Tiburon Strategic Advisors utilizes a rigorous research-based methodology to help its clients develop leading-edge business strategies. As a result, many other clients have engaged Tiburon to complete stand-alone market research assignments. It seems quite clear that Tiburon's depth of industry knowledge makes it a top choice in executing individual research modules. Market research projects generally take one of three forms:

• Capabilities Reviews: Many Tiburon clients have engaged Tiburon to conduct internal capabilities analyses whereby Tiburon principals and research managers conduct a survey, interview a group of key executives, or review some set of written materials, and summarize findings on the strengths and weaknesses of the firm as well as new business opportunities suggested. For instance, Tiburon recently completed a round of employee interviews for a mid-tier financial advisory firm that wanted to assess its employee morale and improve its performance. In another case, Tiburon interviewed key executives involved in a bank-broker merger to determine cultural issues that needed to be addressed. Other capabilities assessments can include mystery shopping as well as human resources assessments, financial assessments, marketing & web site assessments, and technology assessments
• Competitor Analyses: Many other Tiburon clients have engaged Tiburon to research competitor strategies or individual markets or products in detail. This often calls for extensive research via the web, mystery shopping, and interviews of their executives, their captive or independent advisors (if applicable), and their clients. For instance, Tiburon has one financial services company client which keeps Tiburon on retainer and has had the firm study the independent broker/dealer and online financial services markets, as well as fee-accounts, insurance, and trust products. Tiburon has also been engaged for competitor analyses in numerous other situations including merger discussions, venture capital investing, etc.
• Client Needs Assessments: Tiburon is known for building strategies based on client needs. As a result, many Tiburon clients have engaged the firm to conduct interviews of their clients to seek feedback. This has included interviewing high net worth investors for private banks, as well as brokers, bankers, financial advisors, and insurance agents for mutual fund companies, turnkey asset management programs, and other product companies. In any case, Tiburon has extensive experience in fielding research in-person, in focus groups, on the telephone, and in the form of written and web-enabled surveys. The industry knowledge of Tiburon's principals and research managers allows the firm to create better interview guides and to seek extensive follow-up on points learned during client interviews and focus groups

	Tiburon Research Managers Servio Lee, Jeff Nagy, & Matthew McGraw assist with market research and strategy consulting projects in addition to publishing research reports

Market research projects often take 4-8 weeks to complete and are priced depending on the breadth and depth of the necessary research. Tiburon principals and research managers summarize all research learnings in comprehensive Power Point presentations delivered to management teams. A typical project may include 30-100 interviews and cost $50,000-$100,000. Market Research projects can be discussed with any Tiburon Principal or CEO-in-Residence.

One way to appreciate Tiburon's extensive research experience is to review the Tiburon Toolkit. In this area of Tiburon's web site, you will find links to thirteen benchmarking tools which Tiburon has built for the benefit of its clients. For instance, take a look at FABestPractices.Com, IndependentRepBestPractices.Com, and TaxProBestPractices.Com; each of these web-enabled tools is collecting feedback for Tiburon clients every day.

To read about related Tiburon services, please visit the Strategy Consulting, Venture Consulting, and Mergers & Acquisitions pages.

Note: All Tiburon projects are invoiced half at the mid-point date and half upon completion. On top of project fees, Tiburon bills for travel expenses but no other office expenses. When billing travel, Tiburon bills for two principals and/or managers and bills all travel expenses. The firm's principals fly first class (business class if available on entire route) and its research managers fly coach class primarily out of San Francisco, CA.