Types of Business Leaders and How We Can Help

Sometimes it helps to categorize and here’s how I think about the business leaders / owners I talk to. There are 3 types:

1. Climbers: These leaders want growth—and continued growth. A classic archetype is Jeff Bezos (Amazon). Climbers tend to not value “accounting” because they see bean counters as people who don’t drive growth. To them, accounting is compliance-oriented and slows down the organization. Climbers value CFO and FP&A functions far more. P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow statements are backward-looking, while FP&A, LTV, CAC, MRR/ARR are tools for expanding margins, securing investors, and sustaining higher exit valuations.
2. Freedom Seeker: These leaders want freedom for themselves and sometimes for their staff. They’re in business because they want a sustainable, successful life—whether that looks like earning $170,000 per year with 15 clients and a comfortable lifestyle, $350,000 with 30 clients, or $1 million with 50 clients. What “freedom” looks like varies, but there is a clear stopping point where Freedom Fighters feel content. This type can morph into a Climber when the idea of selling their business becomes attractive. Accounting can be very helpful here.
3. Artisan & Craftsman: These leaders want to be the best at what they do. They are artists, nonprofit leaders, or solo practitioners who prioritize the work and the craft over the financial rewards. Being recognized for the quality of their work matters deeply.

How we can help:

1. Climbers: We can deliver month-end close within 10 days of month end. After that, we provide high-quality KPI metrics your management team can use to steer the business toward higher revenue and growth.
2. Freedom Seekers: We meet you where you are and help you define what “freedom” means to you—and how to get there. There’s a coaching element here that doesn’t exist with the other two categories. The saying “there’s more than one way to cook an egg” applies: it helps to know how you like your eggs. Sometimes people don’t know if they want them scrambled, fried, poached, French style, country style, over easy, etc.—and we can help with all of that.
3. Aritisan & Craftsman: We handle whatever financial elements you need so you can stay focused on the work that matters most to you.

Across all three types, we deliver tactical wins through tax advisory and planning. Knowing the business, the books, and your leadership style helps us deliver those wins. And our expertise in human resources, employee benefits, and labor costing/productivity applies to any business that pays employees or contractors.