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Business advising
grounded in experience.

Jon Rickards serves as a trusted outside advisor for small business owners and organizational leaders — bringing 30+ years of finance and operations experience to the table without the cost of a full-time executive hire.

What Advising Means

An unbiased view
from outside the building.

Business advising with Jon means having a trusted, experienced voice in your corner — someone who knows how businesses actually work from the inside and can give you the honest perspective that employees, partners, and family often can't.

Jon brings resources, connections, and proven frameworks across finance, operations, strategy, and technology. He helps leadership teams see their business more clearly — and make better decisions as a result.

One growing area of advisory work: helping businesses understand and adopt AI and emerging technologies proactively, before they fall behind. Jon helps clients think through what these changes mean for their business and how to prepare.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call
Best For
Leaders who want an ongoing trusted advisor — a thinking partner for decisions large and small
Engagement Style
Ongoing advisory relationship or project-based. Flexible to your schedule and needs
What Makes It Different
Jon has held VP, Director, and CFO-level roles — his advice comes from real operational experience, not theory
Location
In-person in Petaluma and Sonoma County, or remote. Flexible to your preference
What We Cover

Advisory topics
that move the needle.

Strategy
Business Strategy & Direction
Helping you think through where the business is going, what it should prioritize, and how to get there — with a grounded, practical point of view.
Finance
Financial Perspective
Reading your numbers with you, identifying what they're telling you, and helping you make decisions that are grounded in financial reality rather than gut feeling alone.
Operations
Operational Clarity
An outside eye on how your business runs — what's working, what's creating friction, and where the biggest leverage points are for improvement.
Technology
AI & Systems Planning
Helping you understand what AI and emerging technologies mean for your business — and how to adopt them proactively rather than reactively.
People
Team & Leadership
Thinking through organizational structure, key hires, team dynamics, and how to build a leadership bench that supports your growth plans.
Network
Resources & Connections
Access to Jon's 30-year network across wine, finance, operations, technology, and Northern California business — connecting you with the right people and resources.
Questions

Business advising
questions answered.

How is advising different from consulting?
Advising is about perspective — Jon serves as a thinking partner and sounding board. Consulting is about execution — Jon does the work directly. Advising relationships are typically ongoing; consulting engagements are often project-based. Many clients use both.
How often do advisory sessions happen?
It depends on what you need. Some advisory clients meet monthly for a standing check-in. Others engage more intensively during a period of growth or change, then taper to quarterly. Jon adapts to the rhythm that's most useful to you.
Can you advise on AI adoption for my business?
Yes — this is a growing part of Jon's advisory work. He helps business owners understand what AI tools are relevant to their business, how to evaluate them practically, and how to build a proactive adoption strategy rather than scrambling to catch up.
Also Consider

Other ways to work with Jon.

Service 02
Business Coaching
Goal-setting, strategic planning, and accountability from a coach with 30+ years of real operational experience.
Service 03
Business Consulting
Jon rolls up his sleeves and executes directly — finance, operations, systems, and project delivery.
Service 04
Wine Business Services
25+ years inside the wine industry. Deep expertise no generalist consultant can match.

Ready for an advisor
who tells it straight?

Start with a free 30-minute discovery call. No commitment required.

Schedule a Free Discovery Call Send a Message
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