Our Approach
The Implementation Timeline
A systematic approach to building value and preparing for a successful exit
Sponsor Alignment & Portfolio Discovery
Decision PhaseAlign with your sponsor's thesis and map the portfolio's value creation priorities
Holistic Business Assessment
Week 1–2Deep diagnostic across all 8 value drivers using integrated business data
Value Creation Roadmap
Week 2–4Specific tactical plans for each value driver, prioritized by EBITDA impact
Partner SkillSync™
Month 1–12AI-matched expert partners execute each initiative within defined scopes
Measure & Re-evaluate
OngoingStructured re-evaluation cycles measuring progress and refining the roadmap
Sponsor Alignment & Portfolio Discovery
Before any assessment begins, we align with the sponsor's investment thesis, hold goals, and timeline. This kickoff session ensures every downstream initiative is anchored to what actually moves the needle for your specific deal.
Deliverables
Signed sponsor alignment brief (investment thesis + exit goals)
Stakeholder map with roles and platform access levels
Preliminary value creation hypothesis (top 3 drivers)
Data room checklist and system access request
MainSquare platform onboarding complete for all stakeholders
Pre-Work Required from Sponsor
- Last 3 years of P&L and balance sheet
- Current org chart with titles and tenure
- Top 10 customers by revenue (% concentration)
- Any existing growth or exit plan documentation
- Key vendor contracts and relationships list
Holistic Business Assessment
We connect to your existing business systems and run a comprehensive diagnostic across all 8 value drivers. No manual surveys—data flows in automatically so we can surface real gaps, not perceived ones.
Plug In Your Business Systems
MainSquare connects directly to your existing tools. Data flows in automatically—no manual uploads or spreadsheets needed.
Financial
Cash flow, margin trends, EBITDA clarity, add-back identification
HR & Team
Org depth, compensation risk, retention rates, key-person dependency
Operations
Process documentation gaps, workflow efficiency, SOP coverage
Sales & CRM
Pipeline health, customer concentration, churn and retention
Supply Chain
Vendor dependency, inventory turns, single-source risk
Customer Service
NPS score, issue resolution rate, customer satisfaction trends
Assessment Diagnostic
Executive Leadership
Customer Service
Human Resources
Supply Chain
Sales & Marketing
Operations
Finance & Accounting
Innovation & R&D
Assessment Deliverables
Maturity Score across all 8 value drivers
Department-level gap analysis with risk ratings (High / Medium / Low)
Owner-dependency flag report highlighting single-person risks
Top 5 value creation opportunities ranked by EBITDA impact
Industry benchmarks vs. comparable transactions
Customer concentration report with revenue breakdown
Value Creation Roadmap
We generate specific, tactical plans for each value driver—prioritized by impact, with clear owners, timelines, and measurable milestones to close gaps and maximize enterprise value.
Executive Leadership
- Document decision-making framework and delegation matrix
- Identify and develop a #2 to reduce owner dependency
- Establish 90-day operating plans with KPI accountability
- Install weekly leadership team meeting cadence with scorecards
Finance & Accounting
- Normalize EBITDA: identify add-backs and non-recurring items
- Implement monthly close process (target: <5 business days)
- Build 3-year financial model with buyer-ready assumptions
- Create a Quality of Earnings (QoE) readiness checklist
Sales & Marketing
- Reduce customer concentration below 20% per customer
- Document repeatable sales process with CRM adoption
- Launch retention program targeting top 20% revenue accounts
- Build marketing attribution model to show ROI by channel
Operations
- Document 10 core SOPs for highest-risk workflows
- Identify automation opportunities to reduce manual labor 15–20%
- Implement quality control checkpoints and scorecard
- Cross-train key employees to reduce single-person dependencies
Human Resources
- Define clear job descriptions and performance expectations
- Implement compensation benchmarking vs. industry standards
- Build succession plans for all key roles
- Deploy employee engagement survey and retention risk scoring
Supply Chain
- Audit and diversify high-risk single-source vendor relationships
- Renegotiate top 5 vendor contracts for improved terms
- Implement inventory turnover tracking and min/max thresholds
- Document alternative supplier options for critical materials
Customer Service
- Launch NPS measurement program across all customer segments
- Define and document issue escalation and resolution SLAs
- Create customer health score tracking in CRM
- Build churn early-warning system based on engagement data
Innovation & R&D
- Document product/service roadmap with 12–24 month visibility
- Audit technology stack for scalability and buyer perception
- Identify AI and automation opportunities within core operations
- Develop differentiation narrative for buyer positioning
Prioritization Framework
Low effort, high impact. Execute immediately for fast EBITDA lift.
