We start by diagnosing opportunities, risks, and options-
so decisions can be made with clarity.

The work focuses on:

• understanding how the business actually functions as a system of systems

• identifying where constraints originate, not just where symptoms appear

• sequencing diagnostics, decisions, and projects in the right order
  
  This is not consulting by tactic.
  This is diagnosis as a discipline.
  
  That is why it works no matter what phase you are in.
  Buy ⬡ Build ⬡ Grow ⬡ Fix ⬡ Enhance ⬡ Exit

A Business Master Mechanic is
an advisor who diagnoses operational, financial, and strategic constraints in owner-led businesses.

Why Diagnosis Comes First

Before decisions can change outcomes, causes must be understood.

Most problems:

• appear in one area

• originate in another

• persist because they are misdiagnosed
  

A business is a living, complex, adaptive system.
It has many functional areas, Planning, Leadership, Sales, Marketing, People, Operations, Finance, Accounting, and Legal.

Changes made without understanding that complex adaptive system often create new problems later. Almost anything you do in one area has effects on most of the others.

What Makes This Different

• Diagnosis before recommendation

• Clarity before momentum

• Sequencing before speed

This work does not assume implementation.
It exists to:

• surface what matters

• reduce uncertainty

• orient decision-making

Diagnosis does not force engagement.
It informs choice.

Who This Is For

• Lead established businesses with real complexity

• Are still central to decisions, but don’t want to be indispensable

• Sense that something important is off, but can’t clearly name it

• Want clarity before committing to change

• Care about enterprise value & true profit, not just activity

• Are thinking about succession or exit within the next decade

• Are curious about Investment Grade Businesses

This work fits owner-operators who:

Definition (Investment-Grade Business):
In this context, an investment-grade business refers to a company that produces predictable cash flow, can operate without the owner’s daily involvement, and retains value through leadership or ownership transitions. It is always ready to exit, merge, or grow.

Who This Is Not For

• Startups looking for hustle tactics

• Solopreneurs or very small businesses

• Owners seeking quick fixes or surface-level consulting

• Businesses scaling without strategy

• Owners unwilling to examine their own role in constraints

• Anyone shopping for a vendor to execute predefined tasks

Your Advisors

You can keep your existing advisors, accountants, attorneys, coaches, etc..

This work is designed for situations where:

• advisors give good advice, but in isolation

• no one owns integration or sequencing

• the owner is forced to coordinate decisions they did not design

Advisors remain in their lanes.
This work translates, aligns, and sequences.
So that everyone can be on the same page, and make their work even more valuable.

How the Work Begins

The work starts with diagnosis.

A structured diagnostic examines:

• how dependent the business is on the owner

• where risks are structural, not obvious

• how decisions cascade across functions

• what constraints matter most now

A diagnostic does not require ongoing advice.
Some owners act independently afterward.
Others continue into Strategic Design & Business planning.
Both are valid.

If the fit is not right, that is said early. A clean “no” is better than a misaligned “yes.”

If timing is wrong, work can pause. Clarity is preserved even if momentum slows.

Definition (Owner Dependence):
When essential value creation, decisions, or relationships reside primarily with the owner rather than the business system.

We work with businesses in many different modes, and in many different leadership direction modes.

According to the Exit Planning Institute, most business owners regret how they exited their business—most often because planning began too late.

Industry research shows that business owners who begin structured exit planning 3–5 years before transition realize significantly higher enterprise value, smoother transitions, and higher satisfaction.

What Type of Businesses do we work with?

We help privately held, owner-led businesses grow, scale, and prepare for successful transitions. From Mainstreet to Mid Market you have problems big business consultants just can't solve.

Our deepest category expertise is mostly in Finance, Accounting, Law, Aviation, Maintenance, Construction, Technology, and Real Estate.

But the secret is... you are already an expert in your industry- who you need is an expert in business finance, FP&A, valuation, strategy, and exit. That is who we are.

We help Professional Services, Service Based Operations, Manufactures, Distributors, and a broad range of General Businesses, and Service Based Operations.
When we are not the right fit, we refer out to other advisors. or our private network of providers. In some cases, brining in a subject matter expert early can help fix a unique problem.

We often work with professional service firms such as financial advisory practices, accounting firms, legal services, consulting firms, and creative agencies-businesses where expertise, client relationships, and team development drive long-term value.

We have worked with a wide range of general businesses and service based operations including construction contractors and sub contractors, real estate operations, timber providers, mechanical and maintenance businesses.

Our VOP process was originally made by Corporate Value Metrics to be able to make Turn Around assessments for bank workout groups on Manufacturing and Distribution companies. It still has very strong capabilities in these areas, and has been developed even further. So then, we can definitely support manufacturers across industries like custom fabrication, food and beverage, industrial parts, and contract manufacturing- especially those seeking to streamline operations, expand capacity, or improve margins.

Distribution companies like wholesale distributors, fulfillment centers, and value-added resellers looking to improve logistics, customer retention, and scalability. This is really the area we have the least experience in. And our clients are still very often "awestruck about how much I learned about my business" in the first 90 days.

