How We Help

Work With Investors

If your results fall short, talk to your investors early and in plain terms. Explain what happened, how long it will last and what you’re doing about it, and give them a reason to keep supporting you.

Every business goes through uncertain periods. The way you communicate during one shapes how your investors see you long after it ends.

Tell your investors about problems early

Investors are the lifeblood of your company, and they shouldn’t learn about trouble after the fact. Raise problems as soon as you see them, whether you’re facing:

Cash flow that doesn’t cover your needs
Financial projections you missed
The loss of a key employee
Lead generation that isn’t producing the results you expected

A problem your investors hear about from you directly is easier to manage than one they discover later.

Explain the problem, the timeline and your plan

Give your investors a clear account of what went wrong, how long you expect it to last and what you’re doing to fix it. Then measure your results against the expectations you set at the start.

Be candid about where you fell short and how you’ll avoid repeating it. Your goal is to show investors that you understand the problem and have it under control.

Put your investors’ experience to work

Your investors trusted you with their money, so trust them with the problem. Some of them may have faced a similar situation and can offer advice.

Keep communication open throughout the downturn, and show your investors that you’ve used their money with care. Our guide to talking with your banker and investors in uncertain times covers how to structure those conversations.

Plan for what comes after the recovery

Once you’ve come through the difficult period, show your investors that the business is stable and ready to grow again. That growth might come from within the business or through an acquisition. Your peers will be reassessing their own businesses at the same time, which can create opportunities for a business combination.

How Oaklyn Consulting helps you work with investors

We help companies prepare for difficult investor conversations, facilitate communications with investors and creditors, and evaluate the major decisions that follow, from new capital to acquisitions. We bill for time and charge no success fee, so our advice doesn’t depend on any particular outcome.

Once you’re ready to raise new money, our article on pitching investors explains how investors evaluate a company.

We set out how we work with venture capital portfolio companies in particular, where the investor relationship shapes every option on the table.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell investors that my company missed its projections?

Tell them right away and without spin. Explain what caused the shortfall, how long you expect it to last and what you’re doing to fix it, then compare your results with the expectations you set.

How can investors help during a downturn?

Many investors have faced similar situations and can offer practical advice. Keeping communication open lets you draw on that experience instead of handling the problem alone.

Can an advisor help with investor and creditor conversations?

Yes. An advisor can help you prepare for those conversations, facilitate communications with investors and creditors, and evaluate the decisions that follow.

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Oaklyn Consulting brought senior-level attention and analytical rigor to every stage of the process. They understood my business, ran a thoughtful and disciplined sale process and helped me make sound decisions when it mattered. I couldn't have asked for a better team in my corner.”

Jarod BuschFounder, 911 Custom LLC

(If) you've never been through this before, you've never done it before, frankly you're out of your depth and you're lost, you need someone that's going to pilot this through with you, as sort of the copilot, and your mentor and advisor. I absolutely feel very strongly that that's the role that Oaklyn Consulting played for me, and I would always recommend them.”

Eric FulmerCEO, ShotFlow

Oaklyn Consulting did a great job for us on Axial. The unfortunate outcome there had everything to do with the company's situation and the market environment. The board and investors all agree on what a thorough, professional, top-notch job Oaklyn Consulting did for us. I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again and in fact will look for opportunities to do so.”

Board MemberAxial Exchange

That was the real value of Oaklyn Consulting, being able to add them to the deal midstream. If you’re in that situation, I think Oaklyn Consulting is a great fit.”

Mike WalshCEO, Essco Calibration Laboratory

If you’re on the fence, I would say meet Frank and his team. I would recommend him to anyone who is considering selling their company, even if they’re just exploring their options.”

Al HemondCEO, Professional Disability Associates

Without him, I wouldn’t have gotten these deals done. There’s no question in my mind.”

Janet ElkinCEO, IMN Enterprises

Eighty years of family history does not get sold in a hurry. Oaklyn Consulting understood that from the first conversation.”

Jamie SemprebonCalmont Beverage

Oaklyn Consulting told us to pause when everything in me wanted to keep moving. Six weeks later, we closed clean. That advice was worth more than the process itself.”

Jeremy GrenierCEO, Calmont Beverage

I know they had other clients, but we felt almost like we were their only one at the time just by how much attention they paid to us. They’ve got a good team that can walk you through the process step by step, and they’re going to give you the attention you deserve.”

Devan WelchSenior VP and General Manager, Powell Construction

We really appreciated your willingness to adapt to the unique nature of our engagement — i.e., advising both sides — rather than forcing us into a typical approach.”

It was a very helpful professional experience. You are very knowledgeable and explained how you work transparently, even offering that you were probably not a good match. That is rare. Most people try to force-fit their model to every opportunity.”

As I stated many times during our conversations, I so appreciate you and your team for interceding throughout this transaction. It made such an incredible difference!”

Excellent setup and organization of data as well as business-level guidance for transactions.”

Candidly — I appreciated that you were thoughtful about when and where to engage knowing that we had sensitivities to fees. It often felt like you’d give us tools we could use to work through things on our own and then jump back in as needed to add value where you uniquely could.”

You continue to be my go-to for business owners thinking about their business options. I appreciate your approach and everyone I have sent you has said good things.”

We Help Clients Succeed At Their Most Complex Transactions

When running a business, making the right and crucial capital decisions can be the difference between success and failure. With Oaklyn Consulting by your side, you can confidently make the decisions that will shape the future of your business.

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