The Blackbird Story

(Not so) Fun Fact: 1 in 5 small businesses fail within their first year. And only half of the remaining businesses make it to their 5th birthday! With over 30 million small businesses across the country, that’s a lot of businesses that never grow old enough to “start kindergarten”. It seems as if The Hunger Games was written as a metaphor for business: “May the odds be ever in your favor.”

But let’s dive in a little deeper. Why do these small businesses fail? What is the number one reason? It’s not a bad product, bad personnel, unbeatable competition, or the recent supply chain phenomenon. No, it’s because they ran out of money. It’s that simple. Nearly half of SMB failures come from poor cash flow management, often right before their idea is about to take off. It’s not surprising. Business owners have too much on their plate to worry about already and so items like cash flow and financial management routinely become a “tomorrow” job. And then “tomorrow” never comes...

Look, I get it. I used to be afraid to look at my bank account or credit card bills. I didn’t want to face the skeletons hiding in the closet. But managing your business without understanding cash flow is like thinking you’ll win the Super Bowl without the genius of Andy Reid. You just can’t do it!

That’s where Blackbird FS comes in. We’re the financial partner you knew you needed but thought you couldn’t afford. Numbers are our thing. We’ll help you not only feel comfortable talking about your business’s financial health, but wanting to talk about it. You’ll know how much money you’re making, and you’ll own it.

Not convinced? We put our money where our mouth is. If ever you’re not completely satisfied with the value you’re receiving, get your money back, no questions asked.

Hey, I’m Jeff Crowe!

Financial expert. Numbers nerd. Excel wizard. All phrases used to describe me. Numbers are my thing (yeah, I’m one of those guys…), which means they don’t have to be your thing!

And as an owner of multiple small businesses myself, I can relate to the thrill and rush of building something great. But I also understand the challenges that small businesses face. That’s why I started Blackbird. I want to help passionate, energetic business owners quickly transform their vision into reality. After all, growing a business doesn’t need to be so hard.

I like to say I’m an accountant by trade, but entrepreneur by calling. I got my Master’s in Accounting from Mizzou and then got my CPA while starting at KPMG. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with Fortune 500 companies and local, small businesses alike.

I’m the oldest of six children raised here in Kansas City, so it’s safe to say I know the importance of family! I can’t spend enough time with them, especially my beautiful wife and two boys. I also think I’m a better golfer than I actually am, and I’m an avid Mizzou fan, which means I’ve already acquired a full lifetime’s worth of lessons in humility! At Blackbird, I’ve created the unique opportunity of building a business of my own while supporting entrepreneurs who are building businesses of their own. I look forward to partnering with you on your journey!