Our Mission:
"Making Your Business More Valuable to You"
Thirty years ago as a young banker/credit analyst I uncovered a secret that should interest you. If you understood how banks manage risk you could create a more compelling business case for your company and improve your probability of getting the financing you need.
Accountants compile your financial statements and give you numbers.
That's not the same as information.
Bankers take those number and perform algorithms.
They assess the risk of your business model - turning it into strategic information.
They don't tell you all they find out.
They also compare you to your industry. They rarely share those results.
In the past, banks were contractually bound to withhold that information.
Today you could probably get some of it if you knew what to ask, however lender liability regulations still prohibit banks from acting like business consultants.
All they can do is steer you with their yes's and no's.
A Blinding Flash:
It seemed to me you, the business owner and enterprenuer, were the one who could benefit most from this kind of financial intelligence - and some straight answers - but you weren't getting it.
Loan authority to say "yes" was capped but there was no limit on the ability to say "no".
My willingness to put my career on the line for you - or not - could influence your potential to succeed or fail.
Why were young bankers given such incredible power over others who had more real-world experience and a better grasp of risk and reward?
Somehow that didn't seem right.
This contradiction sent me on a quest to understand the business world from both sides of the table.
Now you can use our services to tell your story the way banks think.
Flash Forward:
After building two viable companies in very diverse industries, I returned to banking in the 21st century.
Banking has changed a lot but it's disappointing to see you still aren't getting the strategic financial intelligence you need. There's plenty of information available, but not just what you need, just when you can profit from it.
Standing between you and your financing are smart, well trained people who are incented to compete for your business. They still don't know what its like to to walk in your shoes.
Competition for your business is fierce enough that sometimes the money is easier...but the wrong financing can kill a company just as fast as not enough.
Why Financial Holographix:
Even if you love your business you probably hate the accounting part of it.
I can tell you from experience - managing by the numbers pays off.
I was able to beat the abysmal odds * running my companies with the insights I gained as a banker.
Your numbers tell lenders whether they can live with the credit risk.
The numbers should be telling you whether you can live with the business risk.
One seasoned banker was discussing how bankers grade (put a number on) companies.
(Think of it as FICO scores for companies.)
He noted that that the new system wasn't working as well for riskier credits.
The line was: "You just can't a number on stupid."
If you have turned an idea into an enterprise doing $5-50 million in annual revenue...you aren't stupid...but ignorance is overpriced and unforgiving.
Alongside those dynamics our economy is in the middle of an economic watershed.
Over the next 5-10 years, analysts say that $10 trillion of wealth will change hands and as a result about 7+ million businesses will be in play.
A lot has been said about the impact of Baby Boomers leaving the workforce.
What about you, the Baby Boomer entrepreneur for whom your business is your retirement strategy?
Who's helping you look ahead to figure out how factors out of your control may affect the marketability of your business? As a former SBA underwriter I have seen deals fall apart - even though the sellers and buyers were both happy with the price - when lenders couldn't see how the business would pay for itself at that price. **
If you aren't careful, your business could own you instead of you owning it.
One entrepreneur said it like this: "The great thing about owning your own business even though you have to work 70 hours a week...is that you get to choose which 70."
If funding and growing your American Dream is not flowing, explore our site and consider adding us to your team to translate your business plan into a message that lenders will understand.
Order your Free Industry Report or request an Initial Consultation. Call 804.674.1800 or email us.
** Business brokers will tell you that most owners have to list their businesses three times to finally conclude a sale.
What if you are sick or tired or both? This looks like an avoidable failure of knowledge and planning to us. We see
plenty of specialists working on pieces of it but you're going to benefit most from a balanced, holistic approach to exit
strategies.