Our Work, Success Stories Tax Strategy,Exit Planning,Estate Planning,Tax Efficient Investing,Business Valuation |
The team at C&A has helped more than 5,000 clients save more than $6 Billion.

Exit Planning:
Owners of a highly profitable and well-run asphalt company had decided they
wanted to sell the company but needed a valuation to begin the process, and
engaged C&A.
Our Approach:
As part of the valuation process, the C&A team was able to show the owners how valuable the processes and controls they had in place were and ultimately helped the owners understand that it was more profitable to hold on to the business and continue to run it seamlessly from where they planned to move.
Results:
With an understanding of the valuation drivers, the owners were able to set the "floor" price to even entertain selling their business. It led to productive internal and external conversations and a level of emotional stress relief, knowing what the resulting impacts of their decisions might be.
Generational Transfer:
Family owned home remodeling company wanted to begin the process of handing the business down to their children, but did not know how. The need was not only technical in nature but also to help the family understand the process.
Our Approach:
C&A helped educate the family on how they could execute a multi-year transition plan that included annual valuations to maintain the benefit of the share transition program we implemented.
Results:
$1.6M transaction value from parents to children. C&A valuation and structuring increased the net from the transaction by $300,000 or ~20%.
Tax Strategy:
Aging business owner operating with a stagnant, neglected tax strategy was missing multiple opportunities to take advantage of tax elections specific to the business.
Our Approach:
The team at C&A implemented a number of tax solutions and optimizations after an extensive analysis of the client’s goals and situation, including:- Leveraged Accelerated
Depreciation Strategies on income-producing properties allowing them to front-load deductions in the earlier years of ownership. - Recommended advanced accounting elections.
- Researched and implemented a reasonable compensation strategy to eliminate double taxation.
Results:
$1,200,000 in tax savings that completely negated 3 years of tax liabilities.
Tax Strategy:
75-year-old, family-owned manufacturing company withrevenues exceeding $10MM who believed they solid plan in place, but their
approach to taxes had been on autopilot for decades, and they had been overlooking numerous advanced tax planning strategies.
Our Approach:
C&A implemented several tax solutions and optimizations after an extensive analysis of the client’s goals and situation, including:- Accounting elections, which provided significant year 1 savings.
- Deployed accounting policy that recaptured prepaid taxes.
- Deep analysis of Research & Development investments to identify qualified activities, resulting in significant credits.
Results:
The company realized over $750,000 in current-year tax savings. Additionally, the strategies allowed them to leverage tax savings into compounded wealth.
Exit Planning:
A speciality instrument maker was looking to exit the business but struggling with the process and finding a suitable buyer in a highly niche marketplace. One of their greatest assets was the artisans who crafted the instruments to
spec
Our Approach:
The C&A team identified a valuation gap in leadership acumen and worked with the business team to train and prepare the incumbent management group for an ESOP conversion, and in doing so increased business valuation by $ 1.2 M.
Results:
Strategic ESOP exit structure allowed the owners to net over $1M in excess net proceeds compared to an outright sale, de-risk as a business owner, and dictate the level of involvement they would have until fully liquidated.
Business Valuation:
A century-old, family-owned lumber company was struggling with the process of preparing for a generational transfer of the business. They were looking for a partner not just to develop a plan, but also to help educate the family on options, the process, and to help facilitate some sensitive family conversations.
Our Approach:
First, to build consensus and understanding, C&A provided a detailed analysis to show some of the costly faults in the plan they had been considering. We then helped them strategically discount the value of the business for transfer, an opportunity that the COVID-induced downturn afforded.
Results:
~$15M in valuation discounts (~$6M immediate estate tax benefit), tens of millions in today's value after business appreciation.
What Our Clients Say
"The Cunningham team has a very unique approach…more than anything else, they listened. The team really wanted to understand where I saw challenges and gaps. It’s much more consultive and detailed."
Warren Dietel, OwnerPuff N' Stuff Catering
"They coach business owners to really implement critical strategies…they can look at your operation, figure out your returns, and then figure out the efficiencies that you can implement in order to save money."
Jonas Angus, PresidentTPE Solutions
"There’s a peace of mind that comes from knowing that the person that is making the advisory recommendations is also going to be the hub to communicate with other entities that I’m working with."
Brian Sump, OwnerUrban Autocare
Become Your Own Success Story
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