Foundational improvements that unlock long-term multiple expansion.
Structural changes requiring sustained investment for maximum exit value.
Roadmap Deliverables
Department-by-department tactical roadmap (90-day, 6-month, 12-month)
EBITDA impact model for each initiative with confidence intervals
Initiative prioritization matrix (effort vs. impact quadrant)
Assigned process owners and success metrics per initiative
Baseline KPIs to track at each milestone review
Investor-facing value creation narrative summary
Partner SkillSync™
Once the roadmap is set, we match each initiative to a vetted expert partner with the precise operational experience to execute it. No generalist consultants—every partner is scored against your specific gaps.
How SkillSync Matching Works
Gap Identification
Roadmap gaps are tagged by department, skill requirement, and urgency level
Partner Scoring
Our algorithm scores partners on industry fit, deal-stage experience, and availability
Curated Shortlist
You receive 2–3 vetted partner options per initiative with profiles and past work samples
Scoped Engagement
Partners deliver within a defined scope with milestones tracked inside MainSquare
Quality Review
Deliverables are reviewed against roadmap KPIs before the next phase begins
Partner Expertise Categories
Financial Advisory & CFO Services
HR & Organizational Development
Operations & Process Improvement
Sales & Revenue Growth
AI Automation & Technology
Legal & Compliance
Supply Chain Optimization
Marketing & Brand Positioning
Partner Vetting Standards
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on operational experience
- Demonstrated outcomes in deal-ready or post-acquisition scenarios
- Defined specialty aligned to one or more of the 8 value drivers
- SkillSync Index score of 70+ on the Partner Assessment
- References from prior business owner or private equity clients
SkillSync Deliverables
Matched partner roster per initiative with engagement terms
Scoped statements of work (SOWs) for each active initiative
Milestone check-ins and progress tracking inside MainSquare dashboard
Partner performance reviews tied to KPI outcomes
Monthly partner-to-sponsor progress brief
Initiative completion certificates with documented outcomes
Measure & Re-evaluate
Value creation isn't linear. We run structured re-evaluation cycles to measure what's working, identify new opportunities, and recalibrate the roadmap as your business evolves.
Structured Review Cadence
Weekly
Execution Check-In
- Partner deliverable status review
- Blocker identification and escalation
- KPI pulse check against baseline
- Next-week priority confirmation
Monthly
Performance Review
- Updated Exit Readiness Score (delta from last month)
- EBITDA impact YTD across all active initiatives
- Roadmap adjustment and reprioritization
- Sponsor summary report distribution
Quarterly
Re-Assessment
- Full 8-driver re-score with updated data integrations
- Sponsor alignment refresh against updated thesis
- Revised value creation hypothesis
- New initiatives scoped for next quarter
Key Performance Indicators We Track
| Metric | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|
| Exit Readiness Score | Established at initial assessment | 80+ = market-ready |
| EBITDA Impact | Pre-initiative baseline EBITDA | Quantified per initiative |
| Owner Dependency Index | Flagged in initial assessment | Reduced to <30% reliance |
| Customer Concentration | Top customer % of revenue at start | <20% per customer |
| Process Documentation | SOPs documented at engagement start | 100% of core workflows |
| Monthly Close Time | Days to close books at start | <5 business days |
| Partner NPS | Measured at first initiative close | 70+ net promoter score |
Ongoing Deliverables
Quarterly re-assessment report with updated Exit Readiness Score
EBITDA impact summary by initiative and total portfolio
Revised roadmap with new, closed, or accelerated initiatives
Investor-ready value creation narrative for diligence prep
Sponsor board-level presentation deck (quarterly)
Exit readiness certification letter for buyer-facing positioning
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