I began working with Howard over 20 years ago when I was starting up a new business. I needed all the start up stuff – incorporation and all. A friend referred Howard and he helped me get started, and has helped me on all my businesses since then – so – actually, I have no idea what’s it like to build a business without Howard (laughter). But at the start, I was working out of my house. Now we have a staff, building and a multimillion dollar billing.
One of the keys with Howard is his passion and knowledge. He had great connections, putting me in touch with the lawyer for my first incorporation. As the business grew, his banking connections are huge for me. Howard comes across to me as a business advisor. I don’t view him as an accountant. Whenever I have a major corporate question, direction wise, I usually refer to him. When people call about buying my business, which they do pretty regularly, my first call is to Howard.
I guess Virtus Group could be described as a very high end accounting firm, very solid business advising and tax laws, very up on the year to year new laws coming through. I’m thrilled to death with them. I like how Howard is very straightforward, telling exactly the way it is. Once I had an option on a merger and Howard looked me straight in the eye and told me it was such a bad deal that he wanted it on the record so I couldn’t sue him for bad advice when the deal goes south in two years. That was shocking to me but I listened and am glad I did. He is flat out honest and doesn’t blow smoke.
He’s very good at understanding my business. I service rental medical equipment. I didn’t see how he could understand my business – but he’s very good at standing in my shoes, understanding how my system works and how I make money. He picked up our lingo instantly. You know how a Dr. can talk a different language? Howard knows the language of my business. He knows how everything works. He fits into different roles very well. He gives me solid advice on what to do.
Right now, we are working on a start up company with another company. I came up with a system on how it’s going to work and I’ve been going back and forth with Howard on that. He put down a whole pro-forma on how we are going to make money – forecasting it all out, running it for a year, on paper, including all the variables we could think of. Sure there will be some changes along the way. But he took all the knowns and gave us the snap shot of a year from now. I wouldn’t have been able to do that.
Once a month I get a mailer from an accounting firm seeking my business. I throw it out. If you want a good business: ya gotta have a Howard.