Examples:

We have experience with negotiations involving the purchase and sale of business enterprises.  In the case of purchases we use the rate of return analysis as well as other due diligence methods.  We have experience with forming financing structures that include stock or asset sales.  We have experience with securing management agreements as part of a business start-up or purchase.

Over the years we have obtained many forms of financing for clients including SBA, BIA, FmHA state, local, direct and guaranteed loans.  We have had extensive experience in negotiating terms and conditions with local banks.  In some cases other forms of credit enhancements and grants may be available.

We have extensive experience as a board member for businesses we have owned as well as for Indian and non-Indian businesses.  The contributions have been beneficial in terms of assisting revenue growth and cost savings.  We are available for election to boards interested in our ability to assist in growth, savings and the protection of assets.

The types of businesses we have direct experience with include; industrial, retail, service, financial, hospitality and other forms of businesses.   We have helped Tribal and private developers with obtaining financing for their projects.  There are certain advantages to Tribes becoming landlords when it comes to development projects let us show you where these hidden values exist.

We have experience with managing business enterprises as an owner and manager on behalf of others.  We have assisted Tribes in making tough calls on maintaining, expanding, downsizing or closing businesses.  At all points in the decision process we alert the owners to our findings and make recommendations as they become apparent.  We are unique in that we can provide short term direct management until a permanent solution is found.

We have assisted Tribes in developing and staffing their economic development departments.  We have experience with preparing job descriptions and assisting in personnel selection.  We have assisted departments in developing revolving loan programs for Tribal members as well as to encourage outside businesses to locate on a reservation.  We have assisted economic development departments in promoting the positive attributes of locating on a reservation.

One of the areas where we can help is in developing an investment strategy for a Tribe, which includes an investment policy.  A policy would describe the types of investments the Tribe is comfortable with such as public and private investments.  The policy would also describe active and passive investments and the proportion of dollars to be allocated to each.  We can also assist in the sourcing of potential money managers who fit the policy objectives.

Our experience includes infrastructure projects and their financing.  Past projects have included sewer, water, streets and utilities projects.  We have experience with putting some of the first Tribal tax exempt projects together in the late eighties.  There are a number of ways to cause lower cost financing for these types of government related projects and we can give solid advice on the options from the start.

Our past experience has included providing assistance to casinos from business plans to financing.  In recent years we have assisted in the process of Tribally run check cashing and other money services at their casino site as a business venture. 

We have assisted in helping to charter a Federal Credit Union on a reservation.

Our consulting approach to develop a tax collection strategy that can create more revenues!

Tribal Tax Collections are the second largest area of revenue next to gaming when it comes to a discretionary source of capital for many Tribal groups!

Yet few Tribes have an active tax department and even fewer have consistently combined tax collection with a broader strategy of business development.

We have extensive experience in reviewing Tribal tax agreements, the accounting of those funds and their use as economic development engines.

Our tested strategy consists of the following key steps to the consulting process.

First, we conduct an examination of your current tax agreement with your state.  We will also, examine your federal tax rebates, which go unclaimed by many Tribes.  In order to accomplish this phase of the process we work with your accounting professionals in order to establish your current level of activity.

Next, we compare your tribal agreement it to other similar Tribal agreements.  We will work with your legal staff in evaluating the prospects of expanding your agreement in order to capture more revenues if the opportunity exists.  The next steps are up to the council, general counsel and the state or federal government officials if you decide it is in your best interests to renegotiate your agreement.

Finally, regardless if you chose to expand areas of your agreement or not we will work with your current development professionals in order to develop a strategy maximizing the tax leverage your Tribe has.  This phase combines the prospects for a Tribe in order to achieve revenue increases from both net profits and increased tax revenue.  The author of this web site has delivered live sessions before Tribal developers on the topic of, “ two bites at the apple, one on profit and one on taxes”.