facility is much different than that of an immigrant seeking their L-1 Visa to establish a business in the U.S. We know and understand those differences. We also prepare thorough Export/Import Feasibility Plans.

With a solid plan, we then assist our clients with obtaining Funding for their venture. While no one can guarantee funds, we do have a vast network of both debt and equity funding prospects that we will introduce our clients to for consideration. In some select situations we will share in the successful growth of our client’s ventures by taking a modest equity position.

Once funding is in place, VQG will assist the client with the development of a detailed (Pre)Launch program which includes the drafting of an Operations manual and the determination of management’s Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). We’ll also call on our vast network of support staff to assist with the development of Sales, Marketing, Finance, Legal, HR, IT, Customer Service and Operations experts. Sure, you can learn how to update your website or do all the accounting, but it may be a better use of your time to keep the lawn mowers mowing, the edger’s edging and the blowers blowing!

Planning and launching a venture, however, is only the first stage. Next, VQG will coach the client to Manage and Stabilize the company, positioning it strategically against the competition and training the business owners to “listen” to their clients and customers. Profit is the goal. We are available for regular update calls and a monthly review of the company’s progress against its plans and projections on an as-needed or a planned multi-year basis. Working with the client on a regular schedule provides them a sense of confidence when meeting for quarterly reviews with their banker!

Eventually, the company will reach profitability and be positioned for Growth. Using the 3-2-1- Launch Process© model, we walk our clients thorough the steps of re-evaluating the Situation Analysis-resulting in a proposed growth strategy, followed by in-depth Feasibility Research ultimately resulting in a revised Business Plan, Funding (if appropriate), new Launch and Managing for profit. This stage is repeated as the company grows over the years.

Ultimately, the business owner may decide to Exit the company. VQG will guide the business owner with re-evaluating the prospects for exiting the company. They can sell the company, merge with another company, or hand-off the company to the kids…. While they are all viable solutions the question is, “Which option is the best?”

Our goal is to help entrepreneurs succeed in their quest to establish and grow sustainable ventures, creating jobs and growing in the global economy.

Donald Ball

President, CEO

“Don Ball, MBA, CGBP® has helped start-up and mid-sized businesses, organizations and government entities achieve success by providing Small Business Education, Plans (Business, Visa, Sales/Marketing, Feasibility), International (Exporting, Local international business establishment), and Leadership/Management Coaching and Consulting.

He has served in various leadership, marketing, and business development positions ranging from Technical Illustrator to Corporate Marketing Director, General Manager and Business Owner of two prior businesses (both globally-oriented). Most recently he served as a Senior Consultant in the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Lone Star College where he assisted with the launch and funding of more than 50 ventures, helped his clients to create/retain over 500 jobs and helped obtain over $60 million in capital for new and existing businesses. His clients have included child care facilities, hair salons, lawn care businesses, restaurants, software developers, new environmental products for the energy industry, franchises, immigrants moving to and starting businesses in Texas as well as owners of coffee plantations in Brazil. He has assisted clients with both import and export projects.

Don spent over 35 years in the Trade Show/Exhibit industry designing, building, setting-up exhibits for his clients domestically (Las Vegas, Houston, Detroit, NY and LA) and worldwide (China, Russia, Brazil, Europe, Central America, the Middle East and the North Sea.)

He serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Business/Entrepreneurial Department of the University of Houston-Downtown (Management, Entrepreneurship, Intrapreneurship), and has written a book for start-ups entitled “3-2-1-Launch-Taking Your Idea from Concept to Reality” ©.

He is a Certified Global Business Professional® (CGBP), has completed training as a Certified Growth Wheel® Coach (CGWC), Certified International Consultant (UTSA-SBDC-Global), and is a Certified Live Plan© Advisor.

He is a military Veteran (Sgt., U.S. Army, 2nd Infantry Division, South Korea).”