When a company starts to present results below expectations, many entrepreneurs only see risks. Drop in revenue, operational difficulties and management challenges often scare away potential investors. However, for those who can identify opportunities for improvement, a business in difficulty can become a promising bet.

This was the experience of Wellington Ramos, franchisee of Instituto Embelleze in Curitiba (PR). After working for years in different areas of the vocational education network, he took on the challenge of restructuring a unit that was facing operational difficulties. The work paid off and, later, he and his wife decided to officially take over the operation, which today records annual revenue of R$1.5 million.

According to Wellington Ramos, the first step in evaluating an opportunity of this type is to understand the origin of the problems faced by the company. “It is important to look beyond the numbers and understand what is causing the negative results. Often, the problem is not in the potential of the business, but in processes that can be reorganized, teams that need development or strategies that need to be adjusted”, he says.

Not every crisis means lack of potential

One of the most common mistakes, according to the businessman, is associating operational difficulties with the unviability of the business. In many cases, demand exists, but the company is unable to take advantage of its full potential due to management failures.

Throughout his career, Wellington Ramos has worked in the commercial areas, team supervision, training and operational management. This experience allowed him to identify opportunities for improvement and participate in the expansion of units before becoming an entrepreneur.

“When you know the operation closely, you can distinguish structural problems from problems that can be corrected with management. This makes all the difference when deciding to invest or take on a new challenge”, he explains.

Team and processes are key

Although many companies focus their efforts exclusively on increasing sales, Wellington Ramos believes that the recovery of an operation begins with internal organization. “There is no sustainable growth without clear processes and an aligned team. When people understand their roles and work with well-defined objectives, results begin to appear consistently”, he highlights. For him, building engaged teams is one of the main factors for business continuity, especially in times of transformation.

Opportunities require courage and preparation

Taking over a company in difficulties also requires emotional preparation and willingness to face challenges. Throughout his career, Wellington Ramos has experienced different professional cycles and believes that adaptability was decisive for its evolution. “My trajectory has shown that growth happens when we are willing to learn, take on responsibilities and, often, start over. The path is not always linear, but each experience contributes to building a broader vision of the business”, he states.

Today, heading one of the Embelleze Institute’s prominent units, he believes that entrepreneurs should analyze opportunities carefully, but without letting fear stop them from seeing possibilities. “Entrepreneurship is, above all, knowing how to identify potential where many people see only difficulties. When there is planning, dedication and willingness to make changes, it is possible to transform challenges into growth”, he concludes.

By Caroline Amorim