In an increasingly difficult time for small business owners to stay competitive and remain viable, a new business in Cazenovia is looking to help. Michael Lappin, a CPA and MBA who has worked as a financial executive for million-dollar companies and owned and operated his own businesses, is now offering his experience and expertise to help local entrepreneurs achieve success.

“I see myself as a for-hire CFO, but I don’t just sit behind a desk and give paper reports; I help and give advice. I see myself as a coach: I keep the discussion focused, I assist the owner in developing a plan, I monitor the results and I keep the business owner on track,” Lappin said. “I go above and beyond — I’m not just a numbers guy.”

Lappin, who grew up in Central New York and received degrees from the Rochester Institute of technology and Farleigh Dickinson University, has worked nationally and globally in creating, improving, sustaining and turning around companies ranging from start-ups to global competitors.

He has served as divisional controller at Revlon Cosmetics, as vice president-controller for The Limited (women’s apparel) Corporation’s Catalog Division, as vice president of finance for Waterford Wedgewood USA crystal and tableware company and as a consultant assuming the role of chief financial officer for start-ups, turnarounds and transitional companies in Atlanta, Ga. Lappin also owned and operated a small manufacturing company in Syracuse for several years until foreign competition and the economic downturn forced the company to close.

Throughout his years of business experience, Lappin became disenchanted with the politics of corporate business and realized that what he loved was working with small businesses and helping them succeed. And as the owner of his own business he knows exactly what entrepreneurs face in keeping their companies in business. He understands the regulatory aspects, the hiring, finance, customer service and everything it takes to keep moving forward.

“The experience of owning my own company made me a much better financial guy — I know what the value of a dollar is; I know what being business owner is about,” Lappin said. “I was entrenched in the day-to-day operations of the company which made me react to situations as opposed to being proactive to them. Most business owners I have been involved with are really good at what they do, however, they lack a defined plan and the discipline to achieve successful results. Many are too busy ‘doing’ their business instead of managing it.”

And this is what Lappin offers his clients: he helps people be on top of their business instead of in it.

“I can help small business owners stay focused by preparing with them a strategic plan, a budget, reports and tools to measure actual performance against their plan on a timely basis. When deviations from their plan occur, for better or worse, we will focus on what went right or what went wrong, capitalize on the right and correct the wrong. This will be a team effort. I will not only maintain their books, payroll, tax filings and returns, I will assist them in developing their operating plan, offer them advice and provide them with the practical financial controls to keep them on track to achieve their goals,” Lappin said. “Much like the chief financial officer that all big businesses have and smaller businesses cannot afford, I can be their on-call CFO, as needed, and full-time ‘business partner.’ I will do much more than simply hand them a financial report at the end of each month.”

Lappin’s fees are competitive with other similar consulting businesses, but instead of just crunching numbers and submitting reports, he offers greater, more diversified business advice and value to his customers, he said.

If you are a business owner who needs actionable information and sound financial advice, contact Michael Lappin to meet with him confidentially, under no obligation, to explore the possibilities of improving and advancing your business.

Lappin’s office is currently located at 3875 Pompey Hollow Road, Cazenovia. He can be reached via telephone at 315-663-8768, or via email at [email protected].

Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected]. Paid for by Michael Lappin.