“Isn’t a financial advisor just for large companies doing multi-million-dollar M&A deals?”
That’s one of the most common misconceptions I hear. And it’s time to set the record straight.
Financial advisors don’t only come in when you’re selling a multi-million-dollar business or raising capital.
In fact, I have consulted in several smaller transactions, and realised that all these clients wanted is the same as big corporate, i.e. to have the right frame to make well informed decisions.
So, whether you’re,
- thinking of acquiring a restaurant,
- weighing the pros and cons of a new investment,
- unsure how to value your business, or
- dealing with conflicting priorities across technical and commercial drivers …
… a good financial advisor helps you translate numbers into decisions.
Here’s what that looks like in practice,
1. Decision Framing
When financial advisors are brought into a discussion, the immediate expectation is often to deliver numbers. However, sometimes it’s not only about numbers. It’s also about asking the right question.
I once worked with a client who was considering a real estate investment. He was overwhelmed by too many options: Should he go for high rental yield? A safer long-term appreciation play? Something close to home or abroad?
Through a structured framing exercise, we unpacked his, decision criteria, givens, personal constraints, non-negotiables.
Once these were clearly laid out, he saw that many options he had been chasing didn’t even meet his true objectives. The clarity helped him narrow his search, avoid distractions, and confidently move forward with an investment aligned with both his financial and lifestyle goals.
Framing trade-offs clearly creates alignment, both within yourself and across your team. That’s why I always encourage clients to start with framing before jumping into the numbers.
2. Red Flag Reviews & Financial Due Diligience
Before committing to a deal, you want to know what could go wrong.
Think of it like buying a house. Before you even think about making an offer, you’d want to check for red flags: Are there cracks in the foundation? Signs of water damage? Is the property in a flood zone? Is it under any legal dispute? These are issues that can’t be ignored and might kill the deal entirely if not costing a lot more in remediation.
It’s the same in more complex transactions. A red flag review and early financial due diligence help you surface critical issues or fatal flaws before committing time and money, e.g. unclear ownership structures, unreliable forecasts, lopsided commercial contracts, or hidden liabilities. These findings might not always stop a deal, but they help buyers go in with eyes wide open, clarify, renegotiate terms, or walk away before sinking time and cost into a flawed opportunity.
I review financials, projections, and agreements to highlight hidden risks; spotting deal breakers before you waste time and money contemplating or negotiating an opportunity.
3. Valuation & Financial Modelling
What is the right price to offer ? Am I overpaying for this deal ? What would this acquisition be worth to you ?
These are the first questions buyers ask. And often, the last ones answered properly.
However, having a static financial model is not the silver bullet. Because it is never about “getting a number”, but to frame the valuation parameters, test the assumptions, and ultimately to understand what really drives value.
For example, I recently helped a client build a tailored financial model to assess a restaurant acquisition. We looked at payback, breakeven, and the impact of various income and cost scenarios; not just to arrive at a price, but to understand what would make or break the deal.
4. Negotiation Support
Whether you’re negotiating a supplier agreement or a term sheet with investors, you need to know what’s at stake, and where you can flex.
I support clients in preparing for commercial discussions: identifying deal breakers, calculating risk exposure, and highlighting where you can (or shouldn’t) compromise; to help you understand your reservation price and walk away position.
I analyse counter party economics, frame the Zone of Possible Agreement (ZOPA), and facilitate war game; to help you best position to win.
In a recent deal, I helped a client frame their negotiation strategy, prepare key arguments, and plan out an optimum engagement strategy. In the end, we managed to cut the price offer by over 50% !
Advisory support scaled to fit
Small and medium businesses often don’t have in-house finance teams, and large consulting firms can be out of reach. That’s where lean, independent advisory support makes the difference.
At Makna Advisory, I bring my experience from large corporates to help entrepreneurs and small business owners to make decisions with confidence.
Because good advice isn’t just for big business.
It’s for anyone who wants to grow with commercial sense, confidence, and meaning.
Makna Advisory 
Leave a comment