When a mid-market business faces its defining moments — a tariff shock, a bank negotiation, a succession decision, an acquisition, an exit — the traditional playbook says: assemble a team of specialists. An accountant interprets the numbers. A valuator sets the price. An investment advisor structures the capital. A governance consultant guides the board. […]
A Concise Guide to Manufacturing Companies Welcome Introduction For over 25 years, I’ve served as a CFO across diverse manufacturing settings, watching how cost structures, product mixes, and working capital decisions shape both daily operations and long-term success. This series shares those lessons—insights on refining finances, broadening product portfolios, and building resilience in an ever-shifting […]
Why 2025’s “Soft Landing” Was a Mathematical Illusion For the past twelve months, a curious silence hung over the Canadian mid-market. Despite the headlines of 25% tariffs and the escalating rhetoric between Ottawa and Washington, many P&Ls looked surprisingly resilient. In 2025, the impact seemed muted. But as we sit here in late January 2026, […]
Author’s Note: “A year ago, I predicted a global trade ‘End Game.’ Today, with Davos 2026 concluded and US GDP revised to 4.4%, that end game is our daily reality. This article explores the internal math required to survive the shift.” THE 2026 STRATEGIC AUDIT: PROPHECY VS. REALITY As Davos 2026 concludes, the “rules-based order” […]
Strategic Resilience for the Mid-Market Leader In 2026, a single-point forecast is no longer a plan—it’s a liability. True leadership requires navigating a “cone of uncertainty” where geopolitical shifts and economic volatility are the new constants. 1. Identify Your “Pivot Variables” Don’t get lost in the noise. Focus on the 3–5 variables that actually move […]
Are you running a business and feeling the “barrage” of macro factors working against you? If so, you aren’t alone. For many owner-managers in Ontario, the current economic climate feels like the 12th round of a heavy-weight fight. Between shifting tariffs, interest rate volatility, and labor pressures, the “unseen punches” are coming from every direction. […]
The “Flash Crash” of December 2025: Signal vs. Noise The final 72 hours of 2025 saw Silver plunge from $84 to $73 and Gold retreat from its $4,500 peak. To the casual observer, this looks like a bubble popping. To the CFO, it looks like a liquidity resonance event. The CME Margin Squeeze: On December […]
Before you sign a letter of intent (LOI), spend 30–60 minutes on a CBV/CFO screen. It’s a small step that routinely saves buyers and sellers thousands in avoidable costs and weeks of friction. The goal is simple: make sure price and terms match risk—before momentum locks in. Where deals leak money• Working capital peg: Many […]
There is no shortcut to value creation, but there is a simple rhythm that works. Pick three levers, assign one owner per lever, choose one visible metric per lever, and meet weekly. If a lever stalls for two weeks, rotate the tactic—but keep the rhythm. Pick your threeMost SMEs start with: pricing hygiene (realized vs […]
“Useful before billable” is the point of my 15-minute micro-consult. You bring one objective (sell, refinance, partner, litigation) and one constraint (time, cash, or people). I frame one decision and hand back one lever with the best 30-day payback. If the math doesn’t pencil, we stop. What you bring• Objective: what you’re trying to achieve […]