What do you actually want your business to do?
I know what it’s like to still need to make payroll when bad weather closes the shop. I’ve managed staff and a family at the same time. I’ve carried the weight of knowing that every decision affects real people, not just a spreadsheet.
I also know how hard it is to see everything clearly when you’re deep inside your own business.
That’s the work. I see the whole board — the financials, the operations, the people, and what you’re actually trying to build. I’ll show you what you’re missing, question the assumptions you’ve been operating under, and tell you the truth about what’s working and what isn’t.
Then we use real numbers to understand your options, decide what comes next, and make it happen.
Ways to Work Together
Four ways to work together, depending on where your business is now and what you need to move it forward.
The Reality Check
When something feels off but you can't quite put your finger on it, we’ll go under the hood together.
I’ll dig into your financials and operations and tell you what I find — what’s working, what isn’t, and what to do about it.
Reality Check can stand alone or be the first step in The Long Game, my signature 12-month partnership.
01 DiagnosticCASE STUDY: Pittsburgh Junk Co.
YOU MAY BE HERE BECAUSE:
Revenue is growing, but you’re not seeing enough of that money make it to the bottom line.
You’re working harder than ever, but the business still isn’t giving you the income or stability you expected.
You know something isn’t working, but you can’t see the problem clearly enough to fix it.
You need to know whether the business can support the investments you want to make next.
You've been making big decisions on gut feel, and the stakes are getting too high to keep doing it that way.
AFTER WORKING TOGETHER:
You’ll have an honest read on the state of your business — what your current numbers are telling you and what they’re not.
You’ll know where the gaps are — in your financial data, your operational tracking, or your visibility itself — and what it would take to close them.
You’ll have a prioritized list of what needs attention now, what can wait, and what infrastructure work may need to happen first.
You’ll know whether you’re ready for a longer engagement like The Long Game.
02 SIGNATURE OFFERThe Long Game
You’ve built a real business. Now let’s make sure you have everything you need to run it — and shape it — into what you're actually building.
Over the course of a year, I’ll work alongside you inside the financials, the operations, and the decisions that shape your business. Together we’ll build the deep financial visibility, the operating model, and the roadmap that lets you make the calls with confidence — and execute them without second-guessing.
CASE STUDIES: Bella Salon | Purple Fig | Jackson Vaughn
YOU MAY BE HERE BECAUSE:
You’ve built something real on instinct, and instinct alone isn’t enough to take it where you want it to go.
You don’t have the financial visibility you need to make confident decisions.
Too much still depends on you, and you’re not sure how to change that.
You’re facing decisions that are too consequential to make on gut feel — and you want a real partner in the work.
You know the business could be doing more, or doing better, but you can’t see the path clearly enough to act on it.
AFTER WORKING TOGETHER:
You’ll have deep visibility into your numbers and what actually drives results in your business.
You’ll have an operating model that reflects how your business really works — and a roadmap for where you're taking it.
You’ll have stronger systems, sharper priorities, and a plan for the year ahead.
You’ll be able to run the business confidently on your own — without me in the room.
Phase 01Visibility
Deep financial visibility into how the business actually performs. We rebuild your financial infrastructure so the numbers you're looking at are the real ones — and so you can trust them enough to make decisions from them.
Phase 02The Operating Model
The KPIs that actually drive results. A financial forecast built on your real unit economics. Growth scenarios that show what's possible and what each path would cost. You’ll see the levers behind your business and know exactly which ones to pull.
Phase 03The Roadmap
A concrete plan for the direction you’re actually choosing. Whether that's scaling aggressively, stabilizing to run the business well, preparing for an exit, or something else entirely — youll know where you're going, why, and what it will take to get there.
Phase 04Execution
Put the roadmap into action across your team, your operations, your growth priorities, and your capital allocation. By the end of the year, you'll have clear priorities for what comes next — and the confidence and capability to keep executing on your own.
03 preparing to sellThe Exit
Selling your business shouldn’t start when you’re ready to put it on the market.
I’ll work alongside you to understand what your business is worth today, identify what’s standing between you and a successful sale, and build a roadmap to get it ready. We’ll strengthen the financials and operations, reduce the business’s dependence on you, and prepare you to exit on your own terms.
