Minnesota's leading immigrant-owned accounting firm · Serving MN & WI since 2006

Big decisions deserve more than a gut feeling.

Opening a second location. Bringing on a partner. Considering a sale. Every one of those decisions gets easier or gets exposed as a mistake depending on whether the numbers behind it are solid. HAR gives Minnesota owners a financial partner for the decisions that don't come around often.

Book a Strategy Session

We model your path forward against your actual historical books, not a generic framework pulled off the internet.

How this works

Consulting engagements at HAR don't start with a generic package or template. They start with a conversation about the actual decision in front of you expanding, hiring, restructuring, selling and a review of the real financial data behind your business, whether that's already maintained by HAR or by another bookkeeper.

From there, the specific modeling the decision requires gets built: a cash flow projection, an entity comparison, a break-even analysis, or a valuation estimate, depending on what the question actually calls for.

What consulting covers

Expansion: Modeling a new location or market against real cash flow.
Partnerships: Bringing on an investor, including entity and equity structuring.
Exits: Preparing a business for sale or leadership succession.
Restructuring: Changing entity types for tax or liability reasons.
Capital Spend: Evaluating whether to buy equipment, lease space, or make a key hire.
Forward Budgeting: Building a 12-month cash flow plan tied to an actual growth plan, not a hope.

Common mistakes owners make before calling a consultant.

Projecting off a single strong month

One good month doesn't establish a trend, and expansion or hiring decisions based on a temporary spike often collapse once the spike passes.

Assuming identical location metrics

Different neighborhoods, different rent structures, and different customer bases mean a second location rarely mirrors the first one's early performance.

Underestimating the transition gap

Whether it's a new hire ramping up or a new location opening, there's almost always a gap period where costs are incurred before the benefit shows up and that gap needs to be funded.

Skipping the partnership second-opinion

Partnership and equity structures are far easier to get right before signing than to unwind afterward. Verbal agreements easily break down when scale introduces new pressure.

Our process.

01 Initial Conversation

A direct, confidential discussion of the specific decision you're facing and what's driving the timeline.

02 Data Review

A deep look at your current financials whichever bookkeeper maintains them to establish a reliable baseline.

03 Custom Modeling

Building the specific analysis: cash flow projection, entity comparison, break-even analysis, or valuation estimate.

04 Findings Presentation

A direct walkthrough of what the numbers show, including the honest downside case, not just the optimistic one.

05 Ongoing Implementation Support

Some decisions are a single consultation; others benefit from continued check-ins as the plan is rolled out.

Real-world impact. Proven results.

The Second Storefront

A Minneapolis retailer considering a second storefront came to HAR unsure whether current cash flow could support the lease and buildout costs without straining the existing location.

The Outcome:

A 12-month cash flow model, built from the existing location's actual seasonal patterns, showed the expansion was viable but only if it launched after the fall season rather than before it. That single timing adjustment changed the outcome from a risky bet to a calculated one.

The Partnership That Almost Went Wrong

Two long-time friends planning to formalize a partnership in an existing business came to HAR before signing anything, wanting a second opinion on the proposed equity split, which had been agreed to informally based on who had been involved longer.

The Outcome:

A review of actual capital contributions and ongoing time commitment showed the informal split didn't reflect either partner's real economic contribution. The agreement was restructured before signing, avoiding what likely would have become a source of resentment.

Why owners trust HAR with decisions like this

Twenty years of watching Minnesota businesses grow, stall, sell, and scale gives HAR a pattern-recognition advantage most owners don't have access to internally. When combined with direct access to the same team already handling your books, our recommendations are grounded in your actual numbers, not a generic conceptual framework.

Industries we serve.

Restaurants and food service, retail and e-commerce, contractors and trades, real estate investors and property managers, professional services firms, transportation and logistics operators, and licensed healthcare and human services providers. The chart of accounts and reporting cadence is adapted to the realities of each.

Frequently

Asked Questions

What does business financial consulting include?

HAR's business consulting covers growth and expansion planning, partnership and entity structuring, sale and succession preparation, and financial modeling tied to your actual books not generic templates.

Is consulting only for businesses planning to sell?

No. Consulting engagements support any major financial decision, including expansion, hiring, equipment purchases, or restructuring not only exit planning.

Do I need to already be a HAR client to book a consulting session?

No, though HAR's existing bookkeeping and financial reporting clients typically get faster, more detailed modeling since the underlying data is already clean and immediately available.

How long does a typical consulting engagement take?

It depends on the complexity of the decision. Some questions can be answered in a single session, while others, like a full expansion plan, may involve several weeks of modeling and follow-up conversations.

Can consulting help with a partnership agreement before it's signed?

Yes, reviewing proposed equity splits, capital contribution structures, and entity setups before signing is one of the more common and highest-value consulting engagements we run.