Objective Insight
Whether the focus of our consulting and advisory work is internal or external, we craft and execute engagements to fit well-defined and very specific needs. A well-crafted engagement not only delivers the best results more quickly, it does so in the most cost-effective manner.
We work with businesses as well as with investor groups to determine whether a target company is a good acquisition from various standpoints, including the quality of the earnings and projecting the cash flow of the business. On the sell-side, we work with business owners to identify strategies that can be employed to make their businesses more attractive for sale, or to make the business more attractive to new equity or debt investors.
Internally, one of the biggest challenges in any business is getting objective feedback. The Dowell Group provides an opportunity for a business owner to look at the business with a fresh set of eyes. Owners can share ideas with us and discuss problems without generating concern amongst their employees, that there is trouble or some other issue that might jeopardize their job, even if those employees are members of key management in their business. Examples include changes in benefit plans, buying or selling a business, exit and succession strategies or profit enhancement ideas which might be related to downsizing or right-sizing a company. What if the management team is part of the problem? Business owners can freely talk and plan with us.
Some Consulting & Advisory Services Include:
- Goal Setting & Budgeting
- Creating a GAP Plan
- Financial Forecasts & Projections
- Cash Flow Analysis
- Mergers & Acquisitions Analysis and Due Diligence
- Quality of Earnings Reports
- Exit Planning
- Family Succession
- Retirement & Financial Planning
Examples of Our Consulting Services
Our consulting engagements have been flexible to fit the unique needs of our clients and diverse in scope and output. A small sampling of our consulting engagements include the following:
Family-Owned Distribution Business in Northwestern Chicago Suburbs – analyzing and indicating the value of the business and consulting on the terms to successfully transition the business to the next generation.
Manufacturing Company in Northern Indiana – financial oversight of the business and the CFO, and reporting on same to the ownership group in Italy.
Brewing Company in Wisconsin – analyze the accounting records and finances of the business to determine projected net income and cash flow, in order to assist investor group in understanding the potential for return on their investment.
Manufacturing Company in Northwestern Chicago Suburbs – forensic accounting to create a way to reasonably assess the business’ performance, in order to assist the lender in determining the probability of repayment.
Investment Broker in Illinois – analyzing accounting and financial impact of an acquisition and assisting in determining how to allocate the financial results to the members of the investor group.
Manufacturing Company in Northern Chicago Suburbs – performing tax due diligence and providing feedback to the German parent’s Big Four consultant.
Manufacturing Company in Western Chicago Suburbs – analyze financial statements of target company; strip into accounting records to normalize earnings and develop adjusted EBITDA (also known as Quality of Earnings Analysis) and analyze projected cash flow and payback analysis.
Distributor / Light Manufacturer in Florida – analysis of the financial operations of the business and oversight of the controllership function; reporting on same to the ownership group in Milan, Italy.
Pharma Marketer in Illinois – assistance with client and interaction with outside consulting firm’s preparation of Quality of Earnings report, including key interpretations of issues effecting EBITDA.
Our GAP Plan
We help our clients identify the 3 to 5 items most critical to their operations, understand which of those items is most important to them, and then identify the obstacles that are in the way. From there, we create a GAP Plan to help focus on these items, so they can close the gap from where they are today to where they want to be.