ABOUT
Transition, in any form, can be frightening, daunting and easy to put on the back burner. My goal is to help you develop an individualized plan that allows you to transition your business on your terms, your timeline, and enhancing the value of your business.
Encompass Transition Solutions, LLC (ETS) focuses on working with business owners who are navigating change. Whether you are buying or starting a new business, growing or expanding an existing business, or selling / transitioning your business, I work closely with you and your advisors to help you reach your goals.
Utilizing a team approach, I work with you and your professional advisors to help you align personal, business and financial goals while improving business cash flow and adding value to your business.
MEET SHERYL
Sheryl Brake, CPA/CGMA, CEPA
Sheryl is the founder and CEO of Encompass Transition Solutions, LLC (ETS). She founded the company after a successful career in the public accounting. Recognizing that business owners needed guidance and assistance with transition in their businesses, she decided to form her niche consulting practice and hasn’t looked back.
Prior to forming ETS, Sheryl worked for two regional CPA firms where she worked her way from staff accountant to partner. While her primary focus was income tax compliance and planning for small to mid-sized businesses and high-wealth individuals, she managed a client base of more than 150 clients, was in charge of the Business Valuation Practice in Colorado and was instrumental in developing the paperless income tax preparation processes and procedures for the Colorado tax department. In addition to being a CPA/CGMA, Sheryl is also a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).
As a trusted advisor to many of her clients, she is sought out not only for her expertise in income taxation and planning, but also for her willingness to go the extra mile for her clients. Sheryl truly cares about her clients and is proactive when working with clients and uses a forward thinking approach. Says Sheryl, “I am passionate about working with my clients and understand, having gone through a transition of sorts myself, the quantitative and qualitative aspects of transitioning from a business and what is required to enhance and extract value. It can be a very apprehensive and scary time for clients. I am passionate about helping business owners capitalize on the years of hard work they put into building their business by aligning personal, business and financial goals. “
In her spare time, Sheryl is an avid outdoors woman and a watercolor artist.
"I love helping business owners maximize the value of their business."
Credentials and Education
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Certified Public Accountant (CPA), State of Colorado, License #11157
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Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA)
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Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA)
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Colorado State University, Bachelors of Science, Accounting
Memberships
WHY WORK WITH ME?
Transition can be daunting and fearful in any event. But when it comes to transitioning from your business, the one thing in your life that has been "your baby", "your identity" and perhaps "your life" it can be down right overwhelming. You may know in your heart that it is time, but there are so many unanswered questions...
Do you lie awake at night asking yourself:
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Where do I begin?
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When is the right time to exit my business?
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Will I get enough money for my business?
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What do I do if my business isn't worth as much as I thought?
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What are the tax implications?
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How do I ensure I take care of my family and/or my employees?
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Do I have enough money saved for retirement?
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What will I do after I transition out of my business?
Or, worse yet...maybe you simply try not to think about it all.
How much anxiety would be relieved if you knew the answers to these questions?
How would it feel to have control over how and when you transition from your business?
Would having a clear roadmap to help you get there be beneficial?
By working closely with you and your advisors, I can help you develop a plan for transition from your business so that you can exit your business on your terms and for maximum value. I take what may appear to be an overwhelming and daunting task and break it down into five manageable stages to develop a transition plan tailored to your personal, business and financial goals. This is not a one-size fits all process, but a personalized and holistic approach to identifying, protecting, enhancing, managing and realizing the value of your business.
If you own a business and are planning to sell/transfer the business, I recommend beginning the process of developing a transition plan a minimum of two years in advance. Transition planning will require an investment or your time, your attention and capital. However, when done in a thoughtful and deliberate manner a transition plan can have substantial payback. Beginning with the end in mind, a transition plan will help you protect your business, position the business for maximum value, and provide you peace of mind.
I enjoy working with clients and look forward to helping you determine your business, personal and financial goals. I will be honest and upfront with you even if it is not exactly what you want to hear. You will know what your alternatives are so that you can make sound decisions regarding you, your business and your family.
As a CPA and business advisor, I have been working with business owners for more than 30 years. I understand that you have worked hard to build your business and that your business can represent a substantial personal financial asset. Like many owners you may have been too busy working in your business to give much thought to a transition plan. That is where I can help.
