Your Business Growth Partner

GUIDING THE 'BEST KEPT SECRETS' TO #1 IN THEIR MARKET

Trent Butler is a Chartered Accountant who acts as a Business Coach, Growth Advisor and Marketing Strategist to growth-minded professional service business owners.

We'll help you increase your profits, implement systems to improve operations and build a team that can operate without you - giving you the money and freedom to live the life you want.

Your Business Growth Partner

GUIDING THE 'BEST KEPT SECRETS' TO #1 IN THEIR MARKET

Trent Butler is a Chartered Accountant who acts as a Business Coach, Growth Advisor and Marketing Strategist to growth-minded professional service business owners.

We'll help you increase your profits, implement systems to improve operations and build a team that can operate without you - giving you the money and freedom to live the life you want.

Just a few of the 'best kept secrets' we've worked with:

"I was attracted to Trent's clarity of what could be achieved, his process driven approach to achieving objectives, coupled with his knowledge and experience. It's been absolute pleasure working with Trent and his team. I am extremely pleased with the results...”

Giles Hill

Director, EQ Property

The Truth Is You Have A Lot On Your Plate When It Comes To Being #1 In Your Market...

You Might Be Struggling With:

Identifying & attracting the right type of higher-value client

- Past efforts have attracted the wrong type of client.

- Prospects just want to know 'price' and don't seem to care about anything else.

- Leads seem to take forever to sign-up and become a client.

You just want to attract higher-value clients who value your expertise and expect to pay a fair premium to work with you.

Monitoring cash flow & tracking return on investment

- You’re unsure what metrics to be tracking.

- You’re not clear on what benchmarks to aim for.

- You're not sure if your marketing is making or losing money.

You just want to understand dollars-in vs dollars-out and whether or not it's all worth it.

Developing process and people to handle the next growth phase

- Growth is starting to cause other operational challenges.

- Getting the right people in the right seats has become easier said than done.

- The team can never quite seem to follow process or consistently achieve what is expected.

- You're getting pulled in a hundred different directions and clients are beginning to notice.

You just want to get everyone on the same page and following processes that actually work and scale.

Figuring out what to do and what not to do next from a marketing and business development standpoint

- Exactly who is our ideal client and how do we get more of them?

- Just what is our point of difference (or do we even have one)?

- Do people see us as a commodity service provider?

- What 'tactics' would work best specifically for our firm and stage of business?

- Where should we be spending our marketing dollars and efforts?

You just want to know what you should be doing and why.

Aligning the leadership team on strategy, planning and execution

- The leadership team is losing sight of the bigger picture (core mission, vision and values).

- Key team members just can't seem to agree on what should be done next, how and why.

- Problems use to be handled quickly but now take weeks/months to resolve.

- Important but not urgent activities are just not getting done.

You just want everyone in the business aligned and beating to the same drum.

Just a few of the 'best kept secrets' we've worked with:

"I was attracted to Trent's clarity of what could be achieved, his process driven approach to achieving objectives, coupled with his knowledge and experience. It's been absolute pleasure working with Trent and his team. I am extremely pleased with the results...”

Giles Hill

Director, EQ Property

THE TRUTH IS YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE WHEN IT COMES TO BEING #1 IN YOUR MARKET...

You Might Be Struggling With:

Identifying & attracting the right type of higher-value client

- Past efforts have attracted the wrong type of client.

- Prospects just want to know 'price' and don't seem to care about anything else.

- Leads seem to take forever to sign-up and become a client.

You just want to attract higher-value clients who value your expertise and expect to pay a fair premium to work with you.

Monitoring cash flow & tracking return on investment

- You’re unsure what metrics to be tracking.

- You’re not clear on what benchmarks to aim for.

- You're not sure if your marketing is making or losing money.

You just want to understand dollars-in vs dollars-out and whether or not it's all worth it.

Developing process and people to handle the next growth phase

- Growth is starting to cause other operational challenges.

- Getting the right people in the right seats has become easier said than done.

- The team can never quite seem to follow process or consistently achieve what is expected.

- You're getting pulled in a hundred different directions and clients are beginning to notice.

