Financials have the power to provide a screenshot of any business, at any moment, through the lens of statistical indicators. The results of one year, even a lifetime of work, can be summed up in just a few pages to tell the story of a company.

These numbers are unequivocal—a company’s results can be either satisfactory or not satisfactory.

Of course, every entrepreneur knows that temptation to interpret the numbers to rationalize a business project. Yes, there’s nothing quite like a passion project to fool you into seeing value in financials where none exists.

Damn those numbers! Why reflect reality when our dreams can be so much more beautiful?

For the past two years, you have been evaluating the merits of teleworking. Cost savings, productivity, knowledge transfer, feelings of belonging... While some employers have made decisions, others are still analyzing the ins and outs.

But there are many more factors to consider when making decisions about telework. What are your obligations when your employees work from home? Work-related accidents, verbal abuse by a spouse, costs of a home office—before long, you will be assuming these responsibilities that you cannot control.

Employers beware: distance can be full of mysteries.

How do you recognize when someone has business acumen? A display of flair? A certain shrewdness?

Entrepreneurs seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to business. Good business sense isn’t easy to define, but we know it when we see it.

Like a musician has an ear for music, the entrepreneur can instinctively spot business opportunities and make them happen.

But it takes more than a good ear for music to bring a musical score to life. You still have to channel that gift. Combine those instincts with an ability to make solid, rational, feasible decisions. Musicians can always play it by ear. Not businesses.

Got a licence for that?

Doctors and accountants need a licence to practise their profession, but if you’re an entrepreneur, you’re free as a bird.

Nonetheless—it’s a job that comes with great responsibility. We just can’t seem to put a finger on exactly what it takes to run a business. Is the knowledge of business is really such an obscure science?

It’s actually quite simple. Experience tells us a good entrepreneur is inherently—well, enterprising. One of their most important qualities is the ability to generate a high sales volume simply by doing what they do.

As for obtaining a licence, they earn it by investing their capital

So you think that renting an office space or a building makes no sense.

In principle, you are right. After all, why pay rent when you can use that money to own your space? This is a well-known principle.

Nevertheless, acquiring a property should be a productive investment. If the financial return of this investment conflicts with the profitability of your business, you are taking unnecessary risks.

Before investing, calculations are required. Buying a property is a good idea, but renting could pay off.

The time has come to sell, and this is the one question that weighs on your mind.

Professionals can assess the value of your business, but are you emotionally prepared to face the cold reality of the resulting financial models?

Bear in mind that the results of a valuation are a guide, not an absolute truth. Valuation is important, but good preparation matters more. If you take the time to quantify and monetize all the attributes of your operations, you will reach one or more values that may be of interest to your buyer.

It is at this point that you will know the value of your business.

Do you know the best distribution company in the world?

Each year, on Christmas, this company ships satisfactory, perfectly wrapped products to over 378 million children in 108 million households all around the world.

Imagine, serving 968 families per second. To accomplish this feat, they exploit different time zones, allowing them to extend their work night from 12 to 31 hours. Theoretically, this distributor takes 1.03 milliseconds to descend the chimney, deposit his gifts, swallow his cookies and glass of milk, then climb back up and leave.

Santa Claus … now and forever the best distribution company in the world.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year from Saint-Paul Consultancy’s team

You may have noticed that business grants and subsidies are targeted.

Whether it is driving innovation or productivity, these issue-oriented targets are set according to the government’s economic strategy. However, talented entrepreneurs are not taken into account.

Distributors or retailers are often left out because they don’t qualify for most of these programs. Imagine a young Jean Coutu now opening his first pharmacy. Very few programs would be available to him.

Yet, exceptional entrepreneurs have a greater impact on the economy than owners of good ideas. Let’s support them.

For the first time, the economy was disregarded during the last election.

However, the dismal state of our public finances demands increased economic productivity and reduced spending. Yet our leaders have only introduced costly platforms that will add to the scandalous record $420 billion deficit.

Instead, populist expressions like “tax the rich” were rehashed, even though this money is sure to end up lost in government bureaucracy.

Sadly, as an entrepreneur you are being snubbed. Prepare to pay the price for this slander.

The time has come to sell, and this is the one question that weighs on your mind.

Professionals can assess the value of your business, but are you emotionally prepared to face the cold reality of the resulting financial models?

Bear in mind that the results of a valuation are a guide, not an absolute truth. Valuation is important, but good preparation matters more. If you take the time to quantify and monetize all the attributes of your operations, you will reach one or more values that may be of interest to your buyer.

It is at this point that you will know the value of your business.

The idea of selling your business has been growing on you as the years go by.

But for some reason, as the big day approaches, the thought suddenly rips your heart in two.

What if you kept control over your business, and instead, delegated its management to someone else? You pick a trustworthy CEO to replace you, then provide them with a strategic plan and a well-defined governance structure.

This way, you can stay away from daily operations while keeping an eye on your business’s performance. A well-thought-out plan can save a lot of heartache.

Everyone knows that being an entrepreneur requires a stronger work ethic than most jobs on the market.

Running your business is very demanding and time-consuming and spurs you to work even harder. But there’s a virus threatening your entrepreneurial spirit: the time you spend on your projects and with your loved ones.

Full immunization against this virus requires two shots. The first is your family’s approval. The second is your team’s commitment to a common cause, that of your clients.

Support from people around you is your best way to stay immune.