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 solid CFO, but isn’t ready to hire full time

Your client’s business should qualify, but the financials tell a different story.

You want to say yes. The business has potential. The owner is capable. The fundamentals are there. But the books are messy, the reporting is inconsistent, or the cash flow isn’t stable enough. Your client’s good at what they do, but financial leadership isn’t their gift. They need someone on their team to provide financial leadership. Once they do, chances are good you’ll be able to increase your business with them.

Laptop on a wooden desk displaying a business credit application status page with a red DECREASED message.

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

Our referral philosophy

We don’t take referral relationships 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 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 declined or conditionally approved and the reason is financial infrastructure, not fundamental business quality.

Business is growing, but the financial function isn’t keeping pace with complexity.

Client’s financials don’t reflect what the business is actually capable of producing.

Client is asking about acquisition financing or a major growth push and the financial picture doesn’t support it yet.

Annual review reveals margin compression or cash flow inconsistency the client can’t clearly explain.

Risk profile of the client to the bank is higher than it should be given the underlying business quality.

Think a referral relationship might be beneficial?

Connect with Kathleen