Four PHases to an exitThe Exit follows the same four-phase process as The Long Game, with one important difference: the destination.
01 / Visibility
02 / The Operating Model
03 / The Roadmap
04 / Execution
Every decision and priority is focused on increasing the value of your business, preparing it for a successful sale, and helping you walk away with the best possible outcome.
CASE STUDIES: Bella Salon | Ladybird Provisions
YOU MAY BE HERE BECAUSE:
You know you want to sell the business eventually, but you’re not sure what needs to happen first.
You don’t know what the business is worth today — or what would make it worth more to a buyer.
Too much still depends on you — and you know that makes it harder to sell.
You've been approached about selling, or you’re wondering if now is the right time to start preparing.
You’ve put years into building this. You want the exit to reflect that.
AFTER WORKING TOGETHER:
You’ll know what the business is worth today — and what specifically is affecting that number.
You’ll know which changes will make the biggest difference to a potential buyer.
You’ll have stronger financials, operations, and systems that make the business more attractive and less dependent on you.
You’ll be ready to sell on your own terms — and confident in whether now is the right time to do it.
04 ONE DecisionCrossroads
One week. One decision.
You’re facing a significant choice about your business, and instinct isn’t enough to make the call. Over the course of a week, I’ll help you understand the financial and operational implications, weigh your options, and see what each path will actually cost and produce.
CASE STUDIES: Mantis Massage | Fine Line
YOU MAY BE HERE BECAUSE:
You’re considering a lease renewal, expansion, major hire, or other significant investment.
You’re weighing a partnership offer, acquisition, or potential exit.
You can see multiple paths forward, but you don’t have the information you need to confidently choose one.
The stakes are too high to make the decision based on instinct alone.
AFTER WORKING TOGETHER:
You’ll understand the financial and operational implications of each option.
You’ll know what each path will actually cost and what it could produce.
You’ll see the risks and tradeoffs you couldn't see from where you were standing.
You’ll leave with the decision made and the confidence to execute it.
Trusted by…
What people are saying…
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![April Wachtel, Cheeky Cocktails]()
“Sarah is a dream partner. She’s whip smart, tech-savvy, and a natural coach. As our strategic thought partner, she cleaned up our books and created a dynamic financial forecast, ensuring our vision is supported by financial rigor at all times. I highly recommend Sarah to any serious startup looking to scale.”
– April Wachtel | Founder & CEO, Cheeky Cocktails
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![A woman with long light brown hair, blue eyes, and a friendly smile sitting on a beige couch in a living room.]()
Sarah is able to answer questions you didn't know to ask. She's great at pointing out the whitespace — the planning that as a startup, you don't even know you don't know. She doesn't blow smoke, and she's tactfully able to say ‘I don't think that's a great idea’ when it isn't. That made it feel safe to really trust her.”
– Sarah Rioux | Co-Founder, Ladybird Provisions
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![Dina Benson, Co-Owner, Pittsburgh Junk Co.]()
“Sarah helped us understand our numbers and got us on the same page about what it would take to reach the income level we need to support our family. With her help, we were able to make an educated, data-backed decision to continue investing fully in the business. Our work together was absolutely worth it.”
– Dina Benson | Co-Owner, Pittsburgh Junk Co.
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![Jackson Vaughn]()
“The only certainty in running a business is uncertainty. A solid financial foundation and team is what helps you weather every storm. Sarah helped us build that foundation, gave us real visibility into our business, and changed how we make decisions. While working together, we grew from $1M to $5M in revenue.”
– Elliot Jackson | CEO, Jackson Vaughn
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![Kai Frazier, Kai XR]()
“Thanks to Sarah, we raised $1.1 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed round and are now preparing to raise our next $4 million. Today, I am light years ahead of my peers in understanding my company's finances. No hopes or guesses. I know exactly where Kai XR is headed.”
– Kai Frazier | Founder & CEO, Kai XR
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![Kyra Matos, Owner, Mantis Massage]()
“Collaborating with Sarah as an outside advisor was really beneficial. Our open discussions about goals, concerns, potential scenarios, and financial considerations really helped clarify the direction of my business.”
– Kyra Matos | Owner, Mantis Massage
