An article in 2/20/2012 *Crains Cleveland* reports that the number of
workers in local software companies has increased by 16% in the past year.
The title of the article was misleading, most of these firms are not
makers but consultants. However, the larger point is that this market is
growing well. I see consolidation increasing amongst software consultants
and marketing companies driven by the demands of large customers who want a
broad and deep array of services. Those customers do not want to have many
vendors but fewer vendors so that they can have simpler, more efficient
relationships and also have more leverage over a community of fewer
vendors.

My suggestion to many small firms is to prepare your company for sale, get
your capital structure in order, produce sound financial statements, have a
professional sales, marketing and senior management team and process. The
result will be maximum value for your business.