ETA Entrepreneurs

Empowering Operators—Searchers, Funds, & Independent Sponsors—with executive support tailored to stabilize operations and grow EBITDA.

Built for ETA Entrepreneurs Ready to Acquire & Grow

Whether you’re a searcher closing your first deal or an operator building a portfolio, stepping into an existing company means inheriting its people, processes, and financial systems—while investors and lenders expect results quickly. From validating the target’s earnings and working capital to aligning the team and building repeatable reporting, every week in ETA is high‑leverage.

Proven embeds alongside you from diligence through the first 100 days and beyond. We combine Quality of Earnings (QofE), CFO discipline, COO execution, and HR leadership to stabilize the business fast and create a clear path to growth. With integrated data across finance, people, operations, and go‑to‑market, you get a single source of truth to make decisions with confidence.

Whether you’re preparing to submit an LOI, are mid‑diligence, or already own the company, Proven is your partner in building a more profitable, scalable operation—without the overwhelm.

Common Challenges ETA Operators Face

  • Hidden Risks Post‑Close
    Issues in revenue recognition, customer concentration, working capital, or tax/HR compliance that diligence missed.

  • Cash & Covenant Pressure
    Debt service, lender reporting, and investor updates under tight timelines.

  • Fragmented Systems & Data
    Legacy accounting, point solutions, and manual spreadsheets obscure real performance.

  • Team Alignment & Culture Shift
    Bridging the gap between prior ownership norms and your operating cadence.

  • Noisy or Inconsistent Financials
    Lack of visibility into unit economics, margin drivers, and daily cash.

  • Integration for Bolt‑Ons
    Difficulty standardizing chart of accounts (COA), KPIs, and processes across acquisitions.

Proven M&A, Financial & Operational Solutions for ETA

Pre‑Close Due Diligence & QofE
Perform a pragmatic, investor‑ready Quality of Earnings to validate the deal and avoid surprises.

  • Normalize revenue and EBITDA; separate one‑time/owner add‑backs and identify true run‑rate earnings.
  • Analyze customer concentration, churn, seasonality, pricing/mix, and margin stability.
  • Assess revenue recognition, working capital needs, and debt‑like items; estimate net working capital (NWC) peg.
  • Evaluate payroll/benefits, org gaps, and compliance exposure (HR/Tax).
  • Deliver red‑flag findings, upside levers, and a 100‑day stabilization plan.

Post‑Close Integration & Stabilization (First 100 Days)

  • Stand up cash controls, 13‑week cash forecasting, and close cadence.
  • Implement lender‑ready reporting and monthly board packages.
  • Establish COA standards, policies, and a rapid month‑end close.

Financial Clarity & Daily Visibility

  • Daily cash, AR/AP hygiene, and variance tracking against budget.
  • Job/product/service‑line profitability and contribution margin insights.
  • Forecasting for debt service, capex, and growth initiatives.

Complete HR Management & Compliance

  • Org design, role clarity, recruiting for key leadership roles.
  • Benefits, handbooks, onboarding, and compliance tracking.
  • Manager enablement and performance operating system.

Operational Efficiency & Systems

  • Process mapping to eliminate bottlenecks in order‑to‑cash, procure‑to‑pay, and service delivery.
  • Tool rationalization and implementation (ERP/field ops/CRM) with clean integrations to accounting.
  • Dashboards & KPIs that give real‑time visibility to owners, lenders, and the team.

Capital Advisory & Lender Relations

  • Banking relationships, covenant modeling, and compliance packages.
  • Support for add‑on underwriting and integration playbooks.

Why ETA Operators Choose Proven

ETA‑Native Expertise

Executives who understand search fund dynamics, lender expectations, and the tempo of the first 100 days.

Flexible & Cost‑Effective

Fractional CFO, COO, HR, and QofE support that scales up or down with your deal flow and operating needs.

Immediate
Impact

Rapid stabilization of cash, reporting, and team alignment so you can focus on value creation.

Scalable
Growth

Playbooks that make bolt‑ons faster—standard COA, shared KPIs, consolidated reporting, and systems that scale.

Ready to Transform Your Acquisition?

Partner with Proven to validate the deal, stabilize fast, and build a scalable platform for growth.

Schedule a consultation to see how Proven can help your business thrive.

Let’s discuss Proven’s streamlined back-office solutions and strategic executive leadership.

Contact Us