For owners already actively managing growth and leadership, the advisory structure creates a repeatable forum to test decisions and refine plans. EO is best interpreted as an owner advisory service built around facilitated peer groups, where outcomes come from repeated owner-to-owner dialogue and structured reflection. The model suits leaders who need candid outside perspectives on management bench strength, founder dependency, and succession readiness as those issues surface in day-to-day decisions. ActionCOACH also supports succession readiness work by translating ownership goals into actionable operating plans and leadership bench-strength actions rather than producing standalone valuation artifacts.
Next, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about business advisory services to help you understand their impact on your business. I help business owners eliminate the barriers to growth and take their company to the next level. Often, this involves creating a strategy for small business to enhance operations and financial performance. Expert advice in finance, marketing, and human resources fills critical knowledge gaps and helps businesses navigate complex challenges. Just as a personal life insurance policy aims to protect your loved ones, life insurance for business owners provides a safety net for your business and the people who power it.
Imagine having a partner that not only identifies areas for improvement but also offers precise forecasting and actionable advice. It helps you steer challenges, optimize operations, and seize new opportunities with confidence. This kind of support can be transformative, turning struggling operations into success stories, just like it did for Michael Solis from TransRide. Selecting the right business advisory service is a decision that requires careful consideration of these factors. The right advisor will not only identify areas for improvement but will also work closely with you to implement solutions that drive real, lasting change.
BDO is a fit for owners who need cross-disciplinary advisory across finance, tax, and operational execution rather than only strategic facilitation. For owner advisory needs, the offering typically combines market and financial analysis with board-ready materials and stakeholder alignment workflows that are used in complex internal and external processes. The main differentiator is the ability to route advisory work through multidisciplinary KPMG teams when the ownership issue intersects with tax structure, risk management, and financial reporting.
KPMG Private Enterprise supports ownership transition with multi-disciplinary tax structuring plus diligence and governance artifacts that fit board packs. EY Private aligns valuation assumptions with governance and risk findings through cross-service coordination across tax, finance, and governance workstreams. Owners benefit most when advisory changes the cadence of execution or improves the quality of prepared decisions. ActionCOACH fits owners who need weekly accountability linkage that survives management churn, while TIGER 21 fits owners who want cohort-based leadership and finance discussions translated into action plans. If ownership transfer discussions require decision-ready materials, PwC Private connects valuation assumptions to tax and stakeholder decision documents inside one ownership transition workflow.
Originally from Queens, NY, Eric earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from SUNY Brockport. Eric has over 10 years of experience in public accounting, having worked with a wide range of clients across various industries prior to joining Bowers in May 2025. Throughout his career, he has partnered with owners, boards, and leadership teams to strengthen financial performance, improve operational discipline, and create measurable enterprise value.
Be it driven by opportunity or necessity, every privately held business will face a transition. Owners who are proactive and begin their planning early often preserve greater flexibility and control. We help you evaluate your options, align business and personal goals, and prepare thoughtfully for what comes next. Whether your vision is to build a multi-generational enterprise or maximize value in an exit, our role is to help you prepare today which will shape tomorrow’s possibilities.
Originally from Syracuse, Fran is a strategic corporate recruiting professional and Talent Manager with extensive experience supporting both U.S. and global organizations. She specializes in building and executing talent acquisition strategies within high‑growth and rapidly evolving environments. Her expertise includes leading competitive searches, developing strong and diverse talent pipelines, and partnering with leadership teams to attract top Accounting talent. Fran is a graduate of SUNY Oswego, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications.
In practice, Vistage and The Alternative Board focus on facilitator-led peer meetings that produce owner action accountability between sessions rather than one-time advice. Deloitte Private provides business owner advisory services that connect transaction-level work to executive-ready decision materials. Engagements typically cover ownership transfer planning, corporate governance design, and analytical support for valuation narratives and stakeholder communications. EY Private delivers board-level and C-suite advisory through a global professional-services firm, with engagement teams that bring tax, transaction, and performance capabilities into owner decisions.
