Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ace Tarakchian. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Ace thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. So, we’d appreciate if you could open up about your growth story and the nitty, gritty details that went into scaling up.

The journey of scaling Ace Business Consulting wasn’t an overnight success story – it was forged in the crucible of one of the most challenging periods for small businesses in recent history. When I founded the firm in 2019, I started with a focused approach, working with franchisors to help their franchisees grow through government contracting and B2B sales strategies. However, the true scaling story began when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which initially seemed like it would destroy everything I had built.

Like many entrepreneurs, I faced a critical moment when my existing contracts were cut as businesses struggled to survive. Instead of viewing this as a setback, I made a strategic pivot that would ultimately transform my business. I identified an opportunity to help struggling businesses through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a non-profit organization funded by the SBA and CalOSBA. This decision to join the SBDC network in mid-2020 became the catalyst for exponential growth.

The scaling process wasn’t glamorous – it was intense, demanding, and often overwhelming. During the latter half of 2020, I found myself working 14-18 hour days, conducting back-to-back virtual consultations with businesses desperate for survival. By the end of that year, I had assisted 648 unique clients, primarily helping them navigate access to capital through PPP loans, EIDL loans, and various grant programs. This period was a masterclass in crisis management, financial consulting, and building trust under pressure.

Several key strategies emerged during this scaling phase:
-Network Building & Relationship Focus: The cornerstone of our growth has been the power of relationships and networking. Every client interaction, every professional connection, and every partnership became part of a growing network that fueled our expansion through referrals. Success bred success – satisfied clients became our biggest advocates, referring other businesses and creating a snowball effect of growth.
-Leverage Institutional Partnerships: The SBDC provided instant credibility, which helped establish my expertise in the community.
-Above-and-Beyond Service Philosophy: I implemented a “whatever it takes” approach to client service. If a client’s needs fell outside my immediate expertise, I wouldn’t simply turn them away – I would leverage my professional network to find the right solution or expert. This commitment to comprehensive support, even when it meant making referrals to other professionals, built unprecedented trust and loyalty.
-Build Through Service: Each client interaction was an opportunity to demonstrate value and build reputation. This led to strong word-of-mouth referrals and community recognition, culminating in receiving the Network Star Award.
-Embrace Intensive Learning: The steep learning curve of handling diverse business challenges under pressure dramatically expanded my consulting capabilities and service offerings.

The most meaningful moments weren’t the awards or recognition – they were the countless times we helped businesses survive and eventually thrive during unprecedented circumstances. What set us apart was the intensity of care and support we provided. I approached each client’s business as if it were my own, often going far beyond the traditional scope of consulting services. This meant late-night research sessions to find solutions, reaching out to my network of professionals for specialized expertise, and never giving up until we found a way forward.

One of the biggest challenges was managing the intense workload while maintaining quality of service. The solution wasn’t to work more hours (though I did plenty of that), but to develop systematic approaches to common challenges and create efficient processes for client support. Just as importantly, I built and maintained a robust network of professional relationships – attorneys, CPAs, industry specialists, and other experts who could provide specialized assistance when needed. This network became invaluable in providing comprehensive solutions to complex client challenges.

Looking back, what seemed like obstacles – the pandemic, lost contracts, overwhelming demand – became the very factors that accelerated our growth. The SBDC continues to be valuable, though I’ve now scaled back my involvement to focus on growing Ace Business Consulting’s direct client base.

The key lesson from our scaling journey is that sometimes the path to growth isn’t linear or predictable. Success came not from following a predetermined plan, but from being adaptable enough to recognize and seize opportunities, even in the midst of crisis. It’s about having the courage to make bold moves when conventional wisdom might suggest playing it safe. Most importantly, it’s about building and nurturing relationships at every level – with clients, partners, and fellow professionals – while providing service with genuine care and commitment.

Today, while Ace Business Consulting has grown significantly from its early days, we maintain the same commitment to providing value-driven solutions that helped us scale during those challenging times. Our growth story isn’t about overnight success – it’s about sustained effort, strategic adaptation, and an unwavering focus on client success, all built on a foundation of strong relationships and an extensive professional network.

