Despite continued concerns about inflation, tariffs, labor costs, and economic uncertainty, U.S. middle market companies entered the second half of 2026 in surprisingly strong condition.According to the National Center for the Middle Market, year-over-year revenue growth reached 11.0% at mid-year 2026, while employment grew 7.2%. The widening gap between revenue Read more
A leadership team can look at the same business problem and see three very different things. Consider PrecisionSoft, a $50 million ERP software company. (The case study can be found on the C Squared website) The company had a strong product, loyal customers, and high renewal rates. Yet revenue growth Read more
Turn on the evening news, and it is easy to find a reason not to make a major business decision. Interest rates. Inflation. Tariffs. Government policy. The stock market. Employment. Consumer confidence. Geopolitical uncertainty. Predictions about the next recession. For middle-market business owners, the steady stream of uncertainty can create Read more
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer reserved for Fortune 500 companies. Today, affordable AI tools are helping small and midsize businesses improve productivity, reduce costs, and free employees to focus on higher-value work. Currently, the companies seeing the greatest success aren’t replacing people; they’re giving their teams better tools. Here are Read more
This is a synopsis of industry trends prior to the midyear statistics, which are available in late July. As we reach the midpoint of 2026, the U.S. economy continues to demonstrate resilience despite persistent uncertainty. While GDP growth has remained positive, middle-market companies are experiencing slower revenue and earnings growth Read more
Business owners often search for clarity in strategy, markets, and financial performance. Yet the most enduring guidance comes from something far less tactical. As Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, put it: “Keep a firm North Star on the values of the company. Because if you get the values right, if Read more
Last month, we published “How Does Your Trusted Advisor Make You Feel?” This is part 2 of the three-part series. Executive Insight Confidence in business is not instinctive; it is built over time. It comes from structured input, an informed perspective, and the ability to see both risk and opportunity Read more
Executive Insight The true value of a trusted business advisor is not simply expertise; it is the confidence you gain in your decisions. Strong advisors reduce uncertainty, bring structure to complexity, and help you move forward with clarity. What Confidence Looks Like After meeting with your advisor, you should feel: Read more
At C2, we believe inflation is not a surprise. It is a management test. We would like to use a client in a services business to show how they are managing the inflationary impact on their business. Because they believe they have a talented team, they want to minimize turnover Read more
As you begin 2026 business operations, you likely prepared last fall with budgets and marketing plans. The key to success is: do you have the infrastructure in place to succeed in those plans? Is your organization built to succeed? Most leadership teams begin January by talking about revenue targets, new Read more