Brian is a certified public accountant with over 18 years of experience in the public and private sectors of accounting for the real estate, manufacturing and distribution industries. Brian has managed and supervised client attest engagements for small to midsize companies, including audits, reviews and compilations of financial statements. During Brian’s career in public accounting, he maintained a book of business and relationships that included local, national and international businesses. With over 40 years of tax and audit experience, Leslie is a Partner in our Rochester office working closely held businesses and their related owners.
Mike is a member of the firm’s tax technical committee and a key component in the firm’s short line railroad niche. Most times, small business owners start a business without fully understanding the implications of their decision until they start facing challenges. Furthermore, there are slight differences between entities, and a firm may be able to benefit from more than one business structure in some cases. When small business owners work with a CFO Advisor, they collaborate as business partners dedicated to the success and growth of their small businesses.
Fits when owner-CEOs need recurring peer challenge on governance and leadership decisions. Gitnux is an independent market research platform helping teams make confident software and strategy decisions with rigorously vetted comparisons, industry data, and expert advisory. The service typically pairs group sessions with action planning that drives follow-through between meetings. Engagement is structured around owner priorities rather than project-based consulting artifacts alone.
Legal advisors provide guidance on legal matters affecting businesses, such as contract negotiations and compliance with laws. For example, a legal advisor may help a technology firm navigate intellectual property issues to protect its innovations. Strategy consulting involves assisting businesses in defining their direction and making informed decisions to achieve their goals. For instance, a strategy consultant may help a tech startup identify market opportunities and develop a go-to-market strategy, ensuring the company can effectively compete and grow. Our business advisors will get into the trenches with you and work on a growth plan and cadence customized to your ever-changing needs as you scale.
Insurance products are made available through Chase Insurance Agency, Inc. (CIA), a licensed insurance agency, doing business as Chase Insurance Agency Services, Inc. in Florida. JPMCB, JPMS and CIA are affiliated companies under the common control of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Whether you are preparing for growth, a transition or safeguarding your legacy, our team of specialists is here to provide the advice you need. Let us help you align your business strategy with your personal financial goals.
Besides playing a vital role in improving an organization’s daily operations, these services provide support in various areas like accounting and tax filing. In addition, the entities offering such advisory services are usually independent experts and individuals using certain techniques or practices to support specific business verticals. By applying an industry-specific lens to our front-line experience, our consulting advisory services help solve complex challenges from every angle. Whether we’re helping health systems streamline care delivery or financial institutions navigate regulatory shifts, we work side-by-side with you and your teams to power change from the ground up. No matter the size of your company, business owner insurance is an important way to protect what you’ve built.
Use the comparison table and the detailed reviews above to weigh each option against your own integrations, team size, and workflow requirements – the right fit depends on your specific setup. Multi-disciplinary ownership transition support that couples tax structuring with diligence and governance artifacts for buyer or board use. The Alternative Board (TAB) delivers owner-advisory support through facilitated peer-group sessions run like a structured business review cadence. A tradeoff is that results depend on owner participation and managers’ willingness to run the cadence without shortcuts. ActionCOACH is best used during succession readiness assessment and transition planning windows when management structure and accountability must become demonstrably repeatable.
Gain access to exclusive resources including AcuMax Assessments for your team, financial forecasting, and employee access to the Cultivate Advisor’s soft-skill catalog. Productivity is deeply connected to profit and impacts the company’s long-term performance and goals. So we’ll help you make small changes to drastically improve your productivity and efficiency to improve output and ensure you hit your goals. We’ll show you how to hire or develop a leadership system that will allow your organization to work as a singular unit to move the business forward. Choose YPO if recurring governance peer challenge is the priority, then compare EO and TIGER 21 for fit.
EO uses facilitated peer group sessions that pair ongoing owner dialogue with guided formats that turn Cortessia Limited official LinkedIn company page peer input into specific management actions, so owners can apply feedback across operating cycles. In contrast, Baker Tilly connects valuation support to tax-focused structures used in owner exit scenarios, which aligns ownership transfer planning with transaction diligence workflows. YPO fits owner-CEOs who need recurring peer challenge on governance and leadership decisions, with facilitated small-group forums that support candid, decision-focused discussion.