If you are a master of your field, but realize that we can't all master every area of business...
If you understand advice is cheap compared to wasted time and pain...
If you understand it takes a team to do the hard things...
If you know what it is to work hard, but are ready to work even smarter...
If you want your advisors, accountants, and attorneys to be all on the same page...
If you don't want to be part of the 90% of owners who never get the wealth out of their business they should have...
you are who we are want to talk to.

If you're a business owner looking to grow, improve operations, reduce risk, or plan your exit, we offer a structured yet flexible approach to help you clarify your options and move forward with confidence.

Professional Services

Law firms/ Legal firm
Accounting & bookkeeping firms
Financial planning & advisory firms
Management / business consulting
Marketing & advertising agencies
IT & technology consulting or support
Architectural & engineering provider
HR / recruitment & training services
Creative/design Studio (graphic, content)
Project management operators

General Businesses

Construction – commercial, residential, specialty trades (e.g., electrical, HVAC)
Agriculture businesses / Timber
Mining & Natural Resources
Private Education / Test Prep
Real Estate brokerage / management
Nonprofit Organizations
Media & Broadcasting
Sports & Recreations

Service Based Operations

Hospitality Services
Personal Care Services
Childcare & Daycare Services
Elder Care / Assisted Living
Pet Care Services
Fitness & Wellness Centers
Cleaning & Janitorial Services
Repair & Maintenance Services
Event & Entertainment Services

Manufacturing Plants

Aerospace & parts manufacturing
Food & beverage production
Chemical manufacturing
Construction materials
Electronics & electrical equipment
Automotive & automotive parts
Plastic & rubber products
Metal fabrication & machinery
Textile & apparel manufacturing
Pharmaceutical manufacturing

Distribution Intermediaries

Traditional wholesale distributors
Direct-to-retailer distributors
Drop-shipping distributors
Cash‑and‑carry wholesalers
Value‑added resellers
Broker-based / intermediary distributors
Vertically integrated (manufact-owned)
E‑commerce fulfillment services
Logistics and 3PL (third-party logistics)
Specialty/ exclusive/ intensive distributors

What Size We Help

Helping $1M–$100M Rev Business Owners Stop Guessing. Start Growing.
Find What's Slowing Your Business Down, Get a Grip on your business, Get Traction, and find out the exact right thing to do, at the right time, in the right order.

We work mostly with $5M–$50M successful small to medium companies where something is off... but not obvious. Our clients are owners who are still in the driver's seat, but know every vehicle needs an inspector and master mechanic.

If you're shopping for tactical implementation from a vendor, we're not a fit. If you need insight that fundamentally changes the outcome- you’re in the right place.

We can help you find the right subject matter experts... after we find out what you really need.

Where We Help

🟢 Tertiary Service Area – Regional Business Belt

For established companies or those undergoing major transitions, we provide services to a wider regional belt including:

• Springfield, IL

• Decatur, IL

• Bloomington, IL

• St. Louis Metro (MO & IL sides)

• Clarksville, TN

• Owensboro, KY

• Louisville, KY

Here we focus on VOP diagnostics, value growth acceleration, advanced succession planning, and total exit strategy services for owner-operated businesses with revenues from $5M–$100M.

While we can work virtually with most of our services, there can be additional fees for travel outside our normal service areas for onsite diagnostic work.

For owners with complex problems outside our area we will often try to 1 Refer out to colleagues first, 2 try to collaborate with local professionals, or 3 set up a time to visit and do the critical work in person.

We needed for our unique expertise, we have went as far as Puerto Rico.

We serve business owners throughout Southern Illinois and the surrounding region. Whether you're looking for exit planning, business diagnostics, or value growth strategy, we’re here to help - from the heart of Southern Illinois to the outer edge of the region.

This is where we do our most in-depth, hands-on advisory work — including in-person diagnostics, site visits, and direct collaboration with owners. We work as: business advisor, value growth advisors and management consultant in..

🔴 Primary Service Area – Southern Illinois Core

Our home base is centered near Mount Vernon and Marion, Illinois.

• Benton, IL

• West Frankfort, IL

• Marion, IL

• Murphysboro, IL

• Herrin, IL

• Carterville, IL

• Carbondale, IL

• Harrisburg, IL

This is also where we can best service client that might be smaller than average, but still need expert help.

🟣 Secondary Service Area – River & Border Cities

We actively serve clients across a broader radius, including the regional trade corridor from Missouri to Indiana and Kentucky. Metro East IL we have been business strategist, in Evansville IN we have done exit planning, etc.,

• Paducah, KY

• Cape Girardeau, MO

• Evansville, IN

• Belleville, IL

• St. Clair County and Metro East IL

This is ideal for remote advisory engagements, diagnostics, and strategic planning services delivered mostly virtually or via periodic visits.

Business Master Mechanic exists to help owners diagnose and fix the real constraints holding their businesses back- so growth, succession, or exit actually works instead of creating new problems.

In Plain Terms: What We Do

Find out more about your situation with an insightful index.