Consultant offers makeovers

Andrew Edwards

After more than two decades of working for other people, Erin Baldwin

could not afford to own a home in Orange County.

“I was working for a law firm, and I was told my salary was maxed

out,” Baldwin said. “That maxed-out salary wasn’t enough for a home

loan.”

Two years after starting her own business, she’s on her way to

purchasing a house in Anaheim Hills.

“As we speak right now, I’m in escrow to buy my first home,” she

said. “That’s as a single mom, which is not easy to do in your first

two years of business.”

Baldwin is the president of Costa Mesa-based Baldwin Business

Consulting, which in February launched its extreme business makeover

service. Perhaps not as flashy as the makeovers depicted on network

television, Baldwin said her job is to evaluate the nuts and bolts of

other companies’ operations, make recommendations and help implement

adjustments.

For example, Baldwin may decide a company needs to update its

bookkeeping procedures or enhance its benefit packages to retain

employees.

“I set up the systems and hire the staff or train their current

staff,” Baldwin said.

About one year ago, Baldwin helped Cindy Schallmo put together a

business plan for her Costa Mesa company, Creative Insurance

Solutions.

“What [Baldwin is] really good at, especially with a small

business, is we have a lot of ideas in our head, but we don’t put

them on paper,” Schallmo said, noting Baldwin helped her develop an

action plan for her company.

Currently, Baldwin is working with Schallmo to refine her office

procedures and hire her first employee.

By trying to improve the ways her clients perform day-to-day

tasks. Baldwin believes she gives her customers more time to focus on

their core business, whether they are plumbers or mortgage brokers.

“Their brain is free to market their business or develop their

business,” she said.

Baldwin’s specialties include assisting clients writing business

plans, taking stock of their companies’ organization, event planning

and relocations. She said her advice comes from her experience in a

variety of jobs, including time as an office manager, marketing

director and law firm administrator.

“There are some people who like to work with the MBA crowd and

some people who like to work with me,” she said. “I hope more like to

work with me.”