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.

When your client needs a financial narrative to maximize value

A traditional CFO or CPA firm prepares the financials. Canoan prepares the business.

That distinction shows up in the multiple. Buyers don’t just audit the past. They buy the future. Every risk they find becomes a discount. Every question the owner can’t answer confidently becomes negotiating leverage.

Our goal is not only to maximize the value of your client’s business, but also reduce friction in the transaction. You spend less time in the weeds and deals close faster.

Open purchase agreement document on a wooden table with a pen, glasses, and a closed notebook nearby.

Kathleen Riessen, CPA, CEPA, works alongside M&A Advisors and other trusted advisors to help clients have clean financials, stable cash flow, a solid financial narrative, and a clear view of what the future can look like.

Our referral philosophy

We don’t take referral relationships with M&A Advisors lightly. When a trusted professional 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 reduce friction in the transaction.

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.

We don’t just identify the discounts. We help owners fix them.

Customer & revenue concentration

Transferrable sales pipeline

Margin Improvement

Owner dependency and key person risk

Revenue quality and pricing strategy

Customer Retention

We’d all love clients to be proactive when they come to us, but the reality is that rarely happens. If we have a 2-3 year horizon, we can build some real value because we have enough runway to significantly reduce buyer risk. If a business is closer to market, we’ll work with you to triage and prioritize. Some things can be addressed quickly; others we document and frame correctly.

We support buy side clients too

Buy side clients who are substantially increasing their footprint often need support in upgrading their financial infrastructure. A successful acquisition doesn’t end when the purchase agreement is signed. Having a Strategic CFO support their combined company is often critical to a successful future.

Think a referral relationship might be beneficial?

Connect with Kathleen