Schiele & Associates
From Vision to Entity & Operating System
We help builders choose, structure, and lead the right entity.
Solopreneur. Startup. Small business. Nonprofit. If you have a big vision but your structure is shaky, we help you architect the right entity and the leadership operating system to match.
Instead of guessing “LLC vs S Corp vs Nonprofit,” we walk you through a strategy-first matrix: Who are you? → What are you building? → What risk can you carry? → How do you want this to grow and pay you?
Vision is the spark. Structure is the engine. Execution is the movement.
Who we’re built for
We specialize in builders who are already moving but need the right container:
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Solopreneurs
Consultants, coaches, creators, experts monetizing their name & IP.
Consultants, coaches, creators, experts monetizing their name & IP.
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Startups
Pre-seed to growth-stage founders who must be “funding-ready,” not just “formed.”
Pre-seed to growth-stage founders who must be “funding-ready,” not just “formed.”
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Small Businesses
Shops, agencies, and firms that outgrew a sole prop and now need real governance.
Shops, agencies, and firms that outgrew a sole prop and now need real governance.
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Nonprofits & Visionary Orgs
Leaders with a cause who need compliant, fundable structure.
Leaders with a cause who need compliant, fundable structure.
Entity Support Matrix · How Schiele & Associates Helps You Build Right
Same vision, different containers. Below is how we support solopreneurs, startups, small businesses, and nonprofits across the full journey from idea → entity → operating system → expansion.
Solopreneurs
Startups
Small Business
Nonprofit / Social Impact
| Who You Are | Typical Entity Questions | What You Have Today | What You Actually Need | How Schiele & Associates Helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Solopreneur / Expert Coach · Consultant · Creator · Fractional leader Sole Prop → Single-Member LLC / S-Corp |
“Should I stay a sole prop or move to an LLC?” “When does an S-Corp make sense?” “How do I protect my personal assets?” |
• Cash-flowing offers, messy structure • Personal & business money mixed • Contracts pulled from Google • No documented operating system |
• Clear entity choice (Sole Prop vs LLC vs S-Corp) • Simple governance & money flow map • Risk protection that doesn’t slow sales • A repeatable way to deliver & scale your offer |
• Entity Strategy Session: map vision, risk tolerance, and
revenue profile to the right entity type. • One-Page Operating System: how money, decisions, and delivery flow through your entity. • Template Stack: contracts, scopes, and policies aligned to your entity choice and brand. |
|
Startup / Founder Team Tech · product · service · gov/DoD-adjacent innovators LLC · C-Corp · Delaware C-Corp · Intl equivalents |
“Do investors want an LLC or C-Corp?” “Do we choose Delaware now?” “How do equity, salaries, and founders’ agreements fit the structure?” |
• Idea or MVP; maybe an off-the-shelf LLC • No cap table discipline • Contracts, IP, and roles poorly defined • No clear leadership operating rhythm |
• Investor-credible entity (often C-Corp or optimized LLC) • Clean founder agreements & cap table logic • Governance that signals maturity (board cadence, decisions, risk) • Operating system that connects product, sales, and delivery |
• Funding-Ready Entity Blueprint: entity choice, jurisdiction,
and documentation aligned to growth path. • Leadership Operating System: rhythms for decision-making, accountability, and execution (Circle of Growth-aligned). • Go-to-Market & Governance Alignment: make sure your structure supports contracts, compliance, and scale. |
|
Established Small Business Agencies · practices · firms · brick-and-mortar operators LLC · Multi-Member LLC · S-Corp · C-Corp |
“We’ve been operating… are we set up right?” “Do we change entities as we hire and grow?” “How do we separate ownership, leadership, and day-to-day work?” |
• Revenue coming in, but structure was never revisited • Owner wearing every hat • Team unclear on authority and decisions • No documented succession or risk plan |
• Entity check-up (are you under- or over-structured?) • Role & decision clarity (owners vs leaders vs operators) • Operating system that scales beyond the founder • Succession and exit options shaped by entity |
• Entity & Risk Audit: review your current LLC/S-Corp/C-Corp
against your growth goals. • Leadership Architecture: org chart, decision rights, and meeting cadence built on the Circle of Growth. • Succession & Exit Scenarios: how your entity can support sale, succession, or franchising. |
|
Nonprofit / Vision-Driven Organization 501(c)(3)s · foundations · community orgs · faith & impact work Nonprofit corporation · gGmbH / CIO / Association |
“Should this be a nonprofit or a social enterprise?” “How do board, staff, and volunteers fit together?” “What structure attracts grants and doesn’t scare donors?” |
• A powerful cause, but fuzzy governance • Board that meets, but doesn’t always lead • Programs ahead of policies, processes, or metrics • Compliance handled reactively |
• Clarity on entity choice (nonprofit vs hybrid vs for-profit) • Board and leadership roles that are actually used • Program, finance, and compliance integrated into one operating system • Story and structure that funders can trust |
• Mission & Entity Alignment Lab: refine mission and match it
to the right structure (pure nonprofit, fiscal sponsorship, or hybrid). • Board & Leadership Playbook: roles, rhythms, and decision-rights so the board leads and staff can execute. • Impact & Funding Readiness: build the narrative, metrics, and governance funders look for. |
1. Clarity & Strategy Intensive
We start with who you are and what you’re really building.
- Vision, risk, and revenue mapping
- “Who are you as a leader?” lens (Circle of Growth)
- Entity scenarios: pros/cons for your exact context
2. Entity Design & Protection Blueprint
We turn the right structure into a clear, documented plan.
- Recommended entity type + rationale
- Ownership, roles, and money flow diagrams
- Risk & compliance guardrails you can actually follow
3. Operating System Build-Out
Your entity is only as strong as the way you run it.
- Leadership operating system (meetings, metrics, decisions)
- Team structure and accountability lanes
- Templates and rituals wired into your entity design
4. Growth, Funding & Succession Readiness
We future-proof what you’re building.
- Investor / lender / funder-ready story and structure
- Scenarios for scale, partnership, or exit
- Leadership bench and succession mapped to the entity
Global Business Structures: A Comprehensive Overview
Understanding the various types of business structures—and their implications for ownership, liability, taxation, and suitability—is crucial for strategic decision-making. Use the search and quick-jump chips to drill into exactly what you want.
Schiele & Associates · Entity Intelligence
Schiele & Associates
Strategy-First Needs Questionnaire
Ready to map your next move?
In 3 quick steps, we’ll snap a picture of where you are, what you’re building, and how fast you want to move—then send you into the Interactive Needs Questionnaire to lock it in.
Step 1 of 3 · Choose your stage
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01
Where are you in the build?
Pick the option that feels most like you right now.
02
What are you optimizing for first?
Choose the focus that matters most in the next 6–12 months.
03
How fast do you want to move?
Speed determines the intensity of the support we recommend.
Your launch profile
Make a choice in each step above and we’ll prep your custom intake path.
We’ll capture your answers inside our secure intake form and route you into the
best-fit engagement path. No spam. No fluff. Just clarity.