For many business owners, tax is treated as an annual event. The return gets prepared.The bill arrives.Quarterly estimates are paid based on last year’s numbers. And everyone moves on. That model may have worked when businesses were smaller and simpler. But for today’s mid-market companies, it often creates surprises, cash strain, and missed opportunity. Because […]

Your vendor was right for who you were. But are they right for who you’re becoming? In the early stages of building a business, you hire the payroll company that picks up the phone.The insurance broker who was referred by a friend.The CPA who’s affordable and “knows small business.”And for a while, it works. But […]

Misaligned comp plans don’t just cost money. They cost momentum, trust, and talent. Over the past few years, our firm has touched nearly 50 companies. Many of them navigating rapid growth, complexity, and leadership transitions. And, at least half have needed a serious look at their executive compensation strategy. Some were overpaying legacy executives with […]

“Well, Mr. Collins, according to GAAS…” That’s how an auditor tried to shut down a conversation with a client last year. We recognized the intent immediately. His quoting a standard wasn't meant to clarify or add value. Rather, it was a move to end the conversation, keeping questions and input at arm’s length. And in […]

Jordan and Pippen. Brady and Gronk. Lasso and Beard. The greatest leaders don’t go it alone. They find the right partner. The kind who understands their rhythm. Finishes their sentences. And, knows when to say, "Not yet." And, in business, that partner is often your CFO. But, not just any CFO. At a certain level, […]

They walked into the budget meeting with a request for five new positions—and another $450,000 of annual payroll burden. More AP staff. More AR staff. More staff accountants. The justification? The team was "buried" and needed help. But as the conversation unfolded, it became clear that the issue wasn’t bandwidth. It was structure. Process. Systems. […]

“Have you ever been asked to… do something… wrong?” the new, inexperienced CFO asked. I smiled. “Of course.” Let’s talk about the quiet moments—the ones that don’t make it into highlight reels or polished company updates. Not the public win.Not the press release.Not the successful raise or the high-profile client win. The moments that matter […]

“He's been here since he graduated. He helped us build this thing. I just don’t understand how we got here.” That’s what the CEO said—quietly, after a long meeting. The executive in question wasn’t just a hire. He was a foundational member of the team. Loyal. Hardworking. Deeply invested. For years, he showed up, figured […]

We’ve all heard it before: you can’t outrun a bad diet. No matter how many spin classes you sweat through, if you’re pounding milkshakes and mozzarella sticks like it's your full-time job, you’re not going to see real progress. And guess what?Business works the same way. Everyone loves to talk about revenue.Revenue feels exciting. It […]

There are few things that erode trust faster between a business owner and their strategic partner than the dreaded hourly invoice. You know the kind —Surprise charges for vague line items like: "Thought about strategies for cash flow improvement (0.75 hrs)" "Internal discussion on possible client initiatives (1.0 hr)" As a business owner myself, I […]