Adeptus Partners

Customer

Top celebrities in sports, movies, television and music are often seen accompanied by bodyguards. But perhaps more important is the protection many of them need when dealing with their taxes and other business matters. That’s where KeyBank client Adeptus Partners comes in.

Managing Partner Howard Krant describes his CPA and business advisory firm as one that goes well beyond bookkeeping, to keeping a watchful eye on their clients’ well-being. “Athletes need help planning for life after sports, musicians face complexities ranging from royalty streams to concert tour receipts and sales taxes, and film stars need to be wary of being lured into bad business deals,” says Krant.

Challenge

Adeptus is a tax and audit firm that specializes in serving the entertainment industry along with businesses in manufacturing, healthcare, real estate, apparel and textiles, amongst many other industries. Their range of expertise has grown significantly, in part organically, as well as through strategic acquisitions of smaller accounting firms. “A major challenge with acquiring CPA firms is that we’re purchasing intangible assets,” says Krant. “Essentially, we’re buying a business’s client list ... and there’s no collateral involved, so it’s hard to evaluate from a lender perspective.” That means Krant’s firm can’t finance their acquisitions through traditional commercial loans.

Solution

An SBA loan has been the go-to solution and the KeyBank small business team has been the go-to SBA lending experts for structuring the deals that give Adeptus access to the working capital they need.

“The rules, regulations and compliance mandates for SBA lending are incredibly complex,” Krant points out. Adeptus has been relying on the experience the KeyBank team brings to the table for nearly 30 years, and they continue to come through every time, including solid underwriting. Krant refers to his KeyBank team by their first names, Fred, Kathy and Rita, adding, “They listen, they know who we are, they’re open to what we say and always try to work things out.”

Central to the thriving, long-term relationship between Adeptus and KeyBank has been the mutual flexibility ... both citing collaboration and willingness to adapt to SBA lending conditions as the keys to getting deals done.

Results

Using their business acquisitions to expand their capabilities, reach and range of expertise, Adeptus Partners remains in a solid position to continue growing when the right opportunities arise.

“The business has fared exceptionally well even through the pandemic,” adds Krant.

Reflecting on the nuances of serving successful entertainers, Krant notes the extreme tax complexities for music stars, from royalty streams, to concert tour tax technicalities to nuances of performing in foreign countries. “We pride ourselves on creative thinking that ensures our clients are financially prepared for anything.” The same can be said about his small business banking team at KeyBank.

From SBA loan inception to closing, Krant says his KeyBank team is with him all the way. “It’s like they wrote the book on SBA Lending. ... They’re just able to structure deals in beneficial ways I would have never entertained myself.”