You just want to get everyone on the same page and following processes that actually work and scale.

Figuring out what to do and what not to do next from a marketing and business development standpoint

- Exactly who is our ideal client and how do we get more of them?

- Just what is our point of difference (or do we even have one)?

- Do people see us as a commodity service provider?

- What 'tactics' would work best specifically for our firm and stage of business?

- Where should we be spending our marketing dollars and efforts?

You just want to know what you should be doing and why.

Aligning the leadership team on strategy, planning and execution

- The leadership team is losing sight of the bigger picture (core mission, vision and values).

- Key team members just can't seem to agree on what should be done next, how and why.

- Problems use to be handled quickly but now take weeks/months to resolve.

- Important but not urgent activities are just not getting done.

You just want everyone in the business aligned and beating to the same drum.

Professional business coaching can help you:

Improve operations, implement systems and remove bottlenecks so that you get your time back.

Hire and train the right team, communicate better with each other and eliminate people problems.

Grow your business with bigger and better clients.

Overcome cash flow issues and improve your financial management.

Make better decisions and become more profitable.

WELL... YOU CAN!

Butler & Co Advisory is a small team of experienced entrepreneurs coaching aspiring entrepreneurs. We are experts in one thing – growing profitable companies through an appropriate mix of business coaching, growth advisory and marketing strategy consulting.

Whereever you're stuck, we can help:

MORE LEADS, SALES, AGGRESSIVE GROWTH?

YOU GOT IT.

MORE LEADS, SALES, AGGRESSIVE GROWTH? YOU GOT IT.

You won’t believe how easy it is to get your phone ringing with top-shelf, ready-to-buy prospects until you see our methodology for yourself. It’s time for you to set the pace and leave your competitors behind.

RECRUIT & RETAIN WINNERS INSTEAD OF LOSERS?

COMING RIGHT UP.

RECRUIT & RETAIN WINNERS INSTEAD OF LOSERS? COMING RIGHT UP.

Only the very best hiring managers win the perpetual war for talent. You’ll join the ranks of elite recruiters when you learn how the top guns do it. It’s time to get the rock stars you deserve and let the rest work for the others.

CONTROL YOUR CASH AND STASH MONEY AWAY?

EASY.

CONTROL YOUR CASH AND STASH MONEY AWAY? EASY.

Smart business owners know how to control costs, forecast and manage cash, and grow profits. It’s time to control the flow of money through your business and build a large pile of cash in your bank account.

GET YOUR BUSINESS READY TO SELL FOR BIG BUCKS? LET’S ROLL.

Any business can be turned into a cash machine that runs with minimal to zero daily involvement of the owner(s). It’s time to turn your staff into a team that will run your business like they own it, so you can sell it to whomever you wish, whenever you wish.

Who We Work With

We work primarily with established business owners in the following categories.

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Advisory Firms

Accounting firms, consulting firms, real estate agencies, medical clinics and marketing agencies.

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Professionals

Consultants, coaches, real estate agents, accountants, mortgage brokers, medical practitioners, marketers and freelancers.

Our Founder & Lead Business Coach, Trent Butler

The vision of Butler & Co Advisory is to be the undisputed market leader in business growth advisory services in Australia.

Our plan to achieve that vision is to work hand-in-hand with a smaller volume of exceptionally talented industry experts, taking each of them to 'market-leader' status in their respective niches and/or geographic locations. We then let their results do our talking.

A Chartered Accountant, Trent has over 10 years experience working across three different firms spanning the three 'tiers' of the accounting profession; a small boutique firm, a mid-tier firm and the ‘big 4’ firm – Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Since founding Butler & Co Advisory in 2018, Trent has worked with over 50+ Australian professional service businesses. He deeply understands the nuances, growth challenges and stakeholder dynamics that present at every stage of a firm's life cycle.

Trent knows how both prospective clients and professional staff conduct their due diligence and choose a professional service provider in the modern digital world.

He understands that as your business grows and thrives, so will our partnership. So let’s talk, we promise it will be a breath of fresh air.

Our Founder & Lead Business Coach, Trent Butler

The vision of Butler & Co Advisory is to be the undisputed market leader in business growth advisory services in Australia.