Ace, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey into business consulting comes from a place of genuine entrepreneurial experience and humble beginnings. As the child of immigrants, I wasn’t born into a network of business connections or inherited knowledge – I had to learn the landscape of success through firsthand experience and determination. This background has profoundly shaped my approach to business consulting and how I serve my clients today.

My path wasn’t traditional. I initially pursued a career in healthcare, where I discovered I had a natural talent not just for problem-solving, but for breaking down complex solutions into simple, actionable steps that others could easily understand. While working in healthcare settings – hospitals, clinics, and senior care centers – I noticed recurring challenges in their operations. Many of these issues stemmed from financial management, profit optimization, and margin considerations. This realization sparked my entrepreneurial journey and ultimately led to the founding of Ace Business Consulting.

Over nine years, I built and operated several companies across different sectors. I founded a medical device company focusing on patient bed enhancement, developed a healthcare service company specializing in care transition navigation, and created an educational consulting firm that helped schools develop innovative programs. Some ventures scaled rapidly and succeeded, others faced challenges, and I successfully exited several businesses. Each experience – whether a triumph or a learning opportunity – contributed to my comprehensive understanding of what makes businesses thrive.

Today, through Ace Business Consulting, I primarily work with startups and small to medium-sized enterprises, offering a suite of services that includes:
-Business formation and planning
-Financial projections and analysis
-Business development strategy
-Government contracting guidance
-Capital raising (both debt and equity)

One of our most sought-after services is capital raising, where we guide founders through both lending opportunities and equity investment processes. This includes crafting compelling pitch decks, developing investor relations strategies, and leveraging my extensive network of professionals – attorneys, CPAs, venture capitalists, angel investors, and lenders – to facilitate meaningful connections and deal flow. Recently, I’ve even begun making selective investments in promising companies, further aligning my interests with those of my clients.

What truly sets us apart is the combination of three key elements:
-Firsthand Entrepreneurial Experience: My background as a founder who has built, scaled, and exited multiple companies gives me practical insights that can’t be learned from textbooks. I’ve experienced the challenges my clients face and can provide guidance based on real-world experience.
-Cross-Industry Expertise: While we specialize in healthcare, health tech, biotech, software, deep tech, and education sectors, my experience across various industries allows me to bring diverse perspectives and innovative solutions to each client’s unique situation.
-Extensive Professional Network: The relationships I’ve built with industry professionals, investors, and service providers have become an invaluable resource for my clients. I believe strongly in the power of meaningful connections and work to extend these networking benefits to everyone I work with.

What I’m most proud of is the way we approach client relationships. Having built my own success through relationship-building and collaborative partnerships, I’m passionate about passing this approach on to my clients. We don’t just provide services – we become invested partners in our clients’ success, often going above and beyond traditional consulting relationships to ensure they have every possible advantage.

For potential clients considering working with us, I want them to know that they’re not just getting a consultant – they’re getting a partner who understands the entrepreneurial journey from personal experience. Someone who has faced similar challenges, celebrated similar victories, and learned valuable lessons along the way. Our approach is always hands-on, practical, and focused on real-world results.

The core of our brand is built on three fundamental beliefs:
-Success in business comes from building genuine relationships and strong networks
-Every challenge has a solution if you’re willing to think creatively and work persistently
-The best way to achieve success is to help others succeed

Whether you’re a startup founder looking to raise your first round of capital or an established business seeking strategic growth opportunities, we bring the same level of dedication, expertise, and relationship-focused approach to every engagement. Our success is measured by your success, and we’re committed to being a long-term partner in your business journey.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

You know that old saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know”? Well, in my case, it’s both – but the “who” part has been absolutely game-changing. About 60% of my new clients come from referrals, and there’s a beautiful ecosystem at play here that I’ve carefully cultivated over the years.

