Growth firms targeted by consultants

For years, Robert Kirchman has enjoyed an offbeat hobby, and he's following the well-trod path in making his hobby into a business.

"I've always helped people start companies, but always as a friendly deal," says Kirchman, whose professional experience ranges from information technology to retailing. "I've never charged them for it."

This summer, he joined forces with Randy Pease, a whose experience includes radio advertising sales and casino entertainment projects, and Ash Parr, a graphics design specialist, to launch Incusage LLC, a Reno company that helps growth companies get off the ground.

The company combines number-crunching analysis of potential markets, for instance with the creative work of developing names and logos for new-growth companies.

The company has developed a list of eight clients, ranging from companies that hired Incusage to develop social-marketing plans to companies that wanted more extensive pre-launch research and budgeting work.

"We enjoy working with companies where our input is valued," says Kirchman.

Pease says the timing is right for Incusage because of the large number of entrepreneurial ventures that are being launched by people who've decided voluntarily or otherwise to set out on their own during the recession.

On the other hand, he says owners of many of those start-up companies are bootstrapping their operations and don't have the financial ability to hire professional researchers and advisors.

"Almost everyone is undercapitalized," he says.

While the company focuses on start-up companies, Kirchman says it looks to develop longer-term relationships with growth companies that are looking to grow their revenues or control their operations to ensure profitability.