Our plan to achieve that vision is to work hand-in-hand with a smaller volume of exceptionally talented industry experts, taking each of them to 'market-leader' status in their respective niches and/or geographic locations. We then let their results do our talking.

A Chartered Accountant, Trent has over 10 years experience working across three different firms spanning the three 'tiers' of the accounting profession; a small boutique firm, a mid-tier firm and the ‘big 4’ firm – Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

Since founding Butler & Co Advisory in 2018, Trent has worked with over 50+ Australian professional service businesses. He deeply understands the nuances, growth challenges and stakeholder dynamics that present at every stage of a firm's life cycle.

Trent knows how both prospective clients and professional staff conduct their due diligence and choose a professional service provider in the modern digital world.

He understands that as your business grows and thrives, so will our partnership. So let’s talk, we promise it will be a breath of fresh air.

What is Trent like to work with?

Click on the images below to watch the videos.

LOCATE BUYERS AGENCY

"Their [Trent's] approach with us has been fantastic and I really like that they actually care about their clients. They're actually interested in you getting the best results possible, and that shows up in how they work and how they approach what they do.

They're very strategic. They'll come up with great ideas and great ways in which you can improve on your business."

Shane Hiscock, Founder & Buyers Agent, Locate Buyers Agency

“They listened to our requirements and concerns and formulated a plan tailored to our specific circumstances. We feel they delivered a practical and detailed strategy that suits our needs and reflects our values and we are now working with Butler & Co to implement this.”

Chris Clarke

Partner, Clarke & Brownrigg Chartered Accountants Adelaide

CFO-ONE ADVISORS

“It took us a couple of months to really get clicking, and then around months three or four, we really started to see a huge return on investment which was fantastic.”

Mike Urness, CEO, CFO-One Advisors

“Wow very promising stats actually…Can’t wait to ramp this up next year given the high enquiry to click through rate and high organic search rate (with no SEO!)”

James Livingston

Founder & Partner,

Arc Medical Accountants

PROPERTY FRONTLINE

"What a positive experience it was working with Trent. What I particularly liked was the mix of tools and feedback that helped me connect with clients in a systemised and targeted way, which saved me so much time."

Debra Beck-Mewing, Founder & CEO, Property Frontline

“Working with Butler & Co has been such a positive experience, helping me develop a suitable marketing strategy and generate high quality leads. Butler & Co are very professional and have a very strategic approach with lead generating. We’ve achieved outstanding results and through my experience, I can honestly recommend Butler & Co and the services 100%.”

Maryanne Drosos

Founder & Director,

Blue Diamond Recruitment

B2B LEADS

“Being a lead gen and marketing guy, I thought my sales process was down pat to be honest...

He [Trent] showed me his methods of conducting sales calls and strategy sessions, which turned out to be way more effective."

Ryan Caswell, Founder, B2B Leads

“I'm so grateful for the support and guidance that Butler & Co’s business coaching has provided me thus far. Without them, I’m not sure if I would have continued in business. I'm now excited for the future and for what's next – we’re only just getting started!”

Kristie Oldfield

Founder & Director,

Parabroker.au

ACHIEVE MARKET LEADING STATUS WITHOUT:

The hassle and risk of taking on a business partner or prematurely hiring and managing a full-time marketing, finance or operations person.

Replacing your existing team members.

Throwing away what is already working.

Schedule a call to see if our approach can help take your business to #1 in your market.

ACHIEVE MARKET LEADING STATUS WITHOUT:

The hassle and risk of taking on a business partner or prematurely hiring and managing a full-time marketing, finance or operations person.

Replacing your existing team members.

Throwing away what is already working.

Schedule a call to see if our approach can help take your business to #1 in your market.

COACHING WILL PAY OFF OVER THE LONG TERM - AND WE GUARANTEE RESULTS.

'Win/Win' is a core value here at Butler & Co Advisory, which is why we offer a return on investment guarantee.

Investment presumes that there will be a return. Otherwise, it’s just an expense.

If you qualify – and do the work – we offer a guarantee:

After 17 weeks of coaching, you will agree that coaching has paid for itself - or we will work with you at no charge until that is true.

