Is this the same as exit planning or working with a business broker?

No. Brokers and exit planners handle the transaction — the valuation, the buyer search, the deal structure. Clean Canvas happens before that. It's the work of deciding whether to sell at all, and getting clear on what you want before you enter any process. Many Clean Canvas clients go on to work with a broker. They just show up to that conversation ready.

What if I'm not sure I want to sell — I might want to keep the business?

That's exactly who this is for. Clean Canvas doesn't presuppose an exit. It ends with one of two outcomes: a clear decision to sell, or a concrete plan to transform the business and re-engage with it on different terms. Both are legitimate. The goal is a decision, not a particular direction.

How is this different from working with a business coach or consultant?

Most coaches and consultants help you run your business better. Clean Canvas is specifically for founders at a crossroads — people who are questioning whether they want to keep running it at all. It's a defined engagement with a defined deliverable: a decision and a plan. Not an ongoing coaching relationship.

How long does Clean Canvas take?

Clean Canvas is a focused intensive, not an open-ended engagement. The timeline is structured and bounded — this is not a months-long retainer. The specifics are discussed on the discovery call, where Kathleen can tailor the scope to where you are and what you need.

Is Clean Canvas right for me if my business is still performing well?

Yes — and often this is the best time to do it. Founders who wait until the business is struggling have fewer options and less leverage. The crossroads question isn't about performance; it's about whether you still want to be the person running this. Many of the founders who get the most from Clean Canvas are running profitable businesses. They're just exhausted, or no longer sure it's what they want.

What happens after Clean Canvas — what's the actual next step?

It depends on the decision you make. If you're selling, Kathleen can introduce you to the right advisors — brokers, attorneys, wealth managers — at the right time, with a clear brief on what you're looking for. If you're transforming, you leave with a concrete restructuring plan and accountability for the first phase of executing it. Either way, you don't leave with a set of options to think about. You leave with a direction.

The best legal work happens when the financial story is clean

Business transactions, successions, and restructurings succeed or fail on the strength of the financial story behind them. When the books are messy or the owner can’t clearly articulate what their business is worth, deals slow down and value erodes.

You can only do your best work when the financial side of a deal or transition is clean and credible. Canoan builds that foundation before the high-stakes moments arrive.

Your client’s business needs a solid financial narrative.

Financial statement showing income and balance sheet for ABC Innovations, Inc. for the year ending December 31, 2025, with projections for 2026-2028 including revenue, gross profit, operating expenses, net income, assets, liabilities, and projections.

Kathleen Riessen, CPA, CEPA, works alongside business attorneys and other trusted advisors to help clients have clean financials, stable cash flow, solid financial narratives, and a road map for future growth.

Our referral philosophy

We don’t take referral relationships with business attorneys lightly. When an attorney introduces a client, the responsibility is to serve that client at the highest level and to protect the relationship that made the introduction possible. Our goal is not only to support your client, but also make your relationship with them stronger and more productive.

If Canoan isn’t the right solution for your client, we’ll say that. The goal isn’t a transaction. It’s a professional relationship built on shared clients served well.

Some clients know exactly what they need and are ready to move. Others need clarity first. We’re built for both.

Here’s how we work with our clients

Diagnostic

Define the problem(s) before committing to a path. For owners and CEOs who know something isn’t working or who have a major event approaching.

How the Diagnostic Works

Project Engagement

Defined scope, defined timeline. M&A preparation, capital raise readiness, rebuilding your financial infrastructure, or other specific financial objectives.

When a project is right

Embedded Strategic CFO Advisory

Ongoing, embedded Strategic CFO work. We customize the engagement so you don’t pay for things that you don’t want.

What this looks like

Advisory Power-Up

A specific event requiring expertise outside your current engagement scope. Expands when needed, returns to base when complete.

When to make an introduction

Client is considering or entering an M&A process and the financial picture needs to be in better condition first.

Client’s financial records are under scrutiny or may become so.

Client needs to restructure ownership or prepare for succession and the financial infrastructure needs to be built or improved.

Client is entering a significant contract or partnership that requires financial transparency.

Client has outgrown their financial infrastructure and it is beginning to create legal risk exposure.

Clean financials make legal work faster, simpler, and more effective.

Connect with Kathleen