Focused engagements that surface what's holding your business back, and build the structure to move it forward.
Start a conversation →Clarity. Momentum. Results.
What we believe
The path forward is almost always visible once you step back, remove the noise, and look honestly at how the business is actually running. ClearCurrent Consulting exists to create that moment of clarity, and then build the accountability structures that make progress inevitable.
Every engagement begins with listening. Not to confirm what we already think, but to understand what's actually happening on the ground, from leadership to the front line. The findings that matter most are the ones no one has said out loud yet.
What we do
ClearCurrent works with owner-led businesses at pivotal moments, whether you're building, scaling, preparing for an exit, or simply need a trusted thought partner in your corner.
Growth has outpaced your systems. What worked at 10 people doesn't work at 50+. We build the operational infrastructure, accountability, KPIs, leadership structure, and process, that lets your business grow without breaking.
A business that runs cleanly, with documented systems and a capable leadership team, commands a better valuation and attracts better buyers. Brian has been through the exit process firsthand, and can help you get the business ready before you go to market.
Sometimes you don't need a full engagement, you need someone with real operating and visionary experience who has built and sold a business, understands business at every level, and will tell you the truth. Brian works with owners as a confidential sounding board, strategic coach, and experienced voice in decisions that matter.
Some businesses need more than a deliverable, they need an experienced executive in the room. ClearCurrent offers a limited number of Fractional CEO and COO engagements on a standalone basis or as a natural extension of an assessment engagement, providing senior leadership continuity without the cost of a full-time hire.
A structured deep-dive into how your business actually operates, leadership, people, process, and financial health. We surface what's working, what isn't, and what needs to change.
We help build the scorecards, accountability structures, and meeting rhythms that turn measurement into management, and we don't hand you a dashboard and walk away.
Drawing on Aileron training and EOS principles, Brian builds a unique operating structure tailored to each business, giving leadership teams a shared language, clear accountability, and a rhythm that scales.
Experienced C-suite leadership on a part-time, embedded basis, for strategic direction, operational oversight, or a steady hand through a transition. Available standalone or as follow-on to an assessment.
One-on-one coaching for owners and executives who want to lead more intentionally. Grounded in real operational experience and focused on building leaders whose teams don't need to be managed into compliance.
A business that runs cleanly commands a better valuation. We assess operational readiness, document critical systems, and build the leadership depth that buyers and investors want to see before they write a check.
Structured financial analysis that translates the numbers into operational decisions, surfacing financial exposures, margin risks, and cash flow vulnerabilities before they become crises.
Not every engagement needs a formal scope. Brian works with a small number of owners as a confidential advisor, a trusted voice for the decisions that keep you up at night and the strategic questions you can't talk through with your team.
Every engagement ends with a clear picture of what's next. We build the Phase II roadmap, so you know exactly how to sustain and build on the momentum you've created.
How we work
Phase One
Group leadership sessions and individual interviews across the organization. We hear every voice before we form any conclusion.
Phase Two
A comprehensive written assessment, findings, risks, and opportunities, delivered as a working document your team can act on immediately.
Phase Three
Scorecards, accountability charts, KPI frameworks, and operating rhythms. We build the infrastructure that makes the assessment stick.
Phase Four
You own everything. A clear Phase II roadmap ensures the work has a path forward, with or without us in the room.
About
Brian Barrett's career is rooted in operations, not theory. He began in manufacturing and corporate environments, including a payroll and SAP implementation leadership role at Subaru of Indiana Automotive and a senior position at Chemtura, a global specialty chemicals company. Chemtura became Brian's first closed deal when he joined Automated Payroll Service.
Brian joined APS in 2001, became an owner in 2003, and purchased the remainder of the company from the founder in 2010. He spent 23 years building the business, growing it approximately 6.5x and building the systems, the culture, and the leadership infrastructure that made that growth possible. In September 2024, he completed a successful sale. That full arc, from individual contributor to owner to exit, is the experience he brings to every client engagement.
As founder of ClearCurrent Consulting, Brian works with owner-led businesses navigating complexity: operational inefficiency, leadership gaps, unclear accountability, or the need for senior executive capacity without a full-time hire. His coaching philosophy centers on building leaders whose teams don't need to be managed into compliance, people who are equipped to think, decide, and move forward on their own.
Drawing on Aileron training and EOS practices, Brian has developed a unique operational structure tailored to each client, giving owner-led businesses the clarity and rhythm of a proven system without the rigidity of a one-size-fits-all framework.
Culture development is at the core of the work. Brian's guiding belief: a person should be better when they wrap up the day than when they started it. As stewards of people, it is our responsibility to invest in their interests and skills, both personally and professionally. That philosophy shapes every engagement. Brian participates in every engagement, from the first conversation through final delivery.
Beyond client work, Brian partnered with a local chamber of commerce to create peer group tables for business owners, structured forums for shared learning and mutual support. He genuinely enjoys meeting people, making introductions, and finding the connection that helps everyone move forward. If there's a way to create a win for someone in his network, he'll find it.
Executive Background
CEO, Automated Payroll Service
Joined 2001, owner 2003, purchased remainder of company from founder 2010, sold company 2024
Training & Methodology
Aileron & EOS-informed methodology
Services
Fractional CEO / COO
Leadership Coaching
Operational Consulting
Based
Southwest Florida
Serving businesses nationally
Get started
Every engagement begins with a conversation. No pitch, no proposal, just an honest look at where you are and where you want to go.
Book a time with Brian →Or reach out directly: bbarrett@clearcurrentconsulting.com