FocustarAdvisors

Know Your Business's True Value

Professional valuations by someone who learned the hard way: "Time Kills All Deals"

Schedule August Valuation – Limited Availability

Get Your Valuation Started

Our Success

Why Business Owners Trust Focustar

30+

Years valuing & selling businesses

Both

Sides of the table experience

All

Industries - truly agnostic approach

$1B+

Total transaction experience

48 Hrs

Initial Response Time

15 Days

Day Average Turnaround

39%

of Businesses Fail Without a Plan

Every Month Without a Valuation Costs You!

Here's what you're risking right now:

Lost Negotion Power

Without knowing your true value, you're negotiating blind. Sellers leave money on the table, buyers overpay, and deals fall apart from unrealistic expectations.

Time Really Does Kill Deals

I learned this the hard way on 9/11. Every month you wait, market conditions change, buyers move on, and opportunities vanish. Speed with accuracy wins.

Strategic Blind Spots

You're missing opportunities to increase value RIGHT NOW. Professional valuations reveal hidden value drivers and strategic improvements most owners overlook.

Your Comprehensive Business Valuation

5-year financial analysis using Income, Market & Asset approaches
Executive summary with clear visual presentations
Detailed PDF report suitable for negotiations, financing, or legal purposes
Confidentiality assured (engagement letter included)
Post-valuation support for questions about report content

Simple Process, Fast Results

Initial consultation & document gathering
Comprehensive analysis (typical 15-day turnaround)*
Report delivery & live video consultation
Ongoing support for questions about your report

*New information discovered during analysis may affect timeline

What You'll Receive

Our streamlined 15-day process delivers comprehensive valuations without the typical delays

Initial Consultation (Day 1)

We discuss your needs, timeline, and gather required documents

Comprehensive Analysis (Days 2-12)

5-year financial analysis using Income, Market & Asset approaches

Report Delivery & Consultation (Day 15)

Detailed PDF report with live video consultation for Q&A.

Ongoing Supports (Ongoing)

Post-valuation support for questions about report content

What You'll Receive

5-year financial analysis using Income, Market & Asset approaches
Executive summary with clear visual presentations
Detailed PDF report suitable for negotiations, financing, or legal purposes
Live video consultation to discuss findings and Q&A
Confidentiality assured (engagement letter included)
Post-valuation support for questions about report content

*Typical Turnaround: 15 Days

New information discovered during analysis may affect timeline

Why "Time Kills All Deals"

Every month of wishful thinking costs real money

Medical Imaging Center Owner Learns Expensive Lesson

The Wishful Thinking Approach:

Listed at unrealistic $3 million
12+ months carrying costs
Mounting financial pressure
Forced to accept $1.5 million.

With Professional Valuation:

Realistic $2.2M valuation
Quick 90-day sale
No desperation discounting
Saved 9 months of overhead

Real Cost: $700K loss + 12 months of carrying costs

Recent Transactions

Trusted by industry leaders across diverse sectors

Missouri Fibre Corporation

Provided independent valuation to resolve 50% partner dispute. Professional third-party analysis helped partners move past emotional positions to see objective business value.

Partner Dispute Resolution

On The Run Mobile Oil

Comprehensive valuation and M&A advisory for mobile oil change service. Identified key value drivers and growth opportunities, positioning the business for strategic decisions.

Strategic Positioning

HYH Int'l Cargo Services

Father-to-son succession valuation. Analysis revealed opportunities to modernize workflow systems and reduce overhead - improvements that would enhance value for the next generation.

Family Succession

From Billion-Dollar Deals to Business Valuations

How 30+ Years of Transaction Experience Shapes Today's Expertise

James D. A. Felds

Managing Principal

(910) 352-7119

jim@focustaradvisors.com

Vero Beach, Florida

The Deal That Changed Everything

On September 10, 2001, I shook hands on the sale of my environmental products company to NYSE-listed EcoLab...

