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About James

I've sat in your chair.

I'm not a consultant who only reads about business. I've built, run, and sold them. That's what I bring.

An operator, not a theorist.

Most advice comes from people who never ran a business. I've done the owner's work: payroll, suppliers, fixing breakdowns, carrying the weight. I know the gap between a spreadsheet and a real decision.

I've also prepared, submitted, and managed multi-million-dollar government contracts, so I know complex proposals, compliance, and process from the inside.

That's why I work on performance. When it fits, my compensation is tied to measurable results instead of an upfront retainer. If I don't see real money to find, I'll say so early rather than bill you to learn it.

"I'd rather earn my fee from your result than charge you for my time."
James Antaki in a tan suit, leaning on a desk in an office.
The track record

Built, ran, and sold. Not theory.

20+ years of real-world experience. The businesses I've run, the seat I coach from.

01
Ran all of Ontario for YM Group (Stitches, Urban Planet, Sirens, Urban Kids), opening new stores and hiring and training every management team.
Provincial leadership: new-store openings, full management hiring + training, ops across the whole network.
02
Built the Côté Rico group across the Maritimes, spanning franchise banners including Centre de Travaille, Ecotone, and Chaussures Pop, with 20+ investors recruited, set up, and grown.
Regional leadership: bringing operators in, getting them open, and pushing their numbers up.
03
Built and exited a $3M+ business.
Scaled, ran, exited. I know what makes a business worth selling.
04
Prepared, submitted, and managed multi-million-dollar government contracts.
Complex proposals, compliance, and business processes, not just general small-business consulting.
The mission

Help owners build businesses that are more efficient, more profitable, and built to last.

Real advice from real ownership: find the opportunity, fix how the business runs, and put systems in place so the gains hold. Consulting should create clarity, drive action, and deliver results you can measure.

Real-world experience · Practical solutions · Sustainable growth

Let's find the money in your business.

Start with a free 30-minute business assessment. No upfront consulting fee, no obligation.

Book a free assessment ▸ See how it works