Welcome
Canus Consulting
Experience, Independence, Innovation
Edd Twohig, CA
e-mail…. edd@canusconsulting.com
cell 413 559 2915
tel 413 549 2972
Why Canus Consulting?
- Because you do not have the time
- Because you want a second opinion
- Because you do not want the big outfit
- Because you want someone with broad experience
- Because you want a practical approach
- Because your business is different
- Because you want someone to talk to
- Because we say "WHY NOT?"
Services Project or Replacement Management
Feasibility Determination
Financial Analysis
Accounting Systems
Staff Review
Branch audit or review
Negotiation
Loan applications
Bankruptcy planning or avoidance
Proposals to Creditors
Purchasing Business or Assets
Preparing for a business sale
Project Management
My responsibilities for project management have usually been because the business owner or staffs have not had the time and/or capability to do it themselves. The projects have included work with no other project staff or ones utilizing many staff or sub consultants of various professions, both in North America and overseas. Processing plant projects have been managed from initial concept to start up and initial production, or beyond. Planning projects have been managed from the initial reply to a Request for Proposal to presentation of the report.
Feasibility Determination
The step from concept to planning requires more art than science. The unknowns are often best solved from experience gained more from trial and error than textbooks. Satisfactory feasibility is the first step in searching for both equity and debt financing. My experience as both the developer of business and the reviewer of applications by others for financing may help you.
Financial Analysis
The selection and application of information and data is important in the preparation and use of financial analysis. Experience in both financial data preparation and audit of a wide variety of financial reports leads one to select the good, bad, useful or not so useful. It is often the selection of good information that is most important.
Accounting Systems
In considering the accounting systems available, it is most important to identify the input available and output desired. So many times have we seen systems designed by smart system designers who do not know the business. Only when the input available and output required is well identified will a system work properly. My role would not be in system design, but in assisting the owner or staff to provide the best information for its selection.
Staff Review
Staff review, although not usually a primary assignment, is usually an integral part of any other consulting engagement. Nothing is more important than the people who are on the front line. Sometimes businesses take staffing for granted. It is important to review senior as well as Departmental management. A solution may be to reorganize the departments, establish responsibilities and install a system for evaluating performance and eliminate a poor general manager.
Branch audit or review
Quite often and owner neglects oversight of branches. Financial audit may overlook operational problems. An independent look at operations, as well as financial aspects, of the branch, may pick up weak areas not observed by those too close to the business.
Although some may be better than others, branches can be a headache. . But why? Financial reporting and internal audit may not answer this question. A comprehensive review by someone experienced and independent may turn up the underlying problems.
Negotiation
It seems that the principal element of my business life has been negotiation. Contracts, purchase, sale, acquisition, governments, whatever the event, preparation and anticipation is important. My most notable was with young, dedicated, freedom fighters that had suddenly been thrust into a governing position. They were wary of everyone and inexperienced in normal contracting. Another memorable negotiation ended with me expressing some guilt to my client that the seller, who had been represented by a lawyer that I felt would be very sharp, had accepted many clauses that I had inserted only for negotiating leverage.
Loan applications
Most of the previous services are integral to negotiating for financing. Most things boil down to money, and all are reluctant to invest it without good assurance that they will not loose it. I have asked for tenders for financing, have attracted equity investors, loans from individuals, from government development agencies, and indeed, maxed out credit cards. Never have I been accused of wrongdoing. Truth and a good presentation pays off in the end.
Bankruptcy planning or avoidance
There are many ways to avoid bankruptcy; avoiding debt is the surest one. In any business debt may be necessary. Foreclosing by a bank is not always within our control. Banks have the ability to call debt and make a business vulnerable to bankruptcy.
Proposals to Creditors
In addition to sound business management, bankruptcy can be avoided by making proposals to creditors, without or within bankruptcy legislation. One trouble is, owners or managers are usually so stressed by the difficulties that they cannot function rationally. The time to engage unstressed assistance is before the stuff hits the fan.
Purchasing a Business or Assets
There should never be an investment in a business or a major business asset without a cost/benefit analysis. I had only one sales position, that in a car, truck and farm equipment dealership. With farm equipment, and truck, sales, it was necessary to sit with the purchaser and factor in cash flow, debt assumption and alternate choices, before being satisfied that the equipment considered was the best choice. The same should be considered in any business transaction. These are sometimes best evaluated by an independent and experienced outsider. On two business evaluations, I found that temporary employees had been placed on the production floor just to make things look better for our visit. On another, outdated and inefficient equipment was left on the production floor and on the equipment list to inflate the price.
Preparing for a business sale
Whether selling a business, a property or only a major asset, there are financial and physical considerations. A property, business or asset may be worth a fraction of its cost, unless, the demand for it, it’s replacement cost, the location or another factor is relevant. Even the choice of broker warrants investigation. A ready buyer may not be able to obtain adequate financing. A profitable sale may depend on knowing what financing package can be arranged. Planning and identification of options in advance helps facilitate a satisfactory sale.
