Case Studies

Helping Our Non-Profit Function More Like a Business!

In order to remain a strong and well-run non-profit organization, our leadership realized that we needed to adopt best practices from business. This is often easier said than done. Jason Savedoff has helped us tremendously as a dedicated and active member of our Board of Directors for the past 3 years. He has been instrumental as our business development lead, helping us remain strategic in efficiently utilizing our resources to help us not only be mission-focused, but to also ensure sustainability for years to come. Thanks to Jason’s steadfast guidance and forward thinking, we are moving toward a level of organizational success that was out of reach before he joined our team. Of equal importance, Jason is an honest, hard-working, ethical and fun guy to work with which makes the journey enjoyable!

The “Mr. Fix-It” of Richmond Small Business

Jason Savedoff has always been a pleasure to work with and serve with on the numerous business associations we’ve been a part of. His grace under pressure and ability to keep in mind the bigger picture has always guided me to decisions that are on point! I’ve become a better business owner because of my association with Jason and whole heartily recommend him as a business coach. He will tailor his services to suit your needs and make you feel better about the challenges you face and the goals you have set for your business. He understands professional courtesy and what it takes to be a successful business owner. I will always refer back to Jason for his sage advice on a multitude of issues and will continue to get the occasional tune up from them as well!

Synthesizing Problems Down to Their Root Cause

Over the past few years I have had the good fortune to work with Jason on several consulting engagements targeted at establishing business growth and stability during a very challenging time for our industry. I have found him to be an open-minded, creative thinker who possesses an innate ability to synthesize problems down to their root causes and establish well thought out solutions and change implementation plans. In every instance, Jason has effectively applied his business acumen, professionalism and experience to guide us along a path to success.

Calculated Risks and New Opportunities

After 5 years of business as a husband and wife team, we approached Jason about helping Piperbear take advantage of the coming real estate market boom in Richmond. With Jason as fractional CFO, Piperbear doubled the size of its rental portfolio, established a locally recognized brand identity, and launched a consulting branch of our business with Piperbear Designs. Through weekly meetings, Jason quickly absorbed the Piperbear business model, identified opportunity for improvement, and helped us map out a business plan. His analytic mindset and outside perspective helped us see our own business in a new way.

Instrumental to our business transformation was Jason introducing us to his network of lenders, brokers, and real estate developers. Piperbear went from being an unknown entity to being a known and trusted player in the Richmond market. This opened up a world of financing and real estate deals that were previously not available to us. As fractional CFO, Jason filled a talent gap we had in tracking cash flow, financial planning, and analyzing Piperbear’s financial strengths and weaknesses. Having the actual numbers for our business empowered us to take calculated risks with new opportunities.

Piperbear had been on a slow and steady rise until we met Jason. He delivered on his promise of taking us to the next level. Piperbear Properties is now operating in two states, and Piperbear Designs is a thriving consulting business that recently won Best of Houzz Design for the Richmond area.

Guidance and Strategy for Our Non-Profit

Jason began working with the senior leadership of our non-profit organization on a consulting basis two years ago. Specifically, we were interested in new revenue streams for the organization, such as redeveloping and monetizing our web presence and soliciting additional sponsorships. His efforts on project work and guidance of senior leadership filled a gap in our organization important to the successful re-launch of our online presence. In fact we liked his work so much we invited him to join our board!

Filament Is a Bridge Between Business Owners and their Goals

As a commercial lender I’m always pleased to see Filament representing a client. Because of their experience working with bankers and lenders they know what is necessary to approve financing for their clients and help the underwriting process to proceed much more smoothly. I would strongly recommend their services to any small business owner.

Just What We Needed to Round Out Our Strategy!

Filament Business Advisors is one of the few, if not the only Richmond-based consultancy who was willing/able to help my business when we needed ad-hoc assistance in restructuring our employee benefits plan. Despite not being benefits experts per se, Filament was able to wrangle all of the necessary parties, get them to the table, and come out with several different packages for me to choose from given our budget. Recognizing that my time was better spent developing new business, I was relieved to have Filament handle this and have been pleased with the results.

COULD NOT Have Started My Own Business Without Them!

Jason Savedoff’s coaching and systems building allowed me to realize my dream and start my own private homekeeping company!

For 20 years I worked for others, earning barely enough to make a living. I worked 60+ hour weeks and still had barely enough to pay the bills. A mutual contact linked me up with Jason and he took care of all of the missing links between me, my skill set and being a business owner. From corporate entity formation to accounting systems to marketing and advertising and even liaising with attorneys and CPA’s, Jason had the answers and connections I needed to succeed. And when things were looking grim at the beginning, when I was struggling the most, he was the one who I turned to for a cup of coffee and the pick-me-up I needed at just the right time. Cannot recommend them enough and will continue to utilize their services. Thanks Jason, we love you!

Cost-Effective Operational Management Advisory Services

Our organization hired Jason Savedoff to provide management coaching and advisory services. Over the course of the engagement, which spanned several months, they helped implement systems and metrics that had a positive impact on both productivity and the bottom line. In fact, our F&B department had its best quarter on record during the engagement. Jason even went so far as to give his personal cell phone number to our department heads, going the extra mile for our organization

A Hands on Approach to Get My Business Sold

When the time came to sell my dental practice, I began looking for references from people I trust. Although several regional and national dental brokerage firms were top of mind, I took the road less traveled and went with Filament Business Advisors, a local dental intermediary practice, and am very glad that I did. I know that I would not have received the level of personal service that my intermediary, Jason, provided, as some larger brokerages do not even have offices in Richmond and I would never have met my broker face to face. This would have been especially a problem since I did not want to break the news to my staff until I was sure I had a buyer in place, and I needed help downloading the pertinent information from my dental software package.

Jason and the Filament team not only found me a very well qualified buyer who has maintained my practice’s reputation, but they went above and beyond, coming in evenings and weekends to help me download the reports needed to package my practice for sale and get us through the due diligence process. They really took the time to get to know me and my practice and what makes it special, even down to details like advising me on the most gentle way to break the news to my long term staffers and hygienists.

I would strongly recommend Filament Business Advisors to any dentist or business owner looking to make a transition!

Filament Helped our Country Club

Throughout the past year I have had the privilege of receiving valuable mentoring from Jason Savedoff. As someone who was new to management I was nervous that he may feel as though his “work was cut out for him.” However, I was proven wrong the first time we sat down together. He patiently allowed me time to express my concerns, ambitions, hopes, and possible obstacles. Immediately, I felt a rush of relief when he smiled and said “We’re going to be just fine.

In our next meetings Jason truly got to know and understand the “ins and outs” of my department. He paid close attention to our operational procedures, data, and my management style in order to develop a plan that was tailored to fit our needs without changing our identity. Months later, my operation is experiencing a healthier staff, an upward sales trend, and above all a positive outlook. This would not have been possible without Jason’s unwavering support. Thank you for all you do for the club and my team, Jason!