Our Work
Case Study: From hands-on to a high-value exit
Problem
The owner of a boutique PR firm dreamed of growing her fully virtual, contractor-based business for a successful sale. However, most clients thought she was the business. She couldn’t do all the work and lacked scalable processes, making sustained growth and a future exit feel out of reach.
Solution
To pave the way for expansion and acquisition, we first evaluated revenue, profit, workflows, and resources. Then, we streamlined and standardized every process from onboarding to resource planning. Each improvement was carefully documented and clearly communicated, ensuring that all team members understood how to deliver top-tier services, and best practices could be easily passed to new hires. Updated pricing models, along with enhanced financial tracking, allowed the owner to get out of the day-to-day and shift her focus to winning new clients and developing new strategies for growth.
Result
In less than two years, the company more than tripled the number of core employees and quadrupled its revenue, making it an attractive target for acquisition. When a larger agency came knocking with a premium valuation, the sale went through smoothly, turning the owner’s ambition into a lucrative reality.
Case Study: Creating alignment through expert facilitation
Problem
Two small organizations set out to merge in hopes of ensuring their long-term survival, but quickly hit roadblocks as competing personalities and a lack of structure stalled progress. They needed clear leadership, practical tools, and effective methods of communication.
Solution
We immediately jumped in, setting up regular meetings with a focused core team, facilitating honest conversations, and documenting every point of agreement and contention. We facilitated the development of a decision-making structure that the larger leadership team felt comfortable with while also focusing on organization and documentation to ensure that we tracked decisions and the reasoning behind them. Next, we developed a clear roadmap and well-defined working groups to establish clear accountability. We continued to streamline communication, balancing open dialogue with a steady focus on the bigger picture.
Result
Both organizations saw immediate benefits from this structured approach and appreciated having a trusted guide who made sure every voice was heard, without losing sight of the overall strategic goals. The process moved forward smoothly, bottlenecks were avoided, and a genuine sense of unity started to take hold, putting the merger on track for long-term success.
Case Study: Smart exit unlocks partnership potential
Problem
A consulting company came to us facing a tough dilemma. One of their ancillary business units just wasn’t pulling its weight. The numbers weren’t adding up, and competition in the market had become fierce. Leadership needed guidance regarding what to do next and someone to lead the execution of the chosen path.
Solution
We immediately dug into the details, reviewing how the team delivered services, priced projects, and allocated time and resources. Additionally, we evaluate team performance and market positioning. Our analysis showed that catching up with competitors would require substantial new investment, making a turnaround unrealistic. Instead, we recommended divesting the business unit and forming strategic referral partnerships. Upon approval of the recommendation, we took charge of managing the wind-down, negotiated partnership agreements, and guided every step of the transition so the leadership team could refocus on core services.
Result
This proactive approach saved our client over $500K annually and allowed them to focus all their energy on their core business. Through strategic partnerships, they also gained a new channel to refer business for mutual benefit, as well as deepening their own client relationships. It was a win for everyone involved.
Case Study: Seamless integration yields superior results
Problem
A large professional services firm had just acquired a smaller company with a very different operating model. The challenge? Blend two distinct team structures while ensuring consistent service, creating a culture of collaboration, and driving higher revenue.
Solution
After taking a close look at both firms’ service offerings, resource allocation, and pricing strategies, it was clear that they needed to equally prioritize people and process. We established a new team structure of combined resources to raise the quality of work, enhance efficiency, and justify better pricing. We also created an environment that allowed senior team members to share their experience both on client engagements and through mentorship of junior staff. After establishing a hybrid team model, we facilitated regular team-building meetups and provided one-on-one coaching for both junior and senior staff. This fostered alignment and built cross-team trust. For key clients, we created a “leadership tour” to strengthen relationships and carefully managed transitions, so clients would feel confident about their new teams.
Result
With an emphasis on collaboration and processes that made sense for everyone involved, the newly integrated firm achieved a 75% increase in monthly recurring revenue for new clients and 100% staff retention. Teams grew stronger and more cohesive, and clients also enjoyed an elevated and seamless service experience.
Case Study: Keeping a competitive edge while increasing profit
Problem
A small marketing agency owner wanted to increase profitability while keeping their pricing competitive and continuing to employ a blend of full-time and part-time talent. He needed help balancing growth and efficiency while keeping his edge in the market.
Solution
To address this, we conducted an immersion session to better understand how projects were run, resources deployed, and profits realized. Based on this information and our expertise, we designed a hands-on model that allowed the owner to test pricing and team configurations, instantly seeing the financial impact of every decision. This practical tool helped demystify profit planning and made it easy to assemble the right teams with corresponding pricing for each engagement.
Result
Thanks to this custom planning model, the owner increased both the efficiency and profitability of his agency. He could now confidently focus on growing the business, knowing exactly how to preserve competitiveness and maximize profitability, setting the stage for long-term success.