Stevan Browning, Fractional COO
Consulting & Mentorship for Small Business Owners
From startup to scale-up, I help small business owners resolve their most urgent problems and improve management practices across every business area.
How to save money and thrive during challenging times.
These actions may not make things easier, but they could mean the difference between survival and failure.
Purpose Driven
Collaboration:
- Startup Guidance
- Strategic planning
- Business development
- Financial analysis and fundraising
- Leadership coaching and guidance
Let's talk.
Why trust my business acumen?
You don't—not yet, or at least you shouldn't, not until we talk.
Trust and experience are crucial to choosing a business advisor who’s right for you. Even if you’re running a small company, your organization is a complex set of people and processes that all work together and affect one another. The person advising you should have deep expertise in every aspect of business.
That’s why a professional who has excelled in multiple capacities at top companies can help you make the most of your business resources—and the opportunities they can offer.
My commitment to your success is personal.
I bring unique perspectives and insights to every client, tailoring my approach to your needs and objectives. I'm not just an academic advisor but an energetic, motivated partner in your journey.
With a background in telecommunications, insurance, bank card management, internet services, financial management, and digital media, I am well-equipped to serve as a business advisor, mentor, coach, interim CEO, or COO for startups and growing small to midsize companies.
When a business leader seeks an independent and informed perspective on a new marketing initiative, revenue opportunity, or other strategic advice, it's crucial to have quick access to a reliable opinion. That's where I step in. I'm not here to overwhelm you with corporate jargon or generic advice. I'm a real person with genuine experience, offering practical solutions born from decades of navigating the ups and downs of business ownership and management.
Working with me is risk-free.
I aim to offer 100% unbiased, actionable advice to help you resolve your most urgent business problems. If you are dissatisfied with your consultation, I will refund you.
My approach is simple:
I don't chase after people; I assist those who reach out to me. Whether you're just starting, a seasoned business leader who needs an independent, business-focused perspective, or a challenged business owner facing financial challenges or experiencing underperformance who needs help turning things around, I invite you to connect.
Linkedin: Connect with Stevan
Contact Me
Why Trust My Business Acumen?
You don't—not yet, not until Your no-cost 30-minute Consultation. During our talk, I may surprise you with an intelligent assessment of your situation and how to resolve it. You'll discover I'm easy to talk with and how focused I become, illuminating your path to success.
Schedule Meeting
If you don’t know what your problems are, I will help you identify them. If you know what your problems are but don’t know how to resolve them, I will advise you. If you know how to resolve your problems but lack the needed skills, I can bridge the gap.
Testimonials
"Stevan is one of the most talented businessmen I have known. He is conscientious about the business's health while being an engaging and supportive leadership guide."
Dr. Margery M.
Organizational Change Manager
My entire career has been based on my ability to assess excellence and ethics in others. Seldom have I met or associated with any individual as decent, professional, and values-driven as Stevan Browning."
Mark Y
Best Selling Author
"Steve is a highly trained professional. I greatly respect him and recommend his expertise to any high-level executive."
Didier T.
Chairman
"Steve has excellent insights and tips for business owners. I also appreciate his ability to sense exactly what you need to propel your business forward!"
Aida G.
National Sales Director
"Stevan is a down-to-earth leader who cuts through chaos to organize the team and company to get things done profitably, with exceptional quality, all the time. Even in difficult situations, he can garner respect and inspire others at all levels within the organization, vendors, and customers. He is on the list of someone I would want to work with, for, or do business with."
Randy I
Director Product Development
FAQ
Who do you prefer to work with?
I enjoy working with talented and passionate individuals to create mutually productive and profitable business relationships.
I have built my most dynamic and rewarding relationships through natural progression, fostering understanding and shared confidence, resulting in lasting strategic partnerships built on trust. In my humble opinion, it is the only way to conduct business.
What areas of business can you assist with?
I help small business owners in the Bay Area solve their most urgent problems and improve management practices across every area of their business, including:
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Strategic Planning: Let's chart a clear course for your business journey through structured planning. I'll simplify the process, enabling you to create, own, and execute plans that align perfectly with your vision and mission, keeping you focused and on track.
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Visual Engagement: Many consider visual collateral development as a cost. But in reality, it’s an investment. Beautiful, well-represented visual collateral builds brand trust. It differentiates you from the competition, shapes how your targets conceptualize your message, and helps your business grow. From ideas and strategy to production and promotion, I utilize my professional competence to look beyond conventional, routine ideas, focusing on crafting the most effective, influential, and motivating visual triggers.
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Financial Analysis: Financial stability is the backbone of a thriving business. Together, we'll break down the numbers, pointing out what's successful and what's not. Identify more profitable price points, pursue investments, and locate potential savings.
