Jon D. Wheeler (retired) 
10245 Ski Hill Drive
Leavenworth, WA 98826
ph: 509-679-4635
jon
Financing & Business Plans
As their companies grow or they face new and changing competitive environments, businesses often find it necessary to develop new financing strategies to get the capital they need. Determining the right balance between debt and equity, analyzing the cost of debt or equity when raising new money are important steps in the process. Once you have set the targets for the kinds of capital needed, it is necessary to prepare a business plan that can be used for presentations to lenders and investors.
I can provide your business with support along the way. With experience in developing capitalization plans, strategic plans, business plans, and private financing memorandums as well as the presentation of such plans to potential lenders and investors, i can help you through each step in the process.
Financial Game Plans
Get asistance in the preparation of a financing plan each step of the way:- Cost of Capital Analysis. Determining and comparing the cost of raising new capital through either debt financing or equity programs.
- Business Plans. Preparation of a business plan document that describes your business and makes the case for getting the money you need for your business from lenders and/or investors.
- Private Memorandums. Get help with preparing private financing memorandums when raising funds from private investors.
Strategic Visioning Plans
Getting your company focused on the right goals is critical to achieving those goals. As Yogi Berra says "If you don't know where you are going, you could wind up some place else." Understanding the process for building a plan that everyone in the company will support is crticial to this process. I can help you with understanding the process, getting the skilled facilitors needed to run the process smoothly, drafting the plan, etc.
Business Valuations
Understanding the value of your business is important in a number of situations. A business valuation report is a key document you need when raising private equity. Business valuations are also usually necessary when litigating divorces, business separations, filing estate tax returns, etc. A good valuation report should include a study of the industry and marketplace in which your company competes, its financial history, and consideration of the income, asset value, and market approaches used in business valuations. I have many years of experience in preparing business valuations whether for determining the value using either fair market value or fair value standards as may be applicable to the engagement.Management Plans
Attracting the talented individuals you need in the management positions at your company is critical to achieving your business goals. I have experience in developing executive compensation plans that are often the key to bringing such individuals to your business. Plan considerations include:
- Finding the right incentive factors (% of profit, increase in shareholder value, asset growth, etc.
- Defining the right incentive amount.
- Consideration of the tax implications of alternative approaches for both the individual and the company.
- Drafting the plan.
Business Transition Planning
Planning for the "next stage" of your business is almost as important as the planning you did when starting your business.
- Do you have the talent in the organization to run the business after you are gone?
- Who are the likely buyers of your business?
- Are family members active in the business who can run it?
- What is the value of your business?
- How do you maximize the value of your business for sale?
- How do you minimize the tax on the transfer of the ownership of your business to the next generation?
Developing a plan for a sale or transfer should begin several years before you expect the transaction to take place. I have spent many years working with families and businesses in this regard and can help you with preparing a plan for the transition of your business.
"We have known Jon Wheeler for over 25 years. Over that time, Jon provided critical financial information and more importantly, strategic oversight that directly improved the value and income of a 100 year old family bank. Recently Jon provided enormous help selling a large block of stock for a very good value. His honesty, ethics and clear business sense sets him apart from any other financial person I have ever met.”
"You can trust his grasp of complex financial transactions and his unerring advice in navigating the problems associated with any high dollar business.”
Jay Davidson
Founder, Chairman and CEO of First American State Bank, Greenwood Village, Colorado
"Jon Wheeler did the estate planning for my Dad about 30 years ago, it took a few years to get it all done. I don't know exacly how much money in inheritance taxes Jon saved us but I am sure it is in the millions. As it is now when my Dad dies we will not be paying any inheritance tax at all, and that is a direct result of Jon's work. Besides acheiving our goal in estate planning with Jon, he became a very good friend of the family. I think Jon is brilliant. We all do and more importantly he is a great person. We still are in contact, though the business has been done for several years. Jon gets the very highest recommendation from everyone in my family."
Robin Bauer Lyons
Butte, Montana
daughter of Robert F. Bauer, Founder and former Chairman, Global Marine and Exploration Company, Inc.
Whittier, California
"One of Jon's greatest contributions was facilitating a strategic planning process that created an inspiring and actionable strategic plan for Mountain Meadows which we update every year. It is encouraging to watch as we have followed the plan and are realizing the fulfillment of the vision. I was so impressed by this process that a year later our company (Senior Services of America) contracted with Jon to help us create a long range strategic plan."
Randy Trettevik
Chief Financial Officer of Senior Services of America, Tacoma, Wasington
"As a three term LST board member Jon made key contributions to many areas including taking the lead on creating our strategic plan."
Clark Vanderlinden
President, Board of Directors, Leavenworth Summer Theater, Leavenworth, Washington
Copyright 2010 Jon D. Wheeler, PS. All rights reserved.
10245 Ski Hill Drive
Leavenworth, WA 98826
ph: 509-679-4635
jon