The next morning, my plane was force-landed in Moline, Illinois. As the world changed forever, hotels closed indefinitely, and the deal I'd spent months negotiating began to unravel. I made the difficult decision to pull out.

"That day taught me the most expensive lesson of my career: Time Kills All Deals. It's a truth I've carried through every transaction since, and one that drives the urgency behind every valuation I perform today."

But that wasn't the end of my story - it was just the beginning of a new chapter that would take me through some of the most complex international deals imaginable, a six-year sailing adventure, and ultimately to a focused mission: helping business owners understand their true value before time runs out.

Notable Transactions That Shaped My Approach

$500M

Renewable Energy Financing During Financial Crisis

In 2010, while others retreated, I secured $500 million for renewable energy power plants. This required creative financing structures and understanding how to position value when traditional funding sources dried up. The experience reinforced that proper valuation isn't just about numbers, it's about understanding market timing and investor psychology.

$100M

Commercial Real Estate Portfolio

Structured and closed $100 million in commercial real estate financing during challenging market conditions. Each property required individual valuation approaches, teaching me that no two businesses—even in the same industry—can be valued identically.

$65M

The Venezuela-China Oil Equipment Deal

Perhaps my most complex transaction: arranging financing for a US engineering firm with a $65 million purchase order from the Venezuelan National Oil Company PDVSA, utilizing a Chinese Manufacturer and Trading Company, all without a letter of credit. This five-year odyssey required navigating three different business cultures, languages, banking and legal systems.

$100M+

Automotive Empire Management

At 33, I was hired to grow a fledgling Mercedes Benz/BMW dealership and captive leasing company. By age 37, I grew it to $175 million in revenue and $100 million in owned leased vehicles. When an offer to sell arrived, I participated in the bidding to acquire the company. This hands-on operational experience gave me insights into how businesses actually create value day-to-day. The knowledge gained is an invaluable component when I’m conducting valuations today.

$1B+

Total Transaction Value

30+

Years Experience

38

38 States (EverGreen Rooms by Hartford locations)

3

Continents (Deal Experience)

The Six-Year Sabbatical That Brought Clarity

After completing the Venezuela-China transaction in 2016, a deal that tested every skill I'd developed over three decades. I did something unexpected. I retired.

My wife and I bought a trawler and spent six years cruising to the Caribbean. (You can read about the adventure and see pictures of the trip at: LifeOnKokomo.com) Those years on the water gave me time to reflect on hundreds of deals, thousands of negotiations, and the patterns that determine success or failure in business transactions.

"Somewhere between the Bahamas and Grenada, I realized that in every deal I'd done, whether it succeeded or failed the crucial factor was always the same: accurate valuation at the right time."

When I returned in 2022 and rekindled my consulting practice, I knew exactly where to focus. Business owners needed someone who had not only studied valuations but had lived through the consequences of both accurate and inaccurate ones, or none at all. Someone who understood that behind every valuation is a human story, a family's future, a life's work.

Why I Focus on Valuations Today

The EcoLab Lesson

My own exit taught me that timing and accurate valuation are inseparable. You can't control external events, but you can be prepared with solid numbers when opportunity knocks, or when circumstances force your hand.

Pattern Recognition

After $1B+ in transactions across every industry imaginable, I've seen what drives value and what destroys it. This pattern recognition allows me to spot opportunities and risks that others might miss.

Both Sides of the Table

Having been both buyer and seller, founder and advisor, I understand the emotional and strategic considerations from every angle. This perspective is invaluable in creating valuations that stand up to scrutiny.

The Human Element

Behind every business valuation is a human story—partner disputes, family successions, strategic pivots. My role isn't just to provide numbers but to help navigate these critical life decisions with clarity and confidence.

Speed Matters

Time kills all deals. That's why I've structured my valuation process for 15-day turnaround.

In my experience, opportunities don't wait, and neither should you.

Industry Agnostic Truth

From environmental products to Venezuelan oil, from auto dealerships to renewable energy, value principles transcend industry boundaries. My diverse experience means I can quickly understand and accurately value any business.

