Implementing a process to manage the work of Strategic Advising is the key to making it happen in a profitable, seamless way. The LivePlan Method is a business process and pricing model for strategic advising services.

“Get comfortable with the uncomfortable.”

This modest sentence is powerful. It’s only in the difficult places that we grow, so the more we can get comfortable with things that make us uncomfortable, the stronger we become.

As a Strategic Advisor, you’re a critical partner for your small business owner clients. The work you do and the expertise you offer helps your clients establish business goals, and guides their growth.

Your work should cover questions such as these:

To understand the overall health and performance of a business, the three main financial statements—income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet—tell a vivid story.

In the public accounting industry, the practice of client advisory services involves much more than compliance-based work—it’s a relationship business. To grow and scale your Strategic Advising practice, your efforts need to be aimed at nurturing your clients and developing a personal connection that will set you up for repeat business.

If I’ve learned anything during my two-plus decades of marketing leadership, it’s that trust is the backbone of the seller-buyer relationship.

Millions of small business owners have used LivePlan products to start their businesses. Every week, we hear stories from small business owners thanking us for helping them develop a business plan and secure funding.

This past month, I used the LivePlan Dashboard for the first time at a board meeting for a nonprofit that I volunteer at. We reviewed our budget and how we were performing compared to our plan.

Palo Alto Software does more than build LivePlan, the world's best business planning software. We also run Bplans, a website dedicated to original and curated business planning and business management content.

The LivePlan Pitch has always been a great way to create a quick overview of your business.

As an alternative to the Business Model Canvas, the LivePlan Pitch helps you summarize your business opportunity, target market, competition, and business model—quickly and easily.

Are you looking for ways to begin Strategic Advising as a service to small business clients, but are unsure where to start? The work can feel “big” if it’s new for you.

Our Best Practice Library is an assortment of training webinars designed to help you learn how to use LivePlan, implement practices and strategies in your advisory practice, and keep you informed on the latest new features. In our library you can find webinars covering the following topics:

Are you happy at work? Do you find satisfaction in the way you spend your day? Is work-satisfaction something you even think about? Advisory services could be your answer.

“My clients don’t want this.”

This is what I hear from many accountants when I talk to them about Strategic Advising.

“I wish my accountant would explain things better.”

This is what I hear from small businesses owners—even my artist friend who I saw last week. We were catching up and I began talking about Strategic Advising. “What?!” he said. “I would love it if my accountant would provide that kind of help!”

Somewhere there is a disconnect.

I’ve done strategic planning for organizations of all kinds: public, private, growing corporations seeking IPO, and nonprofits. At the core of this work is financial modeling and forecasting. It doesn’t so much matter the type of business—the work is essentially the same: