Our Business Advisory service is designed for business owners and professionals whose companies are central to their financial lives and long-term plans.
What Business Advisory Means at Maxim.
Business advisory is not about running your operations or replacing your accountant. It is about helping owners think clearly about their business as an asset, a source of income, and a long-term store of value.
We evaluate how ownership structure, tax strategy, compensation, reinvestment, and exit planning interact with personal wealth planning. Decisions are considered not only for short-term efficiency, but for how they affect risk, flexibility, and future options.
Good business advisory does not chase optimization. It prioritizes durability.
Who This Service Is Designed For.
This service is designed for owners whose personal and business finances are closely connected.
Many of our clients own operating companies, professional corporations, or holding companies. Others are preparing for succession, partial exits, or eventual retirement. Some are navigating cross-border ownership or international expansion that adds additional complexity.
In each case, the common need is clarity before committing to decisions that are difficult or expensive to reverse.
The Problems Business Advisory Helps Solve.
Business owners are often advised in silos. Accountants focus on compliance. Lawyers focus on documents. Investment advisors focus on portfolios. What is often missing is someone responsible for how these decisions fit together.
We help address questions such as whether a corporate structure still makes sense, how retained earnings should be deployed, how compensation should be structured, and how future exits or transitions should be planned for today. The objective is to reduce unintended tax exposure, improve flexibility, and ensure business decisions align with long-term personal goals.
What a Business Advisory Engagement Includes.
Each engagement is tailored to the client’s situation, but the focus is consistent. We begin by understanding the business, ownership structure, and the decisions being contemplated. From there we evaluate corporate structure, tax efficiency, cash flow, and long-term strategy in coordination with personal financial planning.
Where appropriate, this may include business valuation work, succession and exit planning, compensation strategy, and coordination with tax and legal advisors. Recommendations are developed with an emphasis on practicality and defensibility rather than theoretical optimization. The engagement concludes with clear recommendations and written guidance designed to support confident decision-making.
Business Valuations and Transition Planning.
In many business advisory engagements, valuation becomes a critical component. We provide business valuations in situations where ownership changes, succession planning, cross-border moves, or deemed disposition rules apply. These valuations are designed for planning and tax defensibility rather than marketing or fundraising purposes.
Valuation work is included only when it materially affects decision-making and is scoped separately based on complexity.
How This Fits With Our Other Services.
Business advisory often intersects with financial planning, cross-border tax advisory, and wealth management. Some clients engage us specifically for business-related decisions. Others integrate business advisory into a broader planning relationship. In both cases, the objective is coordination rather than isolated advice.
Business advisory can stand on its own, but it is most effective when aligned with the broader financial picture.
Business Valuations and Transition Planning.
In many business advisory engagements, valuation becomes a critical component. We provide business valuations in situations where ownership changes, succession planning, cross-border moves, or deemed disposition rules apply. These valuations are designed for planning and tax defensibility rather than marketing or fundraising purposes.
Valuation work is included only when it materially affects decision-making and is scoped separately based on complexity.
Fees and Transparency.
Business advisory fees are based on scope and complexity.
Some engagements are project-based, while others involve ongoing advisory support. Fees are discussed after an initial advisory consultation, so expectations are clear before work begins. Clients are paying for professional judgment, integrated thinking, and risk reduction rather than transactional output.
Start With an Advisory Consultation.
All business advisory engagements begin with a paid advisory consultation. This initial meeting allows us to understand the business, identify key issues, and determine whether a broader engagement is appropriate. In many cases, the conversation itself provides meaningful clarity. If deeper work is required, scope and fees are outlined before proceeding.