A business that depends
on you isn’t a business.
It’s a job you
Can’t quit.
And it’s costing you more than you realize.
And if you're an AEC firm owner constantly putting out fires, reviewing every drawing, handling every proposal, and answering late-night client calls, you know the cost: time, energy, and peace of mind.
You’re not broken. You’re just building without the systems, leadership, and structure that enable your firm to grow even when you're not involved in every decision.
Ways to Work Together
For Financial Advisors
B.U.I.L.T. By Design™
For Business Owners
Structured Conversation Framework
Who It’s For:
Financial advisors with business owner clients but no structured approach to transition conversations
Advisors who've watched a client navigate a sale without them at the table
Practitioners ready to expand beyond investment management into deeper advisory
Advisors who want practical tools — not just theory — to lead client conversations with confidence
You’ll get:
Confidence to lead every client conversation — no more guessing what to say or when
The ability to meet clients where they are — personally and financially — and guide them forward with structure and confidence
Deeper client trust, built through a proprietary framework that uncovers what clients truly need — before they even know how to ask
The ability to walk into any conversation fully prepared — with the right resource for every moment
The assurance that when a client situation gets hard, you're never figuring it out alone — with direct guidance from Laurie Barkman, CEPA, who's navigated these conversations firsthand (Founding Cohort exclusive)
Outcome: Become the most trusted advisor in the room — the one your business owner clients turn to first, for the conversations that matter most.
High-Touch Advisory
Who It’s For:
Founders and CEOs of privately held companies with $10M+ in revenue
Leaders preparing to exit in the next 3–10 years
Owners seeking to grow through acquisition or plan a management handoff
Entrepreneurs who want peace of mind knowing they’re building a sell-ready, transferable business
You’ll get:
Clarity on exactly where your business stands — and a confident path forward, tailored to your goals and timeline
The confidence of moving forward with a clear plan — built around your specific version of success, whether that's growth, succession, or exit
A more valuable, transferable business — built through a proprietary approach to scaling, positioning, and sellability
The freedom to pursue the right acquisition opportunities — with expert guidance from target strategy all the way through due diligence
A business that's buyer-ready before you ever need it to be — positioned, packaged, and prepared to command maximum value
The ability to stay focused on running your business — even through the complexity and pressure of a live transaction
Peace of mind on what comes next — with a clear, strategic path to get there, whatever your "next" looks like
Outcome: Move forward knowing every decision you make today is building toward the outcome you actually want.
The B.U.I.L.T.™ Method
Engineer your firm for freedom and future-readiness.
The B.U.I.L.T.™ Method is a proprietary framework for technical service leaders in architecture, engineering, design, and construction who are tired of being the bottleneck.
It mirrors how you already think:
Plan with precision. Solve for friction. Build to last.
B
lueprint your vision and firm model
U
nlock operational and leadership bottlenecks
I
ntegrate systems, structure, and team
L
ead with clarity—not chaos
T
ransition with confidence and control
Whether your goal is to reclaim your time, reduce dependency, or build a transition-ready
business, you’ll get there with B.U.I.L.T.
What Clients Are Saying
TOOLS AND FRAMEWORK TO TRULY RUN MY BUSINESS
“I now recognize value drivers instantly and take action on them. With Laurie’s guidance, I’m making smarter decisions today and preparing for a stronger, more successful succession tomorrow."
Jeff Oviedo
Owner/President, JOA Group
“GAME-CHANGER FOR OUR BUSINESS
Laurie brought fresh strategies, structure, and accountability that helped us double in size and value. Her guidance on shifting to a recurring revenue model has strengthened customer relationships and boosted long-term value. I recommend Laurie without hesitation to any business owner ready to grow.”
Harry Haywood
Founder/CEO, HBS Solutions
Let’s Get to Work
You didn’t build your business just to get stuck in it.
Let’s design your next chapter, one with more freedom,
value, and time to breathe.
Follow
Laurie Barkman
You don’t have to choose between growing your business and getting your life back.