This drives us to do great work and ensure we're only commencing relationships with those who we're sure will see commercially positive outcomes.

Our latest articles to help you grow your business

systems

You Don’t Need Perfect Systems. You Need This First.

July 02, 20253 min read

If you're like most business owners, you've probably had the thought: "If I just had better systems, everything would run smoother." Maybe you've tried task management tools, documented a few Standard Operating Procedures (‘SOPs’), or even brought in a consultant to help you "systemise". Yet things still feel messy, unpredictable and reliant on you.

Here’s the truth: systems don’t save broken businesses. They amplify what’s already there. 

If you’re overwhelmed, constantly pulled into the weeds, or struggling to grow without burning out, the problem isn’t your lack of systems. It’s what you’re trying to build them on top of.

Let’s break this down.

The Systems Trap: Building on Sand

It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing systems are the magic bullet. They’re not. At least, not at the start.

Too often, we see founders invest in complex tech stacks, automation tools, or full-scale process mapping before they have the foundational habits to support them. The result? A graveyard of abandoned tools, dusty SOPs and team members who still come to you for everything.

Perfect systems built too early don’t create order - they magnify chaos.

What You Actually Need First: Time Management & Delegation Skills

Before you build, you need bandwidth. And to get bandwidth, you need to take back control of your time and energy.

At Butler & Co, we often start here:

1. Time Control

Your calendar is a mirror of your leadership. If it’s packed with low-value tasks, constant interruptions, or back-to-back firefighting, no system will save you.

That’s why we teach clients how to implement:

  • Zero-based scheduling: design your ideal week, not around meetings, but around priorities.

  • Default diary structures: lock in time for deep work, leadership, sales, and planning.

2. Delegation That Actually Works

Most delegation fails because it’s done reactively or incompletely. 

Start by using a model called 1:3:1 Delegation: don’t come with one problem and no solution. Come with one problem, three options and one recommendation.

When your team starts owning outcomes - not just tasks - you stop being the bottleneck. Only then is it time to introduce scalable systems.

Good Systems Are Built After Clarity, Not Before

You wouldn’t draft legal documents before deciding what kind of business you’re in. The same applies here. Systems need to reflect your:

  • Business model

  • Team structure

  • Priorities

  • Personal time rhythm

Otherwise, you’re just building complexity on top of confusion.

Instead, we show clients a simple and learnable process to create Minimum Viable Systems (MVS):

  • Simple checklists or workflows

  • Clear handovers

  • Shared expectations

  • Easy-to-track measurables

MVS are owned by the team, not the founder. That’s the difference.

Real Client Example: From Reactive to Reclaimed

One of our clients, a creative agency founder, came to us with Trello boards, Zapier automations, and a full-time ops assistant. Yet she was still working 60+ hour weeks.

Within the first month of coaching, we:

  • Rebuilt her weekly calendar

  • Shifted 5 hours of quoting off her plate

  • Trained her assistant in the 1:3:1 model

Only after that did we start documenting core processes. Six weeks in, she’d reclaimed 12+ hours a week and was finally able to focus on hiring and sales.

Systems didn’t start the transformation. Better leadership and management skills did.

The Takeaway: You’re Not Behind. You’re Just Starting in the Right Place Now.

You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be intentional.

Before you invest time or money building out systems, ask yourself:

  • Am I in control of my calendar?

  • Is my team empowered to solve problems?

  • Do I have the headspace to build without burning out?

If the answer is no, then congratulations. You’re doing the smart thing by starting here.

Because the best systems in the world won’t fix a business that runs on overwhelm. But reclaim your time and upgrade your delegation - and the rest falls into place.

Want help with that? 

We coach service-based business owners through a proven step-by-step approach to reclaim time, lead better, and build a business that works smoothly, profitability and (mostly) without them. When you're ready, book a time to chat with Trent.


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Schedule a call to see if our approach can help take your business to #1 in your market.

No pie-in-the-sky. No generic ideas.

No hard sell.

Just straight-forward analysis of your approach to marketing and sales, team-building skills, gross and net profitability, and business transfer readiness.