Advisory And Value Creation
Increase EBITDA, improve cash flow and professionalize the business.
HartField works with owners to identify and execute the opportunities that make a service business more profitable, more scalable and more valuable. The work covers revenue growth, gross margin, operating costs, frontline productivity, cash flow, leadership, systems and reporting.
The Engagement
An objective, not a promised result
The work often begins by assessing whether HartField can make a meaningful impact over approximately 12 to 24 months. This is an objective, not a promised result. If there is not a clear path to meaningful improvement, we will say so directly.
HartField works alongside the owner and leadership team to turn the plan into action. This is not a report handed over at the end of the project. The work includes setting priorities, assigning ownership, tracking results and helping the team make changes.
The Relationship
Advisory first, investment where there is fit
An advisory relationship may remain advisory. In select situations, it may lead to a 2%-49.9% minority investment if there is a strong fit and HartField can add meaningful value. An investment is never assumed.
What we do
How we improve EBITDA and cash flow
We review the full business, identify the largest opportunities and help the team turn them into measurable financial results.
Revenue growth
Review pricing, sales performance, customer retention, share of wallet, new channels, geographic expansion, new services, vertical expansion and acquisition opportunities.
Gross margin
Review labour, materials, pricing, service mix, vendor terms and purchasing practices to improve the margin earned on each dollar of revenue.
Frontline productivity
Measure how effectively technicians, sales people, field teams and branches use their time and capacity. Improve scheduling, utilization, conversion and output.
Purchasing and vendors
Review major vendors, competitive pricing, material consolidation, purchasing controls, fuel programs and other large cost categories.
Inventory and working capital
Improve inventory visibility, purchasing, stocking levels, collections, payment practices and the amount of cash tied up in the business.
Overhead and organization
Remove spending that does not support the business, simplify work, clarify roles and ensure management costs fit the company's size.
AI and automation
Work with ShyftLabs to identify manual processes, disconnected systems and decision points where AI, automation or custom technology can improve efficiency.
Reporting and accountability
Build clear financial reporting, operating KPIs, budgets, forecasts and accountability so problems are identified and corrected earlier.
What Makes Us Different
Operator-led. Productivity focused. Built for execution.
We focus on productivity
Productivity is one of the most overlooked drivers of enterprise value.
We focus on execution
Ideas matter. Execution matters more.
We focus on people
Strong businesses are built by strong people. Leadership remains the highest leverage investment most organizations can make.
We focus on integration before closing
Most integration mistakes are predictable. The best integrations begin before Day One.
We focus on long-term value creation
The objective is not short-term optimization. The objective is building a stronger business.
Build for the future
Build a company ready to scale or sell
Revenue alone does not make a company scalable or valuable. HartField helps build the reporting, processes, systems, leadership structure and operating discipline required to support further growth. This also reduces dependence on the owner and makes the company easier for an investor or buyer to understand.
We focus on productivity
Clear operating KPIs
Stronger budgeting and forecasting
Documented processes
Defined roles and accountability
Scalable systems
Stronger leadership
Less dependence on the owner
Better preparation for diligence
Our Approach
Five steps. Repeated with discipline.
01
Understand the situation
Understanding comes before recommendations
02
Prioritize the few things that matter
Most organizations already have too many initiatives.
03
Align leadership
Execution accelerates when leadership teams move together.
04
Drive accountability
Clear ownership, clear expectations, clear measurement.
05
Create sustainable improvement
The objective is stronger long-term performance, not temporary improvement.
Let's Begin
Ready to improve the business
If the goal is higher EBITDA, stronger cash flow or better preparation for scale or sale, we would welcome a direct conversation.
