Kevin Chern, Author at Sanguine Strategic Advisors

Merchant Cash Advance: Lifeline or Legal Minefield for Small Businesses?

“There’s nothing more expensive than money.” — Benjamin Franklin In early 2023, I agreed to consult for a family-owned restaurant group in the Midwest four locations, a loyal following, and a post-pandemic rebound in full swing. But they had one big problem: cash flow. The CFO, newly hired, walked me through the books. A handful…

What’s Wasting More Time: Tools, People, or Policies?

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” — Michael Altshuler Let’s rewind to 2022. I was advising a midsized fintech firm one with an impressive suite of tools, sharp people, and seemingly airtight systems. Yet, month after month, they couldn’t hit their quarterly growth goals. The leadership team was…

Your Guide to Compliant B2B Data Practices in 2025

“Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves.” — Tim Berners-Lee Last October, I sat across the table from a business owner who had just received a cease-and-desist letter from a state attorney general. His offense? He was using a third-party list for B2B email outreach something his competitors were…

Slashing Costs Without Cutting Corners: Real Outsourcing Stories That Worked

“Do not cut your expenses until you know what they are.” — Warren Buffett In 2021, I met the founder of a Chicago-based e-commerce company at a roundtable. Let’s call him Eric. His company was bleeding cash burning $90K a month on fulfillment, support, and internal tech management. His growth was stalling, but he feared…

Are You Investing in the Wrong Growth Channels?

“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” — Michael Porter Not every growth plan dies with a bang. Some fade slowly, drained by investments in marketing and sales channels that look shiny but don’t move the needle. If you’ve ever watched your acquisition costs climb while your conversion rates stay flat, you’ve…

Is Your Website Actually Built to Convert Visitors into Leads?

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs Consider this real-life scenario: A small consulting firm had decent website traffic over 3,000 visitors monthly—but only received around 5-10 inquiries per month. After a website redesign focused explicitly on conversion optimization, their leads jumped to…

Are Your Wellness Perks Actually Boosting Productivity—or Just Checking Boxes?

“Take care of your employees and they’ll take care of your business.” — Richard Branson A few months ago, I spoke with the founder of a 75-person SaaS company who was proudly rolling out a new employee wellness initiative. His tone was upbeat. “We’ve added a meditation app subscription, weekly yoga on Zoom, and Friday…

Your Team’s Burnout Is Costing You—Here’s How to Reverse It

“Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.” — Michael Gungor Let me paint a picture. A fast-scaling consulting firm out of Chicago hit $20 million in revenue in record time. But in the fourth quarter of last year, something odd happened. Projects began slipping. Client satisfaction scores dipped.…

The Cost of Ignoring Privacy Laws: Small Business Fines That Could Sink You

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” – Benjamin Franklin Let me begin by sharing a cautionary tale. In 2021, a small healthcare provider in New Jersey faced a crippling fine of $62,500. Their crime? A relatively minor violation of HIPAA improper disposal of medical records. While the penalty might seem steep,…

Would Your Customers Stay If a Competitor Called Today?

“It takes months to find a customer… seconds to lose one.” – Vince Lombardi Imagine this scenario: Your most loyal customer receives a call today from your biggest competitor. They offer slightly better pricing, a faster turnaround, or perhaps just a fresh perspective. Ask yourself honestly, would your customer stay loyal or jump ship? The…