“The future of work is human. Amid all of our technology and automation, the organizations that thrive will be those that put people first.” ~ Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar Corporation.
Have you ever dreamed of owning your own business-your schedule, your vision, your rules? Most entrepreneurs start with a great idea and a lot of passion. But their experience and ultimately their survival is far less romantic.
In Canada, there were 1.10 million employer businesses as of December 2023~and 98.1% of them were small businesses (less than 100 employees). Yet the numbers are sobering: 21.5% close within their first year, and only about half survive beyond five. More than 70% say management challenges-not passion, not effort-are the reason they fail.
The most common pitfalls are predictable but devastating:
- Not truly understanding their market
- Weak or incomplete business planning
- Poor financial oversight
- Ineffective marketing strategies
That’s exactly why Resolve Consulting exists. Built specifically for small business owners, Resolve Consulting helps entrepreneurs spot issues long before they become crises. Through practical education, systems, and hands-on processes, they empower owners to run their companies from a place of clarity, confidence, and control.
Meet Emily Van Kesteren-founder of Resolve Consulting and a woman on a mission to change the survival rate of small businesses.
Van Kesteren’s path to entrepreneurship followed a circuitous route.
She spent her early years in Chatham, then St. Mary’s and later Manitoulin Island. She graduated from a private university with a degree in business management with the expectation that she would fit into a traditional corporate climate. A short stint at a Chatham-based corporation was not what she expected.
So, she did something bold: she left!
Van Kesteren moved to Australia, bartended, travelled, and leaned fully into exploration. Eventually, she landed a role in project management and construction administration~a job that sparked something she hadn’t expected. Excitement! Revelation!
In this role, she discovered a knack for big picture clarity, optimizing systems, financial and project-management software. What began as helping her employer, quickly became a passion and an insight into how small businesses survive, scale, and stay profitable. She wasn’t just doing the job~she was creating a business plan for her own future small business.
Returning to Canada, Van Kesteren was hired back to the same corporation in a new role, but now with the confidence that she was destined for a new challenge. Convinced she had a viable business concept in hand, she gave herself a goal to make a profit of $3,000 a month and six months to do it.
She made it happen and Resolve Consulting was born!
That was three and a half years ago, and now Van Kesteren is poised to expand.
“Chatham-Kent has more than enough work, and it is growing, I can barely keep up with the influx of work I do have”, she explains.
She hired Senior Consultant, Alyssa Gingrich, in the spring of 2025, and has just hired an Administrative Assistant, Aimee Stucke.
Van Kesteren describes what sets Resolve Consulting apart from other similar firms.
They offer a free consultation as a place to begin. “I have a finance approach”, she says, “my first question is generally, how much are you profiting in a year”? She says it’s surprising how many small business owners do not know the answer to that question. The plan is straightforward. She expects the owner to commit to learning how to do the bookkeeping, the tracking and catching up on their taxes. If the owner is reluctant to commit to the initial eight hours of consulting, to achieve the basic thresholds, or cannot see the importance of managing these fundamentals, then there is no point in proceeding.
Resolve Consulting offers subscription-based consulting services. Here are the current two options: (1) $150 an hour ad hoc. Or (2) four hours, minimum of two months @ $100/hour or $380 + tax. The onus to schedule and complete the consultations is solely the responsibility of the business owner.
Van Kesteren says, “My goal is to put myself out of a job”.
The biggest challenge Van Kesteren sees is financial illiteracy. “My approach is teaching first. I teach people how to do it…all the tools of understanding, how to improve and how to see their own financial information and make informed decisions”, she explains.
She recommends Quick Books every time. It is simple and easy. She can pass along 50% savings of the subscription cost, for five years, to all her clients. She does not receive a commission; that offer is based on the volume of business she has directed toward Quick Books.
Her big push for 2026 will be job costing. “Quick Books does it so well”, she says “and it will link into your payroll”. The resulting profit and loss will be a valuable source document, to analyze what works and what doesn’t.
Her simple suggestion for tax planning, is to save your HST don’t spend it! She advises clients that they can access it temporarily paying the account back by the end of the next month.
Van Kesteren believes that understanding your finances is critical. You are able to compare quarter over quarter, year over year, and plan for the future of your business.
When asked for a success story, Van Kesteren shared the story of one of her clients who owns a construction business. The client had a five-year plan. Van Kesteren discussed the necessary steps that would be required to help the client achieve his goals. Three years after that initial consultation, his business is thriving and he is committed to listening and taking advice to help him realize his dreams.
A testimonial from Resolve Consulting website:
“We’ve hired Emily to help with my construction business, and it’s easily been the best business decision we’ve made yet. The amount of knowledge, insight and clarity we’ve gained from Emily and her team is truly immeasurable! She’s personable, incredibly passionate about her work and brings great energy to every meeting. If you’re operating a business of your own, I’m certain that Emily can help to make your life so much easier”.
Working with small businesses on marketing, strategy, brand identity and execution are what Alyssa specializes in. The team encourages entrepreneurs to consider who their target market is and to find a niche in the market that is under served. Speaking confidently about what you have to offer, is key to marketing your business to your customers.
Word of mouth in the community is everything!
Van Kesteren and her team stress the value of networking and Chatham-Kent offers so many opportunities to get out and meet others in the community. The team attends the events for Biz Connect sponsored by the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce, and the Small Business Centre events. Van Kesteren is one of the presenters at the Small Business training programme Starter Company Plus. She receives referrals from the Small Business Centre and Community Futures CK. “I really try to cultivate relationships and if the client is considering financing I will send them to Community Futures CK.
Van Kesteren and her team are working on a stunning new business concept that is set to launch in the early months of 2026!
They have leased a building on Wellington Street, in Chatham, that will serve multiple purposes. It will be a business hub offering dedicated office space for rent, dedicated desks for rent, and a multi-purpose meeting space. There will be a large boardroom. There will be shared kitchen facilities, a washroom, lounging areas to encourage networking, and all of this, will be on a subscription basis. And true to Van Kesteren’s progressive approach, the entire space will be locked and accessible for bookings and entry, by Bluetooth on your phone.
When asked how she sees the impact of AI on the future of business, Van Kesteren considers this another tool to assist in routine tasks, not as a replacement for sound analysis and management prowess.
She sees the resurgence of brick-and-mortar businesses and believes business owners crave social interaction.
Being with Van Kesteren for sixty minutes was like a blast of fresh air.
She exudes energy, excitement and sheer joy when talking about the most rewarding aspect of her business, which is “when someone comes to me and is really stressed and we fix it”, she says “I have cried” with joy.
This is how Resolve Consulting came to be. The commitment, the hustle, and the desire to help small business owners realize their dream.
Van Kesteren says, “I want to help people, and when they come in and say I don’t know what to do…I have the answer”.
She smiles and says, “It’s very satisfying work”.
Being bold and authentic comes naturally to Emily Van Kesteren!
You can reach Resolve Consulting on any of the links here, by email at hello@resolveconsulting.ca or by phone at 519-784-8846.