Who We Serve
Professional Services
Law firms, accounting practices, consultancies, and other professional service businesses face unique challenges. Your product is expertise. Your inventory is time. Your assets walk out the door every night.
We understand the dynamics of knowledge work—the pressure of billable hours, the complexity of partner relationships, and the constant challenge of developing and retaining talent.
Business anatomy
A professional service firm is a complex system where people, processes, and relationships interweave. When something isn't working, the symptom often appears far from the root cause. We examine all the systems to understand what's actually happening.
Client Acquisition
How clients find you, evaluate you, and decide to engage. The lifeblood of any professional practice.
Service Delivery
How work gets done, quality gets maintained, and clients experience your expertise. The core of your value.
Team & Talent
Recruiting, developing, and retaining skilled professionals. The engine that scales beyond the founders.
Partner Dynamics
How partners work together, make decisions, and share responsibility. Often the hidden source of friction.
Owner Wellbeing
Your energy, satisfaction, and sustainability. The foundation that everything else depends on.
What we see in professional service firms
These are the concerns we hear most often from professional service leaders. If any feel familiar, you're experiencing something common—and usually treatable.
You're the rainmaker everyone depends on
Client relationships live in your head and your relationships. If you step back, revenue follows you out the door.
Talented people keep leaving
You invest in developing professionals, then watch them leave for competitors or start their own firms. The cycle is exhausting.
Partner disagreements are slowing everything down
Decision-making has become political. Compensation discussions are tense. The partnership that once felt easy now feels strained.
Utilization is high but profitability isn't
Everyone's busy, but margins are thin. Scope creep, write-offs, and inefficiency are eating into what should be healthy profits.
You can't seem to break through to the next level
The firm has plateaued. What got you here isn't getting you there. You're not sure what needs to change.
Our approach with professional services
Professional service firms are built on relationships and reputation. We understand that changes need to be thoughtful, sustainable, and aligned with your firm's culture and values.
We start by understanding your specific situation—the dynamics between partners, the health of client relationships, the strength of your talent pipeline. Then we diagnose root causes and recommend treatment that fits your firm.
When treatment is needed, we work alongside you. We understand the sensitivity of partner dynamics and the importance of maintaining client confidence throughout any transition.
Why professional service firms work with us
We understand that professional service businesses are different. You can't apply manufacturing efficiency principles to knowledge work. You can't treat partners like employees. You can't ignore the human dynamics that make or break a firm.
We bring a diagnostic approach that respects the complexity of your business while providing clear, actionable guidance. No cookie-cutter solutions. No generic advice that doesn't fit your reality.
"Professional service firms often struggle because they're run by experts in their field, not experts in running a business. That gap is exactly what we help bridge."
— The Business Doctors
Ready to talk about your firm?
A Business Health Check is a confidential conversation about where your firm is today and where you want it to be. We'll share what we observe and discuss whether we can help. No obligation, no pressure.
Talk to a Business Doctor