Business Advisor · Coach · Consultant · Petaluma, CA
I help you bring order
to your chaos.
"I'm passionate about the things you don't like to do." Strategic planning and financial empowerment for small businesses and growing organizations across Sonoma County and Northern California. 30+ years of hands-on finance and operations experience — put to work for you.
An operator
who also advises.
Jon Rickards is a Business Advisor, Coach, and Consultant based in Petaluma, California. Growing up on a premium wine-grape vineyard in Alexander Valley, Jon took an unexpected path — joining the Navy and graduating from the Naval Nuclear Power School before finding his passion in finance and business.
What followed was a 30-year career spanning Financial Analysis at Kendall Jackson Wine Estates, Product Management at Orion Wine Software, Project Management at WX Brands, and VP of Finance & Manufacturing at Rack & Riddle Custom Wine Services.
Today Jon brings C-suite financial thinking and hands-on operational execution to small businesses and growing organizations who need a trusted advisor without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Three ways I can
work with you.
Whether you need an outside perspective, a partner to build a plan, or someone to dig in and do the work — Jon adapts to what your business actually needs.
Business Advising
An unbiased outside perspective on how to run your business more effectively. Jon brings resources, connections, and 30 years of proven expertise — including guidance on AI and how to manage the future proactively.
Learn More →Business Coaching
Guidance through goal setting and strategic planning. Jon works alongside you to identify what's working, what isn't, and what specific steps will move your business forward.
Learn More →Business Consulting
Jon rolls up his sleeves and does the work. As your consultant, he executes directly using his skills in finance, operations, and systems — acting as your in-house expert without the overhead.
Learn More →Deep skills across
every dimension of your business.
A clear path from
first conversation to results.
A complimentary 30-minute conversation to understand your situation, goals, and what's getting in the way. No pressure, no commitment.
A structured review of your operations, finance, systems, and team to identify where the real opportunities and bottlenecks are.
Clear findings and recommendations with a prioritized roadmap — what to tackle first and why it matters for your business.
Ongoing advising, coaching, or hands-on consulting — tailored to your pace, your budget, and your goals.
The Quick Start
Business Process
Review
Not sure where to begin? The Quick Start is designed for business owners who want a clear picture of where they stand — and exactly where to go next. You'll walk away with a comprehensive assessment and a concrete set of recommendations.
Typically completed in under two weeks.
Schedule Your Quick Start- Initial Discovery & Expectation Setting with organizational leaders (2–3 hrs)
- Operations Process Review (1–2 hrs)
- Sales Assessment (1 hr)
- Management Review (1 hr)
- Financial Assessment (1 hr)
- Business Systems Assessment (1 hr)
- Review of Findings & Recommendations (1–3 hrs)
Experience across
multiple industries.
What people ask
before working with Jon.
My mission is to help you bring order to your chaos, through strategic planning and financial empowerment. — Jon Rickards, Founder
How I work.
What clients say about
working with Jon.
Real words from real clients — business owners and leaders who decided to bring order to their chaos.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me. It has been tremendously helpful making me feel more confident in my business. I wish I had these skills earlier. Thank you for everything.
Working with Jon Rickards has been one of the most empowering and healing financial experiences of my life. From our very first conversation, it was clear that this wasn't just about numbers or budgets — it was about me as a whole person. He brought compassion, deep listening, and a nonjudgmental approach that completely took the shame out of managing my finances.
Jon helped me get a better understanding of my business expenses, what to focus on in a potential business partnership, and how to determine the number of clients needed to meet my financial goals. Thank you!
Jon Rickards is a great business development professional. He has exceptional communication skills and knowledge of assisting customers, both small and large. I highly recommend Jon's services.
Ready to bring order
to your Chaos?
Start with a complimentary discovery conversation. No commitments, no pressure — just an honest look at your situation and what's possible.