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.

Before committing to a path, understand the real starting point.

Most engagements that don’t produce results have the same problem: effort applied in the wrong direction. The wrong diagnosis leads to the wrong prescription.

The Diagnostic

The Diagnostic is not a financial audit, compliance review, or a summary of what the financial reports say.

It’s an outside read on what the business is actually producing, why it’s producing those results, and what’s in the gap between current performance and potential performance. The diagnostic covers seven key areas of your business:

Financials
Client Mix
Offerings
People/Team
Processes
Sales Pipeline
Leadership bench

Once completed, you’ll receive a comprehensive report and recommendations, along with an in-depth conversation with Kathleen. If it makes sense, we’ll discuss the next engagement.

Who the Diagnostic is for

Owners who know something isn’t working

The business is functioning. But something is off, and the owner knows it before the numbers confirm it. Committing to a direction before the problem is properly understood produces effort in the wrong direction.

Owners with a major event on the horizon

A sale, a succession, a capital raise. The business needs to be in the best shape possible. The Diagnosis at this stage identifies potential areas of risk and what can be done to reduce that risk.

Frequently asked questions

How long does the Diagnostic take?

The timeline varies by business complexity, but most Diagnostics conclude within 2-3 weeks. The goal is depth and accuracy rather than speed.

I've had financial reviews before and they didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Why would this be different?

The most common reason outside financial reviews produce familiar conclusions is that they are conducted within the frame the business already uses. A Strategic CFO conducting a diagnostic from the outside does not inherit that frame.

Does the Diagnostic commit me to an ongoing engagement?

No. The Diagnostic is a defined scope with a specific output. It does not require a commitment beyond itself.

How much does the Diagnostic cost?

The scope of the diagnostic is dependent on the complexity of the company. Most Diagnostics are $5,000 - $10,000.

Before committing to a path, understand the real starting point.

The Diagnostic

Who the Diagnostic is for

Frequently asked questions

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