
The Grey Brief
Insights to help business owners scale smarter, plan better, and navigate strategic transitions.
Where to Look First: 7 Places Value Leaks in Service Businesses
Most founders don’t know where their business is leaking value—until a buyer shows them. This article highlights seven areas where operational drag shows up and how to fix them before it gets priced in.
Systemized Services Get Premium Valuations—Everything Else Gets Discounted
Buyers don’t reward service-line sprawl. They pay premiums for clean, repeatable operations. This article breaks down how systemization drives value—and what complexity really costs you.
Your P&L Looks Fine—But the Field Is Bleeding Margin
Your financials might look strong—but margin erosion starts in the field. Learn how to track job-level profitability, control operational complexity, and protect enterprise value.
Fire 20% of Your Revenue
Most founders protect the wrong revenue. This article breaks down how to identify low-margin, high-friction work—and how to eliminate it without disrupting the business.
You Don’t Need to 10x—You Need to Grow the Right 20%
Most service businesses don’t need more revenue—they need more of the right revenue. Here’s how the best operators identify the 20% of their work that actually drives margin, value, and long-term exit potential.