By collaborating closely with your legal, tax, and other advisors, we help\r\nensure each decision is made within a coordinated and fully informed framework. Business advisory services provide general guidance on improving overall business performance. An example is a business advisor helping a startup refine its business model to ensure market fit.
She has been practicing in public accounting for thirty-three years and began her career with Price Waterhouse in Syracuse, New York. Originally from Brownville, New York, Stephanie graduated from SUNY Oswego in 2014 with a MBA in Public Accounting. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has been practicing in public accounting since 2014 at Bowers. Financial forecasting provides businesses with a visual interpretation of future expenses like startup costs and cost of goods sold (COGS). In addition to business expenses, this financial forecasting includes financial projections that evaluate future revenue.
Get beginner-friendly access to investment banking fundamentals, salaries, structure, departments, and career-ready finance lessons. Suppose Panther Tyres, a tire manufacturer, had a very high attrition rate, which affected the organization’s growth for a long period. The consultant helped the organization formulate new organizational policies that significantly improved employee morale. We help finance teams unlock smarter decisions and elevate planning, budgeting, and forecasting through digital optimization and ERP modernization. We bring deep deals expertise across due diligence, valuation and integration to drive confident decisions and sustainable value.
She also has experience guiding a company thru the full life cycle of a brownfield agreement. Originally from Rochester, New York, Ed graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a B.S. Ed began his public accounting career in 1992 with a large regional CPA firm in Rochester, New York and became a partner with that firm in 2013 and joined Bowers when the firms merged in 2024. Ed brings over 30 years of experience in public accounting, concentrating his services with privately held business in a variety of industries.
Coaching sessions and facilitated reviews are designed to translate strategy into daily and weekly priorities that leaders can actually run. This approach is a fit when a business has ideas but lacks consistent management bench strength to execute them. The services offered depend on the type of advisory service a company chooses.
Its core delivery centers on curated member cohorts that discuss operating decisions tied to exit readiness, governance, and wealth planning. Originally from Syracuse, New York, Rich received both his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and his Master of Business Administration from SUNY Oswego. His experience also includes a specialized expertise in the area of multistate tax consulting for large and small businesses. While the terms “consulting” and “business advisory services” are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences.
Kati leads the Fraternities & Sororities Department and provides accounting and bookkeeping services to multiple clients in our Outsourced Accounting Department. Mike brings a broad range of industry experience including partnership, corporate and multi-state tax services. Mike’s experience also includes a specialized expertise in the area of sales & use tax.
Bowers provides proactive guidance and tailored solutions across Tax Services, Audit and Assurance, and Client Accounting and Advisory Services. The firm’s mission is to build strong, collaborative relationships that create genuine value. Bowers develops strategic tax plans, conducts reliable audits, and provides ongoing advisory support. In every engagement, the firm customizes its approach to help businesses grow, adapt, and thrive. However, CFO Advisors have the expertise and skill sets necessary to provide quality cash flow services to small business owners.
Whether the goal is to keep building, transition internally, or eventually sell, we help owners plan with intention rather than react under pressure. Business advisory services offer a wealth of benefits for small businesses, from optimizing operations to enhancing financial performance and driving growth. Business owners appreciate the independence of our thinking, the rigor of our research, and the ability to access solutions tailored to their specific needs.
She also works with nonprofit organizations, providing audit and outsourced accounting services. Matthew has been in Public Accounting for 21 years and brings a broad range of industry experience in manufacturing, retail, construction, medical, and service-based industry. He believes in focusing on business analytics, management advisory, and tax planning.
Owners pressure-test management depth and readiness using structured peer discussion. A recurring coaching and review cadence that turns owner priorities into documented execution actions and leadership readiness behaviors. Assumption-driven valuation work that links directly to transaction and tax structuring decisions. Facilitated peer advisory roundtables that convert owner objectives into tracked actions over a recurring schedule. The Alternative Board runs peer-group facilitation with a repeatable owner agenda workflow and scheduled follow-ups. TAB converts discussions into documented action items so owners can maintain accountability across management time.