Business owners in the heating, fuel, and energy industry are much like chefs in a busy kitchen, constantly juggling multiple demands requiring their attention, including political and industry changes, day-to-day operations, customer perceptions, and employee and leadership dynamics. As such, owners can often wonder which end is up, what is the best direction forward, [...]
The Importance of Collaboration and Strategic Planning The energy industry presents a multitude of challenges for fuel dealers, wholesalers, and service contractors. These challenges range from seasonal fluctuations, inflation, and political factors to their customers’ reliance on their business. These external forces can make it challenging for dealers to maintain a steady revenue stream. [...]
Private equity firms have been making waves in various industries, from healthcare to technology and even sports. While private equity (PE) for a growth, succession or exit strategy may seem appealing due to the potential for high returns and the various options it offers as a business owner, it is crucial to understand the [...]
The CEO succession question is a pertinent one for all companies: Does your organization have a plan to ensure that the leadership role remains secure and effective in the long term? Is there bench strength for all key leadership roles, in addition to the CEO? To build business value and ensure the continuity and [...]
What do the Olsen twins, the Williams sisters, the Warner brothers, and the Wright brothers all have in common? They are all siblings able to succeed in creating a business together. Fundamentally, the success of any partnership, let alone a family business partnership, is ongoing work towards maintaining harmony inside the business relationship by [...]
Propane marketers, oil, gas, and "energy" business owners manage daily changes affecting their business's short and long-term goals. While there's no way to control what goes on in the world, there is a way to plan and keep your business stable despite family, political, economic, or business challenges. Doug Woosnam, a Consultant with Cetane [...]
Seasonality, inflation, politics, people, and technology are a few headwinds impacting fuel dealers, wholesalers, and service contractors in the energy space. We are often asked, "How can we create predictable revenues in an industry influenced by so many outside "threats?" In this episode, Doug Woosnam, a Consultant with Cetane Associates, [...]
Hope is at the center of many dealers' business strategies. Hope that if they sell the business, the sale will return the cash they need to retire and support their dream lifestyle. However, many dealers have to show up with checks to pay debt and find a job to help facilitate [...]
Many business owners lean on the DIY approach to strategic planning, integrating family into the business, succession planning, and positioning their business for sale on the open market. Where entrepreneurs are sharp in many ways, without outside help, they often suffer from being able to see the trees from the [...]
