Independent · CPA-led · Saint Petersburg, FL
We help business owners understand financial risks, tax consequences, and decision points before expensive decisions are made.
For individuals and owner-led businesses, Clarity reviews the quality of your financials, your most recent tax return, where the year stands now, and the long-term strategy connecting them — then explains what the numbers mean and identifies the meaningful actions you can take next.
Mike Hayes, CPA, MBA·20+ years in public accounting·Big Four & Top 15 CPA firm experience
What Clarity Reviews
Clarity is an independent, CPA-led review built around one idea: a business owner usually has tax returns, financial statements, and advice from several capable professionals — but no one integrating it into a single, honest read of where things stand. Clarity closes that gap with four connected reviews: your financials, your most recent tax return, where the current year stands, and the long-term strategy tying them together.
You leave knowing what needs attention and what to address first — in plain English, without hedging.
What Clarity Is Not
- — Not a tax-preparation or compliance shop.
- — Not an outsourced or fractional CFO.
- — Not an open-ended advisory retainer.
- — Not audit, review, compilation, or attestation.
01 — 06 · Moments This Often Comes Up
- 01 Growth A move that stretches capacity, capital, or structure.
- 02 Financing New debt, an equity round, or a refinance on the table.
- 03 Succession Handing the business to family, management, or a plan.
- 04 Sale or Transition Preparing to sell, merge, or exit on your own terms.
- 05 Partner Change Bringing one in, buying one out, or restructuring.
- 06 Tax & Cash-Flow Complexity When the numbers stop giving a clear, integrated answer.
Good Financials
A disciplined read of what your financial statements are actually telling you.
This review integrates your statements, returns, and the moving parts no single advisor is holding together — then delivers a plain read of where things are strong, where they are thin, and what to resolve first. It is the fullest expression of Clarity's process, and the right starting point for growth, financing, or a partner change.
What You Receive
- FindingsExecutive findings packetthe integrated read, in plain English
- 30 daysPriority listwhat to address first
- 90 daysWorking planthe near-term sequence
- 12 monthsAction horizonwhat to hold in view
Tax Returns
What does your return actually say — and what deserves a second look?
A plain-English read of a completed tax return: what it says, what deserves attention, and what to raise with your current advisor. No preparation, no filing — an independent second read on a document you already have.
Scope
- InA completed return, read for meaning
- OutPreparing or filing returns
Why Clarity Exists
Clarity Performance Advisors was founded by Mike Hayes, CPA, MBA, after more than two decades in public accounting. Across a Big Four firm, a Top 15 national CPA firm, and a Tax Partner role at a respected midsize practice, one pattern kept repeating: business owners had returns, statements, and advice from several capable professionals — but no one integrating it, explaining what it meant, or showing where risk was quietly building before a consequential decision.
Clarity closes that gap. It is not a compliance practice and not an embedded finance department. It delivers a fixed-scope, CPA-led read that tells an owner where they stand, what needs attention, and what to resolve before they move. Serious, independent, and written to be understood.
Mike Hayes — Record
- CredentialsCPA · MBA (Finance)
- FirmBig Four
- FirmTop 15 national CPA firm
- RoleTax Partner, midsize firm
- Practice20+ years in public accounting
- Based InSaint Petersburg, Florida
Independence
An advisory finding, never a disguised pitch.
Clarity's read stands on its own. When implementation is needed, it is handled by Hayes Advisory & Tax — a related but separate firm — and never bundled or upsold into the engagement. You get the honest read you paid for, and nothing you did not. Advisory only — not audit, review, compilation, or attestation.
Start a Conversation
A 30-minute discovery call, or a short note about your decision.
The Inquiry