Cogent Analytics

09/09/2026

Four business owners. Four different industries. The same realization: "We really didn't know all of the things that we lacked as a business until the Discovery process."

Discovery isn't about telling owners what they're doing wrong. It's about finally asking the questions that surface what's already there: the gaps, the blind spots, the things that get missed when you're too close to see them.

As one owner put it: "It was like a friend giving you a cup full of truth." Sometimes that's exactly what a business needs to move forward.

Watch their stories: https://youtu.be/jrQOqqRy_9U?si=J2gpoI-QAjM4Oimg

09/07/2026

Labor Day started as a tribute to the American worker. It's grown into something a little broader: a tribute to everyone willing to build something from nothing. That's always been at the heart of what we believe in.

The American Dream isn't an idea from history. It's still being built every day, by the owner opening early to get ahead of the day, the crew putting in the extra hour, the leader carrying more than their title requires because the team is counting on them.

This Labor Day, we're thinking about the business owners and teams still showing up for that dream — the ones building something bigger than themselves, one decision at a time. To everyone doing the work: thank you. Enjoy the day off. You've earned it.

09/02/2026

Matt Biggs didn't just inherit a plumbing company. He inherited the weight of it.

As the new owner of Overflow Plumbing, the moment that hit hardest wasn't a bad month - it was realizing that if the business failed, it wasn't just his risk. It was his employees' mortgages. Their kids' college funds.

That's when "figuring it out as I go" stopped being an option. Matt describes becoming a stronger leader; not by being harder on his team, but by finally having the structure to know where he needed to step up, and where he'd been guessing.

The payoff wasn't just a smoother-running business. He got something back that he hadn't had in years: time.

Watch Matt's story: https://youtu.be/kSjQ6EwXcl4

"I was a plumber that bought into a company — still was a plumber."...

08/26/2026

Cogent Analytics is proud to sponsor the 11th Annual Shea's Chase 5K Run & Walk on September 26th.

This event raises awareness for mental health and su***de prevention, with 100% of proceeds going directly to the Kellin Foundation's free counseling, peer support, and community programs.

It's a cause close to home for us; our CFO, Robin Braiman, serves on the Kellin Foundation's board, and we've seen firsthand the difference these programs make for families across Guilford County.

Strong businesses are built on strong communities. Supporting the people and organizations doing that work isn't separate from what we do - it's part of it.

Join us on September 26th. Register here: https://hubs.ly/Q04vgWPM0

Looking for 5K races or marathons near you in Greensboro, Guilford County, or the surrounding areas of North Carolina? Join us for Shea's Chase 5K Run/Walk, a community event dedicated to mental health awareness and support, benefiting the Kellin Foundation. Lace up your shoes and participate in thi

08/19/2026

A candidate can check every box and still fail in the role.

Experienced. Motivated. Reliable. Reasonable qualities to look for, but they don't actually predict who succeeds.

The real question most companies skip before recruiting: what evidence tells us this person can succeed here, not just anywhere? That changes the interview:

- Look for specific behaviors the role requires, not years of experience
- Ask what rejection looked like in their last role, not whether they're "comfortable" with it
- Study what actually separates your best performers, instead of cloning their resume

Two salespeople can share a title and similar numbers, but one built every relationship cold while the other worked warm leads with a team behind them. Same title. Different job.

Hiring gets easier the moment you stop chasing the most impressive resume and start chasing the clearest evidence of fit.

Read the full article, written by our Senior Corporate Recruiter, Ashley Harris: https://cogentanalytics.com/hiring/are-you-hiring-the-right-person-or-the-right-resume/

Hiring the right person requires more than qualifications. Explore behaviors and experience that lead to success in hiring.

08/12/2026

Cogent Analytics is proud to be named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, marking our eighth time receiving this incredible honor.

Growth like this doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through the commitment of our team, the trust of our clients, and a relentless focus on helping business owners build stronger, more profitable companies.

Eight times recognized. And we’re just getting started.

Inc. Magazine

08/05/2026

This weekend, our Business Development team gathered from across the country to sharpen our skills, challenge our thinking, and learn from one another.

We believe that investing in our people is one of the best investments we can make in the business owners we serve. Every lesson learned and conversation had helps us show up better for the thousands of small and mid-sized businesses working to build something lasting.

The learning never stops, and neither does our commitment to making a meaningful impact on American small businesses.

07/29/2026

Growth doesn't always create freedom. For many small and mid-sized business owners, growth can actually create more complexity. The systems that worked with 20 employees often begin to break down at 100.

That's exactly what happened with one Midwest transportation company.

The business had grown into a $11.7 million operation with 140 employees, but the owner had become the hub for nearly every decision, complaint, and operational issue. The business had outgrown the structure supporting it.

The solution wasn't working harder. It was building better systems. By strengthening leadership, implementing accountability, improving pricing, and creating greater financial visibility, the company achieved:
- 18.8% revenue growth
- 20.6% increase in gross profit
- 156.5% increase in net profit, improving net margin from 9% to 19%

The biggest transformation wasn't just financial. As the owner put it: "I used to feel like I was drowning in daily chaos. Now I have a leadership team, a plan, and control over my numbers."

Strong businesses aren't built by asking owners to carry more. They're built by creating the structure that allows the business and its people to thrive.

Read the full case study, written by our very own Lisa Richards and Heather Joyner:https://cogentanalytics.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Transportation-Company-Case-Study-E4.pdf

07/22/2026

Business owners often tell us they have a people problem. But what if it actually is a clarity problem?

When roles aren't clearly defined, even great employees can end up frustrated. Responsibilities overlap. Decisions get escalated unnecessarily. Accountability becomes subjective. Before long, leadership is spending more time managing conflict than growing the business.

The question isn't always: "Who isn't performing?" Sometimes it's: "Has success been clearly defined in the first place?"

Clear expectations, defined ownership, measurable outcomes, and decision-making authority don't make a business "too corporate." They create the confidence that allows people to perform at their best.

If your team seems to be struggling with communication, accountability, or ownership, it may be worth looking at your structure before looking at your people.

This recent article by Project Director Yaw Ananga explores why many businesses are solving the wrong problem—and what to focus on instead.

Read it here: https://cogentanalytics.com/people/role-clarity-vs-personality-management-are-you-solving-the-wrong-problem/

See our resources section to see how Cogent Analytics helps small and midsize business owners boost profit, efficiency, and long‑term stability.

07/15/2026

Business owners don't usually hit a ceiling because they stop working hard. They hit it because the business that got them here isn't the business that will get them where they want to go.

On the latest episode of Inspired Stories Podcast, our Senior Business Analyst Andrew Acer shares the pattern he sees over and over again: Successful owners becoming trapped by the very habits that created their early success.

From his own journey through entrepreneurship, leadership, burnout, and back again, Andrew discusses:
• Why "what got you here won't get you there"
• How owners can shift from operator to leader
• The role of stewardship, systems, and honest conversations in sustainable growth
• Why AI should be viewed as a multiplier and not a replacement for great leadership

If you want to build a business that can grow without depending on you for every decision, this conversation is worth your time.

Listen here: https://hubs.ly/Q04pvgmc0

The Inspired Stories Podcast · Episode