Services

Just as an entrepreneur needs to be “hands on” in all aspects of his business, we strive to become your trusted business advisor. We don’t want to just go through the motions of understanding the nature of your entrepreneurial endeavor; our professionals are focused on developing, coordinating and delivering services centered on the dynamics of successful business growth.

Entrepreneurs are unique because you are dedicated, enthusiastic, visionary and willing to take risks to be successful and cultivate growth. Our team at M5 Consulting is ready to walk beside you the whole distance until you achieve business success. We want to develop an intimate understanding of your objectives, competition, markets, industry trends and vision for growth.

We are committed to providing creative and cost-effective services, and are focused on enhancing your priorities for decision making and advancing the growth potential of your business.

Every day, we assist clients as they form their entities, obtain financing, pursue mergers and acquisitions, protect their assets, structure key relevant alliances, create retirement and executive compensation plans, negotiate contracts, and comply with state and federal laws.

Our team can help growth companies unleash extraordinary potential by turning their visions into reality. We can do the same for your company, while consulting with you to reduce the personal, professional and financial risks often associated with owning your own business.

Our services also include developing ideas leading to efficiencies in operating your business, acquiring companies, finding partners to start ventures, structuring buyouts, purchasing businesses and establishing success within your firm.

At M5 Consulting we focus on just that, consulting. We are here to provide services to banks that will enhance your bottom line, give you piece of mind that your reviews are efficient, your inspections are thorough and you are operating efficiently. We can work together with you and your clients to identify potential issues earlier and provide a consulting strategy to address those issues. Reports will be customized to the individual needs of our clients. M5 Consulting has a strong background and expertise in the Banking, Construction, Agriculture and Biofuels industries.

We can provide you with the following services:

Borrowing Base Reviews

• Visit the bank's client
• Verify the collateral
• Construct final report
• Review report with the client
• Availability for further discussion or auditing

Collateral Inspections

• Physically inspect the collateral
• Verify the collateral
• Prepare inspection final report
• Review report with the client
• Availability for further discussion or auditing

Construction Inspections

• Obtain original construction budget
• Obtain monthly construction draw requests
• Physically make monthly inspections of the project
• Review and compare construction budget to actual draw requests
• Prepare summary report of project completion and budget comparisons
• Provide report to client
• Availability for further discussion or auditing

M5 Consulting is not in the software selling business. Therefore you can expect a more objective evaluation of various packages that will suit your needs. Our agricultural, accounting and biofuels experience gives us an edge in crafting the best solution for your software needs.

Accounting for Profit
The complexity of today’s operations requires careful set-up, training, installation and reporting of fuel, commodities, RINs, etc. A trusted adviser on your side helps foresee problems beforehand, and manage ongoing concerns, including:

• Needs analysis and accounting systems selection
• Inventory control and procedures
• Intercompany consolidation accounting
• Hedging systems and accounting processes
• Accounting systems integration with fuel terminal software and grain management software
• Accounting policy and procedures
• Project management of system installs and training
• Accounting staff training and process flow modeling Financial institution contacts for leasing and equipment financing

It may not make sense to hire a Chief Financial Officer to run your business but what if you still need CFO advice? M5 Consulting offers a CFO for Hire service designed for companies with annual revenue of $5 to $50 million and that need a consultant to review financial information, manage risk and communicate with lenders.

In today's market, as an example, a company could spend $150,000 to invest in an internal financial expert. Our firm can offer the same service for a fraction of the cost and also offer a unique and diverse perspective. Because M5 Consulting works with a variety of industries, it is this perspective that helps all of our clients remain competitive and on the cutting edge of financial management.

The staff at M5 Consulting is connected. We'll sit down with your people and bring our own core group to offer first-hand knowledge and translate that into bottom-line profitability. CFO for Hire clients currently include the areas of professional services, construction, manufacturing, biofuels, feed yard and production agriculture operations.

• Business Performance Consulting
  Our firm will review your financial statements and spend time in your field or facility to gather an overall view on where your business is headed. We visit with your key personnel to better understand the overall atmosphere of your company and dispel myths. M5 Consulting will analyze profit centers, find what needs to be changed and help you implement those changes.
• Financial Statement Preparation and Analysis
  One of the largest problems in small business today is poor information. A company can be managed without quality information but it is difficult and risky. Our firm works to create financial data that allows you to access pertinent information including cash flow, debt service demands and financial performance.
• Risk Management Knowledge
  One hiccup can cost your business the ability to survive. Everyone in today's market is faced with risk management whether it's workers compensation, general liability insurance, bonding companies or hedging. We can help you effectively manage these areas to avoid lawsuits and negotiate the best cost situation for long-term viability of your business.
• Financial Systems
  As a company grows out of its current financial software, it needs advice on where to go next. Our firm can help identify a system that will fulfill your needs including accurate real-time information, essential levels of security and user-friendly software. We also train your staff to fully utilize the software so you receive the most benefit for your investment.
• Banking Communication
  In today's financial environment, maintaining a close relationship with your lender has never been more important. Providing them with timely and accurate information is a large part of that relationship. We can help you create that information and communicate it to your lender in order to build a partnership of trust and strength.

Strategic planning is essentially about creating a roadmap to the future. Understanding where you are today, knowing where you want to be in the future, and choosing the appropriate route to your destination are the three dimensions of a great plan. With a comprehensive, inclusive process and diligent implementation, the potential to energize your organization becomes enormous.

The strategic planning process is not only for big companies. It is a process for any type of business involving a key group of people responsible for the success of the company. Regardless of your organization’s rate of change, meaningful steps must be taken to secure a successful future. Deciding what you want to be in the future and translating that decision into today’s action is a critical need.

The first step in strategic planning is committing to the process of planning for the future and initiating steps to make the process happen. Getting started involves a decision to plan and convening key people who can make the plan a reality. Then, designing the process so that it fits the unique culture of your business ensures that your efforts will meet the specific needs of the organization.

After designing the process, conducting the effort in a way that includes the best thinking of your best people is a key to success. Meeting dynamics, brainstorming, teamwork and open dialogue are components that bring out the best of what your colleagues have to offer. A meaningful planning process also allows for ownership and accountability of those involved. Strategic plans that are created by the people who will implement them — and live with the success and consequences — are proven to be the ones that work!

Don’t wait for a crisis to rear its ugly head. You should plan for the future when you have the financial strength and resources needed to achieve optimum success. It is a challenge committing the time and resources to a strategic planning process. But with the practical application of a vision and set of goals and action plans, you can rest assured that investing time to form a roadmap for the future will contribute to your organization’s effectiveness.