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Resource Optimization: Limited resources, such as manpower, technology, or capital, can hinder small businesses from achieving their full potential. Finding ways to optimize resource allocation, streamline processes, and leverage technology can help overcome these challenges.
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Navigating Government Regulations: Small businesses often have to navigate complex and ever-changing government regulations, which can be time-consuming and costly. Compliance with tax laws, employment regulations, licensing requirements, and industry-specific regulations can pose significant challenges. These are just a few examples of the challenges small businesses may face. Assessing your situation and seeking tailored solutions to address these challenges effectively is essential.
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Seeking Business Financing: Banks not lending; it's common to feel discouraged when your business loan application gets rejected. Many diligent business owners approach banks for financing, and unfortunately, they don't always get approved for the funds they need to sustain or grow their businesses.
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Legal Assistance: Running a business can be complex, with legal issues. Here are seven common problems we can assist with:
1. Licensing: Ensure your small business is licensed to comply with local regulations and avoid fees. Contact a local agency, lawyer, or accountant for any questions.
2. Trademarks: Research before naming or launching new products or services to avoid legal issues with trademarks. Another business may already own the brand, and infringing on it can lead to trouble.
3. Employee Termination: To avoid financial loss, terminate employees who are not a good fit or are underqualified. Document disciplinary actions and ensure the employment terms are clear in the employee manual. If unsure, consult with an attorney to minimize legal risks.
4. Misclassification: Misclassifying employees as contractors is a severe problem for compliance, workers, employers, and the economy. Ensure correct classification.
5. Shareholders' Agreement: A shareholder agreement is highly recommended for businesses with multiple shareholders. It can prevent legal disputes in case of future split or sale of the company and avoid ambiguity regarding the distribution of assets. It is advisable to seek the assistance of a lawyer with relevant experience in drafting or overseeing the agreement.
6. Overtime Disputes: Set clear overtime rules and require approval beforehand to avoid legal and financial issues.
7. Litigiousness: This is an issue that you can control. Avoid rushing into a lawsuit, which can result in high legal fees. Try to negotiate and settle disputes outside of court. Need help preventing any of these issues from impacting your business?
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Tax Planning & Coaching: Significantly Reduce Your Taxes, Take control of your finances with the help of our team of expert tax strategists. My professional strategic partner will guide you through the complex tax system and provide personalized solutions to maximize your returns. Schedule an appointment today for a professional and efficient experience that will leave you confident about your financial future.
What if my company is really small?
No business is too small.
When it comes to finding the right fit, a person's qualities and values are more crucial than the size of the company. After all, we can always work on expanding the business. What truly matters is the owner's dedication to enhancing both their personal growth and the company's success.
How do you provide your service?
I work with you through virtual meetings, telephone calls, emails, and online chat.
Due to the global pandemic, I have changed my work setup and switched to virtual work entirely. This decision has various benefits, including time-saving, cost reduction, increased safety, efficiency, and faster completion of tasks. Moreover, it has enabled me to work with entrepreneurs and small business owners with a broadband internet connection from any location.
What is your work flow process?
I provide comprehensive support through a three-step process, including:
Discovery
I will ask profound, provocative, and disturbing questions to determine how to move your business forward—allowing me to learn about your business. By asking these questions, I can better understand your challenges and provide you with personalized advice on how to best deal with them, improve performance, boost value, and enhance your leadership skills.
Recommendations
Upon completing the discovery, I will analyze the collected data and outline containment ideas if your business is exploding. Suggest processes, procedures, and controls to correct implosive business practices. Propose ways to kick start-controlled growth for those whose business is stuck and point out key objectives you should pursue, setting the stage for creating a robust yet straightforward plan of action to achieve them.
Planning & Consensus
While my experience allows me to bring a unique perspective and new insights to a business, the on-the-ground management team understands the business better than anyone. As an experienced advisor and coach, I'll join forces with the business stakeholders to guide the development of an actionable plan with full buy-in results ready for implementation.
OPTIONAL: Continuing Guides & Expertise
Entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders may excel in many areas, but there will always be important strategic, marketing, operational, and financial aspects they lack the minimum competence to deal with. To cope with these challenges, they need management assistance and guidance. I fulfill this need by providing ongoing guidance and business expertise to enable my clients to focus on their core activities, knowing a skilled specialist is there to support them.
When are you available?
I schedule consultation services on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Sessions can be scheduled for 30-minute or one-hour sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. Sessions will be rescheduled if there is a recognized holiday on any of these days.
Mondays and Fridays are reserved for preparing plans and recommendations.
Nevertheless, if you have an urgent concern that needs immediate attention, don't hesitate to contact me through email, text, or online chat.