Some relationships start with a transaction.
Others start with a long game.

Maxim was one of Franklin Nova’s earliest clients. Before a PE Firm entered the equation, before the acquisitions, and before the 47 project folders we were brought in to support a key finance executive on compliance work. And we’ve been with them ever since.

That first engagement? Helping with ASC805, 350, 842, 718, and IRC409A. Our founder, Brian Sarkis, had worked with Maxim during his time at Deloitte. When he launched Franklin Nova, they came knocking the moment his non-compete was up.

The relationship quickly evolved into something deeper.
A steady, trusted advisory presence that grew with the business.

Enter the PE Firm

In 2016, a PE Firm acquired Maxim. Thanks to our long-standing partnership, Maxim’s executive sponsor introduced Franklin Nova to that PE Firm. It wasn’t just a handoff. It was a referral backed by years of technical delivery and earned trust.

We stayed on.

And we didn’t just continue the work, we grew with them.

Fast Forward to Michaels

In 2021, the PE Firm acquired Michaels, the largest arts and crafts retailer in North America. Michaels had been working with a Big 4..

But when a financial reporting need surfaced, the same PE firm team that worked with us at Maxim made the connection.

In 2023, Michaels came to Franklin Nova for a business valuation. Then again for ASC350 and ASC842. And again for restructuring work, pre-acquisition analysis, and segment valuations for internal planning.

Today, we support both Michaels and the PE Firm across a growing range of strategic and compliance needs.

Why It Works

Across every engagement, the feedback is consistent:

✅ Technical expertise that meets or exceeds Big 4
✅ Faster turnaround times
✅ Senior-level involvement, start to finish
✅ No handoffs, no hierarchy headaches, just direct delivery

And while price may have been the initial driver for Michaels to consider a shift, the relationship has been sustained by how we show up—consistently, clearly, and with the people who can actually make decisions.

The result? A partnership that spans multiple companies, leadership teams, and use cases. One that started with compliance and now includes high-stakes strategic work.

56 projects. 10+ years. 3 companies. One trusted team. This is what we’re built for.