Monthly owner advisory gives you a senior person to think with, a one-page scorecard that tracks your plan and written decisions after every session. It is for owners who have a plan, or have just built one with us, and want to keep it on course through the busy months. It runs month to month on a retainer, with no lock-in.
Who it is for
It suits owners who carry most decisions alone. In many Burnaby firms there is no board, no outside partner and no one who can push back on the owner's assumptions with numbers in hand. Advisory fills that gap. It is especially useful:
- in the first year after a growth roadmap, when targets are new
- during a period of change: a key hire, a new service line, a lease decision or a large contract
- when a family business is preparing the next generation to take on more
- when an owner is beginning to think about an eventual sale and wants the business to run less on them
What a month looks like
One working session, one written note and access in between.
- Before the session. You or your team update the scorecard with last month's numbers. It usually takes under an hour once set up.
- The session (60 to 120 minutes). We review the scorecard, then work through the two or three decisions that matter most this month.
- The note. After each session you receive a short written summary: what was decided, who owns each action and what to watch.
- Between sessions. Reach Ali by call, text or email for decisions that will not wait for the next meeting.
The one-page scorecard
A good scorecard has six to ten numbers, each with a target and a trigger. A typical version for a Burnaby service or trade business:
| Measure | Target | Rethink if |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly sales | $150,000 | Below $130,000 for two months |
| Gross margin | 35% | Below 31% |
| Quotes sent within 48 hours | 90% | Below 75% |
| Days from job complete to invoice | 3 | Above 7 |
| Owner hours on approvals per week | 6 | Above 10 |
| Repeat customer share of sales | 55% | Below 45% |
| Jobs in progress | 25 | Above 35 |
The numbers come from systems you already use. If something cannot be measured yet, the first job is making it measurable, not guessing.
Quarterly rhythm
Every third session is longer and looks further ahead. It reviews the quarter against the plan, resets targets where needed and chooses the focus for the next 90 days. Our guide to running a quarterly planning day explains the format so you can run it yourselves if you prefer.
How results are measured
By the scorecard trend and by whether decisions get made and carried out. At each quarterly review we check how many of last quarter's actions were completed. If the completion rate is low, the problem is usually too many actions, and we cut the list rather than add pressure.
Who sits in the sessions
You work with Ali Sedighi directly, not a junior account manager. Ali has an MBA in Technology Management and 17+ years of experience in marketing and business growth, and he is Founder and Managing Partner of SAZ.ca. That continuity matters in advisory: the person reviewing this month's scorecard is the same one who saw last quarter's, and remembers why a target was set where it was. More background is on the about page.
Some owners also ask whether advisory can help prepare for a future sale. It can help make the business less dependent on you, which buyers value, but sale preparation itself is specialist work; our sister site BusinessExit.ca covers exit readiness in depth.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating the session as a status update. If nothing is decided, the meeting was not needed.
- Too many numbers. A 30-line dashboard is a report, not a scorecard.
- Changing the plan every month. Adjust tactics monthly; change direction quarterly.
- Waiting for the meeting to ask. The between-session access exists so urgent decisions do not wait four weeks.
Price and next step
Advisory retainers run from $2,500 to $12,000 a month plus GST, depending on session frequency and how much hands-on work is included. The pricing page explains the range, and the FAQ covers stopping and ownership. Call, text or email to talk it through.
Frequently asked questions
How is advisory different from coaching?
Advisory is tied to your numbers and plan. Each session starts from the scorecard and ends with written decisions. It is less about motivation and more about whether the business is doing what the plan says, and what to change if it is not.
Is there a minimum term?
No. Advisory runs month to month with no lock-in. Most clients stay for at least two quarters because that is how long it takes to see a plan through a full cycle, but you can stop at any time.
Can our managers join the sessions?
Yes. Some owners prefer one-to-one sessions; others bring a general manager or partner. Many alternate: one month with the owner alone, the next with the leadership group.
Can advisory include hands-on work?
At the higher end of the retainer range, yes. That might mean building a model, drafting a pricing guide or helping run a planning day. The scope is agreed in writing each quarter.