Business Advisory | The Protection Pro

The Question Every Business Owner Needs to Answer

What's Your Exit Strategy?

You've spent years building your business. But what happens when you're ready to step away? Most business owners have no succession plan, no clear exit strategy, and no idea how to extract the wealth they've built.

What if a key employee or partner becomes disabled or dies? Without proper planning, the business could fail—taking your life's work with it. What if you want to sell in five years but haven't prepared? You'll leave money on the table or worse, find no buyers at all.

The time to plan is now—not when a crisis forces your hand. A clear business advisory strategy protects your investment, your employees, and your legacy.

Comprehensive Business Services

What's Included in Business Advisory

Succession Planning

Define who will take over your business, when, and how. Create a clear roadmap for leadership transition that protects the business and rewards your years of work.

Business Exit Strategy

Whether you want to sell to a third party, transfer to family, or close down—we help you plan the timeline and financial implications of your exit.

Key Person Insurance

Protect your business if a critical employee, partner, or owner becomes disabled or dies. Ensure the company can survive and thrive without any single individual.

Benefits Design

Create competitive employee benefits packages that attract and retain talent while managing costs. Includes group health, retirement plans, and executive benefits.

Buy-Sell Agreements

Legal and financial structure for partner buyouts in case of death, disability, or departure. Protect all partners and ensure smooth ownership transitions.

Business Continuation

Ensure your business can continue operating during owner transition or unexpected events. Plan for every scenario so the company survives no matter what.

Is This Right for You?

Who Business Advisory Is For

Business Owners & Entrepreneurs

You've built a successful business and need a plan to protect it and eventually exit. Whether you want to sell, transfer, or close—you need a roadmap.

C-Suite Executives

Responsible for business continuity, succession planning, and key person risk management. Need strategies that protect the organization's long-term viability.

HR Professionals

Responsible for designing benefits packages and employee retention strategies. Need competitive offerings that attract talent while managing costs.

Business Partners

Need formal agreements to handle buyouts, ownership transitions, or partner departures. Protect your investment and your partnership with proper planning.

Simple Process

How It Works

1

Tell Us Your Goals

Quick questionnaire about your business goals (2 min)

2

Complete Factfinder

Business planning questionnaire covering structure, revenue, key people (15 min)

3

Ron Analyzes

Ron reviews your business situation and identifies risks

4

Get Your Plan

Receive personalized recommendations for succession & protection

5

Implement Together

Ron coordinates with your attorney/accountant to execute

Avoid These Pitfalls

Common Mistakes Business Owners Make

"No succession plan in place."

Most business owners haven't decided who will take over or when. When the time comes—whether planned or unexpected—they're unprepared. The business suffers, and years of value can be lost.

"Key employees aren't insured."

If losing a specific person—you, a partner, or a key employee—would significantly hurt the business financially, you need key person insurance. This provides cash to replace the person, cover lost revenue, or pay off debts during the transition period.

"Business value is locked in the company."

No plan to extract wealth from the business means everything is tied up. This limits personal financial flexibility and makes the owner dependent on a successful sale that may never come.

"Partners have no buy-sell agreement."

Without a formal agreement, partner disputes or departures can destroy the business. Buy-sell agreements funded by insurance prevent these catastrophes.

Success Stories

What Our Clients Say

"I'd been putting off succession planning for years—it felt overwhelming. Ron broke it down into clear steps and helped me create a plan I actually understand. Now I know exactly how I'll transition out in 5 years and what my business is worth."

John

Business Owner, Medina

Your Business Advisory Partner

I'm Ron Ray Maxwell, a Cleveland native with over 20 years of experience helping business owners protect and transition their companies. I understand the unique challenges of building a business because I work with owners like you every day.

Learn more about Ron

Common Questions

Business Advisory FAQ

Business owners should begin succession planning 5–10 years before their intended exit. Starting early gives you time to maximize business value, identify and train successors, structure tax-efficient transitions, and negotiate from a position of strength. Even if retirement feels far away, an early succession plan protects against unexpected events like disability, death, or partnership disputes that could threaten the business.

A buy-sell agreement is a legally binding contract between business partners that defines what happens to ownership shares if a partner retires, becomes disabled, or dies. It establishes a fair valuation method and a funding mechanism—typically life insurance—so the remaining owners can buy out the departing partner’s share without draining business cash flow. Without one, ownership disputes and financial strain can destroy an otherwise healthy business.

Key person insurance is a life or disability policy owned by the business on an individual whose loss would cause significant financial harm—typically the owner, a partner, or a revenue-generating employee. The business pays the premiums and receives the benefit, which can cover lost revenue, recruitment costs, debt obligations, or client retention efforts during the transition. It’s essential for any Ohio business where one or two people drive a large portion of revenue or relationships.

Preparing a business for sale requires cleaning up financial statements, documenting standard operating procedures, reducing owner dependency, and building a management team that can run the business independently. Ron helps Ohio business owners optimize business value over 3–5 years, identify potential buyers or internal successors, and structure the sale for maximum tax efficiency—including strategies like installment sales, ESOPs, and capital gains planning.

Yes—they serve different but complementary roles. Your CPA handles tax preparation and compliance, while a financial advisor focuses on forward-looking strategy: succession planning, business insurance, retirement planning, and wealth protection. Ron coordinates with your existing CPA and attorney so everyone is aligned on your business and personal financial goals—he doesn’t replace them, he fills the strategic planning gap.

Small business 401(k) plans are more affordable and accessible than most Ohio business owners realize. Options range from simple SIMPLE IRAs (for businesses under 100 employees) to full 401(k) plans with employer matching. Ron helps you compare plan types, select low-cost providers, design matching formulas that attract talent while managing costs, and ensure compliance with ERISA regulations—plus optimize your own retirement contributions as the business owner.

Confidential and Judgment-Free

We'll show you exactly what your business needs. No obligation to move forward—just a clear picture of your options and recommendations.

Everything we discuss is confidential. Ron works with you and your existing advisors, understanding the sensitivity of business planning conversations.

No pushy sales. Just a clear roadmap for your business future. You decide when and how to implement.

Ready to Plan Your Business Future? Here's What Happens Next.

Click the button below to tell us about your business. You'll complete our business planning questionnaire (15 minutes) so Ron can understand your situation. Then schedule your consultation at a time that works for you.

Start My Business Plan

Start Your Business Plan Today

Your business deserves a clear succession strategy. Get the roadmap you need to protect your investment and secure your legacy.

Start My Business Plan Prefer to talk? Call (440) 655-2675