Services for New Business Ventures

Entrepreneurs
At Axiom we have a healthy respect for the courage it takes to do something different, to question established practices, to take a risk. That is why we love working with entrepreneurs. Some of the most creative, intelligent and interesting people we meet are the clients who dare to startup a new business, strike out on their own or invent something original. We understand their challenges, headaches and sleepless nights because we have been there ourselves. We also understand the emotional and personal satisfaction that comes from accomplishing goals that are uniquely your own.

Entrepreneurs come to us with a great idea and plenty of street smarts, but they also have plenty of questions and a great deal of uncertainty about what to do next. Below are some of the areas we help them address to make sure their new venture gets started on the right track.

Organization and entity choice
New business owners face a lot of choices, not the least of which is what legal form their new venture will take. Sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, corporation, S corporation…there are many options available, but some fit specific businesses better than others. Every situation is unique and structures that work for one business may not work for another, even if they appear similar at first glance.

Devil’s advocate
There are many great ideas, products and services that have been business failures. We may not always deliver good news, but we will kick the tires and try to find weaknesses in your business plan. Pricing, gross margins, overhead, customer acquisition costs…these are some of the areas that take a back seat when all the focus is on a great new business. With good information we can help you solve most problems before they become deal breakers.

Licensure and compliance
New businesses face licensure and registration requirements at the federal, state, county and local level. Failure to dot the i’s and cross the t’s can leave you facing fines, penalties or even closure of your business. We help you avoid these unwelcome surprises.

Insurance and risk management
We have established relationships with professionals who assist our clients with commercial liability, inventory and contents, business interruption and other types of insurance. No one likes to consider worst case scenarios, but our clients sleep better at night because we help them prepare for the unexpected.

Accounting and reporting systems
Whether you need a part time bookkeeper or a full blown, in-house accounting system we can help evaluate your needs and implement the personnel, hardware and software to make it happen.

HR and benefits
The cost of hiring an employee is rarely as simple as multiplying a wage by the number of hours worked. From quantifying real costs to making sure you are in compliance with tax regulations we help make sure that your time is spent managing employees rather than paperwork. We can design compensation packages that distinguish you from your competition and help you stand out in a tight labor market. Finally, we can help you outsource payroll and free up valuable in house resources.

Professional services
Success is most often the result of a coordinated team effort. We help you build a strong network of professionals that will help realize your goals. This network includes legal counsel, financial advisors, insurance professionals, payroll and workers comp specialists, bankers and lenders…and more specialized professionals depending on your industry and your needs.

We are constantly vetting new talent and outstanding individuals who share our attitude toward solving customer problems. Once you put together a team you like we help manage these relationships to make sure what has been promised gets delivered.

Financing and banking relationships
A loan can make the difference between success and never getting an idea off the ground. We work with area banks to walk your proposal through the underwriting process. Different banks have different specialties. By identifying and working with institutions familiar with your product, industry or service we insure that informed, knowledgeable people evaluate your prospects. And after you have gone through our own internal vetting process you will emerge with greater credibility and confidence than someone going it alone.

What it’s all about…
We can do a lot more than your traditional CPA. We can take your idea and give it legs, we can keep you out of trouble, we can even help you find the people and services you need in an emergency, but without a plan your new venture may not go very far. Contact us today so we can start building your plan for success. We could be just what you are looking for.