Featured Speaker

Bahia Bar, Fort Lauderdale

Topic: Risk Mitigation, Due Diligence, and Protecting the Investor Class

Recent Valuation Successes

Missouri Fibre Corporation - Partner Dispute Resolution

When 50/50 partners reached an impasse, my independent valuation provided the objective foundation needed to move forward. Years of deal-making taught me that in partner disputes, the numbers must be unimpeachable and the process transparent.

HYH International Cargo - Father-to-Son Succession

Family transitions require delicate handling. My valuation not only established fair value but identified operational improvements that would enhance the business for the next generation, insights drawn from decades of operational experience.

On The Run Mobile Oil - Strategic Positioning

Sometimes valuation reveals opportunities beyond the immediate need. This mobile service business discovered untapped value streams that changed their strategic direction, a reminder that good valuations do more than establish price.

Ready to Know Your True Value?

Let three decades of transaction experience work for you

Terry J. Ingram

Referral Partner - HYH Int'l Cargo Service

This is a testament to Jim's deep knowledge of M&A and Valuations. This skill set is learned over years of experience and asking the hard questions. Thank you, Jim for your contribution to me and my clients expectations.

Maria Ochoa

OQBC Accounting Solutions - Missouri Fibre Project Referral Partner

I'm so glad to hear you successfully completed this project. It was truly a pleasure to refer this client to you. While she may have been a big challenge—mainly due to her limited knowledge and, at a deeper level, her isolation—your patience and professionalism truly made a difference. As a widow facing a language barrier, she needed someone exactly like you: kind, composed, and consistently professional, even with the many people she involved throughout the process. Thank you for handling it all with such grace and care.

Elliot Weiss

Managing Partner, On The Run Oil Change

I cannot say enough thanks to James Felds and Focustar Advisory Services. My company was in a bad spot due to prior mistakes and other factors and I didn’t know where to turn. Thankfully, I was referred to James and in a short time frame, he and his team tackled the issues (there were many) and it feels like I have a brand new company and the future is bright! Between the general advice, financial steps advised and taken, bookkeeping services and much more, I feel like I can breathe again.

Clint Thompson

Nexus Circular, LLC

I have had the privilege of working with Jim on several project finance arrangements for complex energy projects. Not only has he been a pleasure to work with, his industry knowledge, coupled with a clear understanding of project finance needs, has made his contribution a cornerstone to our success.

David Jacobs

Managing Member, Langtree Development, LLC

I engaged Jim Felds and the team to consult on an apartment/retail project we had been developing as a lakeside condo construction project called Langtree fell on deaf ears to the lending community during the banking crisis. With Focustar's help we were able to obtain an invitation from HUD for approximately $37,000,000 - the largest single loan ever invited in North Carolina history.

Alejandro Riquezes

Director, Dinamo International W25 Corp.

James Felds and his team did an excellent job connecting his client Premier Energy Services with our company. FocustarAdvisors, in our experience, was focused on understanding both parties’ missions and was active in aligning everyone’s interests to a clear path for successful business.

Allan Koretz

President, Arko Investments Inc.

We worked with Jim on several transactions. His knowledge base, insights and response time were excellent. He and his associates are thorough and hard working.

Shoji Ketchem

MPM

Jim is an expert in finance with exceptional strategic ability. His insights in organizational structure, analysis of the regulatory landscape, and technology commercialization have been extremely valuable to our team. He has a keen ability to clarify what's really important and a no-nonsense style for getting things done. Jim is always a pleasure to work with.

Thomas Gebhard

Principal, Inspirra Energy LLC

Jim is the one of the hardest working investment bankers I have ever worked with. He is relentless in his pursuit of financing and a pleasurable guy to work with.

Don't Let Time Kill Your Deal

Get the valuation you need to move forward with confidence

Now

Is the time to know

15 Days

To clear answers

3 Spots

Remaining for August

Free consultation | No obligation | Confidential

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Effective date: July 5, 2025

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