Written by: Mike DeMaio, Founder, Crown CFO A lot of business owners dream of selling their company someday or handing it down to the next generation — but often, they’re not really ready when the time comes. The good news is that the steps you’d take to prepare for an exit are really just the things you should be doing to run a healthy business anyway. Things like: Even if you don’t think an exit is in your immediate future, all these factors will make it more valuable when the time … [Read more...]

Written by: Lauber Business Partners When you hear the term 'performance management,' do you think of annual reviews and stacks of paperwork? You’re not alone. But here’s the truth: performance management today is so much more than that. It’s about building a continuous process where people are clear on expectations, receive regular feedback, and feel supported to grow — all while aligning with the organization's big goals. Why it matters Done right, performance management … [Read more...]

A few years ago, my Silicon Valley advisory firm was stuck in the annual cycle of time-consuming, backward-looking and mostly ineffective process of performance reviews. Employees were split over whether the feedback was useful, and the information we got out of the reviews didn’t come close to offsetting the amount of work that went into gathering and distributing them. We wanted a better sense of how our people were doing on the job. That way, we can provide them with the kind of helpful … [Read more...]

To identify whether an organization is vulnerable or has been a victim of fraudulent behavior, it’s critical to spot common warning signs of internal fraud schemes. The first step is knowing where to look. The Company’s General Ledger (GL) is a good place to start. It’s a book that can tell stories of fraud, manipulation and betrayal. Unfortunately, few know how to read the signs. While investigators, attorneys and auditors tend to analyze the reports generated from the GL and track and monitor … [Read more...]

Most CEOs are great at hiring the key individuals they need to execute on the operational aspects of the business. However, oftentimes there is a struggle with the question of “when should I hire more senior financial support?” Generally it does not happen until there is a crisis, such as feeling pressure from the bank or other stakeholders to provide necessary financial information that the company needs in times of critical assessment. Time after time, AMS receives emergency phone calls from … [Read more...]