How It Works — Tessera Advisory Group

Services, In Plain Terms

If you've ever asked one of these questions, that's us.

Each of these is a real thing owners say. Below it is what we do about it.

"How do I set this company up the right way?"

We build the legal skeleton of your business — how it's owned, who decides what, and how the pieces fit together — so it's solid from day one and you're not paying to fix it later.

"How do I bring in money without losing my company?"

We figure out where your funding should come from, how much to raise, and on what terms — so you get the capital you need while keeping control and as much ownership as possible.

"How do I get investors to take me seriously?"

We build the financial models, projections, and pitch materials investors expect — clean, credible, and ready to hold up when they start asking hard questions.

"How do I make sure this deal protects me?"

We structure the agreement and handle the back-and-forth so everyone's aligned on paper — friendly on the surface, but with your interests firmly protected underneath.

"How do I operate in a heavily regulated industry?"

For businesses where the rules are strict — like cannabis, hemp, or licensed trades — we handle the licensing and compliance so the red tape becomes an advantage instead of a landmine.

"I know something needs to change — what is it?"

We take an honest look at the whole business, find what's actually holding you back, and lay out a clear plan for the next stage of growth.

Plain-English Glossary

The words you'll hear — and what they actually mean.

You don't need to memorize these. But the next time a lawyer or investor uses one, you'll know exactly what they're talking about.

EquityOwnership in the company. If you own 60% of the equity, you own 60% of the business.
DilutionWhen your slice of ownership gets smaller because new shares were handed out — usually to bring in investors. The pie grew, but your piece is now a smaller share of it.
Cap tableA simple chart of who owns what. It lists every owner and how much of the company they hold.
HoldCo / OpCoA two-layer setup: the "holding company" owns things (the brand, the real estate, the equity), and the "operating company" runs the day-to-day. It keeps your valuable assets protected and separate from the riskier daily operations.
Operating agreementThe rulebook for an LLC. It spells out who owns what, who makes decisions, how money is split, and what happens if someone leaves.
Capital stackAll the different sources of money funding a project, stacked by who gets paid back first. Think of it as the order of the line at payout time.
Preferred returnA promise that investors get paid back a set return first, before profits are split with everyone else. It's the "you get yours before I get mine" layer.
WaterfallThe agreed order in which money flows out of a deal — who gets paid, how much, and in what sequence as profits come in.
Equity vs. debtTwo ways to raise money: equity means selling a piece of the company (no repayment, but you give up ownership); debt means borrowing (you keep ownership, but you pay it back with interest).
Due diligenceThe homework an investor or buyer does before committing — digging through your numbers, contracts, and structure to make sure everything checks out.
Term sheetA short, plain summary of the key points of a deal before the long contracts get written. The handshake, on paper.
Pro forma / financial modelA spreadsheet that projects how the business is expected to perform — revenue, costs, and profit over the next few years — so everyone can see where it's headed.

What we do, in plain English.