Think of it as a professional version of the “friend of a friend” phenomenon, except instead of getting dating recommendations, you’re getting trusted business partnerships. My referral network includes a diverse cast of characters: satisfied previous clients, attorneys who’ve witnessed my work firsthand, CPAs who trust me with their valued clients, and fellow consultants who know my track record.

The secret sauce? Trust. Pure and simple. But here’s the thing about trust – you can’t hack it, fake it, or fast-track it. It’s built through consistently delivering superior service and treating every client’s business as if it were your own. When a respected attorney or accountant refers someone to me, it’s like getting a five-star review before I’ve even met the client. These warm introductions typically lead to what I call “handshake conversions” – where the trust has essentially been transferred through professional osmosis.
But here’s what really sets my approach apart: I don’t focus on building a business network; I focus on building friendships. Yes, you read that right. I’ve found that when you genuinely connect with people who share your professional orbit (especially those offering complementary services to the same target demographic), magical things happen. It’s like having a personal cheerleading squad of professionals who not only understand your value but are excited to share it with others.

This approach has created a beautiful flywheel effect – the more trust I build, the more referrals I receive, which leads to more opportunities to prove my value, which in turn generates more trust and referrals. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, powered by genuine relationships and backed by consistent results.

So while I could tell you about various marketing strategies or lead generation techniques, the truth is that nothing beats the power of a strong handshake, a job well done, and a network of professionals who’ve become friends along the way. In business consulting, trust isn’t just currency – it’s the whole economy.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Let me tell you about my biggest “time to eat some humble pie” moment. I started out thinking I was the business whisperer – after all, I’d successfully started and grown several companies myself. I was like that person who learns to cook one amazing dish and suddenly thinks they’re ready for MasterChef. Spoiler alert: I had a lot to learn!

When I transitioned into consulting, it was like stepping through a business looking glass. Suddenly, I was exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of companies, each one a unique petri dish of innovation and problem-solving. It was like going from playing checkers to discovering there’s not just chess, but 3D chess, underwater chess, and chess played by dogs (okay, maybe not that last one).

Here’s the big lesson I had to unlearn: thinking I had it all figured out. You see, success can be a tricky teacher. My pre-pandemic victories had given me a certain playbook, and I was pretty attached to it. But then the pandemic hit, and it was like someone changed all the rules mid-game. Add in the explosion of AI tools and Language Learning Models, and suddenly my trusty playbook looked about as current as a flip phone at an iPhone convention.

This led to what I call my “professional plot twist” – realizing that being an expert doesn’t mean knowing everything; it means being expert at learning new things. Each client became not just someone I was helping, but someone I was learning from. Their innovative solutions, their unique challenges, their creative approaches to saturated markets – it was like getting a PhD in real-world business evolution.

Some of the most eye-opening moments came from seeing:
-Startups finding completely new angles in seemingly saturated markets
-Traditional businesses pivoting quickly during the pandemic
-Companies leveraging new technologies in ways we can never imagine
-Entrepreneurs creating solutions to problems we didn’t even know existed

The most liberating part was embracing the fact that business evolution never stops. Just when you think you’ve mastered social media marketing, along comes a new platform. Just as you get comfortable with one set of business tools, artificial intelligence flips the script. It’s frustrating at first, but exciting once you embrace the challenge.

And I absolutely love it! There’s something exhilarating about this never-ending learning process. It keeps me on my toes and ensures I never get too comfortable with “the way things are.” Every new challenge, every innovative solution, every technological advancement is like unwrapping a present – you never quite know what you’re going to get, but you’re excited to find out.

This continuous learning journey has made me a better consultant because I’m not just teaching from an old textbook – I’m learning and adapting alongside my clients. We’re riding this wave of change together, and sometimes the best solutions come from combining traditional wisdom with newfound innovation.
So here’s the ultimate irony: the biggest lesson I had to unlearn was thinking that learning ever stops. And that’s probably the most valuable lesson of all.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.acebusinessconsultant.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ace-tarakchian

Image Credits

Ace Tarakchian