Business Owners | Granite Harbor Advisors

How Can We Help?

We are here to help every step of the way:

Being a business owner comes with great rewards and unique financial challenges. The journey is ever-changing, from navigating the volatile startup phase, to managing cash flow and planning for the future, to the ultimate exit transition. It can feel difficult to find the time to manage these complex finances effectively, often leading to stress, family tension, and concerns about long-term financial security.

At Granite Harbor, we deeply understand these needs of balancing business and personal financial goals, and we are here to help. Our team of experts will work with you to develop a strategy that addresses your individual goals and concerns, including proactively partnering with CPAs and attorneys as needed for optimal results, freeing up your time to focus on running your business.

Empowering Business Owners from Startup to Retirement & Beyond

We are here to help every step of the way:

Startup:

Focusing on protection strategies like buy-sell planning, key man planning, and business continuity to address risks that could derail a new business.

Growth:

Helping manage cash flow through tax-efficient strategies and ensuring the business assets support family needs.

Succession:

Advising on transferring ownership or restructuring for family succession and creating income throughout retirement.

Proactive Financial Planning & Asset Management Services

We provide a wide range of knowledgeable support unique to your needs as a business owner, including:

Business Succession Planning:

Planning for the future, protecting your success.

Buy-Sell Agreements:

Ensuring a smooth ownership transition.

Key Man Planning:

Safeguarding your business against the unexpected.

Cash Flow & Savings:

Allocating resources efficiently, ensuring liquidity for immediate needs while maximizing investment potential.

Tax Planning:

Minimizing tax liabilities and maximizing wealth accumulation through partnering with tax professionals, leveraging tax-advantaged assets, and employing tax-favored investment strategies.

Risk Management & Insurance:

Helping safeguard your wealth and ensuring lasting financial security by addressing potential risks.

Exit Planning & Ownership Transfer:

Navigating the process with confidence and clarity.

Retirement Planning:

Maximizing tax-advantaged savings & determining the most tax-efficient way to transition your retirement savings into income.

Estate Planning & Wealth Transfer:

Addressing concerns regarding the transfer of wealth to create your lasting legacy.

Asset Allocation:

Investing with purpose through evidence-based portfolios, including access to desirable alternative assets for wealth creation, like private equity.

Tax & Legal Coordination:

Proactively working with tax and legal professionals on an ongoing basis to achieve and maintain alignment for optimized wealth.

Resources for Business Owners

Hand picked resources to help business owners

5 minutes read

How to Create Liquidity by Selling a Business to an ESOP

Selling a closely held business can be an incredibly complex process that requires a lot of thoughtful planning. For business owners, two challenges often come to the forefront: finding a buyer and creating a liquidity event for the business owner. Selling a business to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) can address both of these issues while also creating an incentive for employees. Here’s a…

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6 minutes read

Secure Your Business Legacy: The Power of Buy-Sell Agreement Planning for Business Owners

The Power of Buy-Sell Agreement Planning for Business Owners As a business owner, ensuring the long-term success and continuity of your enterprise is usually at the very top of the list of priorities. One of the essentials that can help you achieve this goal is effective buy-sell planning. This article delves into the significance of buy-sell planning for business owners and highlights the key strategies…

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5 minutes read

Tax-Efficient Strategies When Selling a Business

For business owners who may have worked for decades to build up their companies, deciding to sell the business can be an emotional process. But it’s also a practical one where savvy business owners need to find ways to minimize the tax implications of selling a business to benefit themselves and other stakeholders. There are a number of strategies, particularly during the planning stage and the sales…

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5 minutes read

Maximizing Tax-Advantaged Wealth: Creating Strategic Partnerships Between CPAs & Wealth Advisors

One of the most significant threats to the long-term success of wealth accumulation, particularly for high-net-worth individuals, is the burden of taxes. The question to all finance professionals, from CPAs to wealth advisors, is simple: What steps can we take now to proactively help maximize wealth and minimize tax burdens in the future? Often, these strategies require the partnership of a CPA and…

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Succession Planning Starts Now

Define your legacy Leaving a business you built from the ground up or played a significant role in shaping is never easy. You want to know that the legacy you created will be protected and outlast your time with the company. That’s why succession planning and continuity planning are so important. With a written plan in place, you can feel confident your vision, goals, priorities, and values will be respected and continued for years to come. At Granite Harbor, we recommend business owners begin continuity and succession planning as soon as their business comes into existence. We also help business owners create and modify plans as needed, offering guidance to protect personal finances as well as the financial health of the business. That’s also why we created this eBook, to highlight some of the most pressing issues facing business owners in the succession planning process. You’ll find insights on how to approach a variety of scenarios and what to consider at each stage. By identifying your goals and the financial strategies to achieve them, you can develop continuity and succession plans that define your legacy and position your company for long-term success.

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Building Traction Within Your Business

Our trusted business advisor and friend, Gene Roberts joins us about the importance of having structure in your business. Structure for effective accountability, and structure for efficient communication. Gene explains the basics of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and how it can transform your business.

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FAQ

You have questions, we have answers...

A: Some of the most common financial mistakes that business owners make include:

Not choosing the right business structure: The type of business structure you choose can have a significant impact on your tax liability.
Not having a business continuity plan: business continuity plan outlines the steps that will be taken to keep your business operating in the event of a disaster or other unforeseen event.
Not taking advantage of tax-saving opportunities: There are a number of significant tax-saving opportunities available to business owners. It is important to work with a tax professional to identify all of the deductions and credits you are eligible for.
Not having a clear financial plan: comprehensive financial plan is essential for any business owner. It helps you track your finances, set financial goals, and make sound financial decisions.

A: Business owners should ideally begin continuity and succession planning as soon as their business comes into existence. For some of the most pressing issues facing business owners in the succession planning process today, download our guide, “Succession Planning Starts Now.” You’ll find insights on how to approach a variety of scenarios and what to consider at each stage, whether selling a business internally, externally or maintaining a family business that spans multiple generations.

By identifying your goals and the financial strategies to achieve them, you can develop continuity and succession plans that define your legacy and position both your company and loved ones for long-term success.

A: When choosing a financial partner, business owners should consider the following factors:

Experience: The firm should have experience working with business owners and understand the unique challenges they face.
Services: The firm should offer a comprehensive range of services to meet your needs, including support for buy-sell agreements, key man planning, business continuity planning, funding strategies, cash flow planning, succession planning, investment management, retirement planning, and estate planning.
Partnerships: The firm should proactively collaborate with CPAs and attorneys to navigate the advanced tax and legal complexities of planning for business owners.
Fees: The firm's fees should be transparent and competitive.
Reputation: The firm should have a good reputation and be well-respected in the industry.
Personal rapport and communication style: You should feel comfortable and confident with the team’s approach and communication style.

Ready to optimize your wealth?

Take the first step towards financial success by scheduling a 30-minute introductory call with us today.

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