info@agconsultingusa.com
+1330 554 2152
About Our Company Mission
To provide practical tools and strategies to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit from within and empower folks with a relentless desire to succeed in business, career, and life.
Move to Ohio in 1991 and Early struggles!
After earning his MBA in Marketing from the University of Southern New Hampshire, Anup Gupta moved to Ohio in March 1991 to further his career in Marketing. Landed his first full-time job as a Sales & Marketing Manager with a printing franchise in Ohio. His hard work and dedication to his profession bore fruit in a relatively short time. By 1995, his center won the award for the highest sales in the country. His career took a turn for the worse when, suddenly, he was laid off in June 1996. It was an extremely tough time for his family and him.
His wife was not working, which meant no income for the household.
His wife was due with their first child in August, which meant bills, bills, and more bills. No vehicle. Along with the job loss, he lost his company car as well.
Things went from bad to worse when they realized they would also lose health insurance coverage. Under these circumstances of no household income, insurance, or car, Anup decided to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur. On October 1, 1996, he started his marketing and design firm from his two-bedroom apartment in Stow, Ohio.
Twists and turns persist
As Anup put in 70 to 80-hour weeks every week to get his business off the ground, Anju, his wife, started working full-time as an assistant accountant for a public accounting firm. This helped the family with one of the major expenses – health insurance. She put in even more hours per week working, taking care of their infant daughter, handling house chores, and even helping in business.
Everything seems to be slowly getting on track. In 2000, their second child was born. Yes, it’s time for celebration, but the new addition sure brought a new set of challenges – an increase in expenses and added time commitment for the family. Time was the thing they both were in short supply of. Overworking took its toll. Handling the household responsibilities and working full-time was becoming too much for her. Anju brought up the idea of quitting her job and becoming a stay-at-home mom to care for the two children.
Being a planner all his life, Anup had a different plan in mind that he had been working on for some time. As they sat to discuss, he shared with her the 10-year and 20-year plans he had written for their lives. The plan would require much hard work, putting in even more hours, and making a few sacrifices. If she liked the plan and agreed to work alongside Anup, they could reach financial independence within 20-25 years. After a couple of days, she returns with the decision to buy into the dream Anup showed her and the plan to achieve that dream. That goal seemed impossible then, especially when they had no savings in the bank, but Anju trusted her husband and his abilities. Anup was 31 years old in the year 2000.
The plan, the tough grind, and the sacrifices payoff
Fast forward to 2018, they were able to reach their goal of financial independence. Their hard work together as a team paid off more significantly than they could have imagined. Along with working so hard, they raised two beautiful and respectful children.
Decision to exit
After reaching their goal of financial independence in 2018, Anup and Anju decided to sell the business in 2019 and started making the necessary preparations for a smooth exit. As their broker started negotiating with the potential buyers, Covid hit, temporarily making them table it. M & A activity came to a screeching halt due to economic uncertainties. In the fall of 2021, out of several offers, they decided to go with the one most favorable for them, their staff, and the clients.
What’s next?
Whether it was working with his staff, clients, or anybody else, Anup’s style has been consultative with the goal of a win-win outcome. He has been a published author. He has presented his talks at several Chambers of Commerce, business events, organizations, and schools. After selling his business, it was a natural fit for him to pursue his career as a speaker, consultant, and small business trainer. He works with entrepreneurs and coaches them to increase their profits for a healthy bottom line.
The fact is that every business owner will exit one day with no ifs and or buts about it. The question is, will it be planned or forced by personal or business calamities? Most people forget that besides numbers, most are unprepared for the emotional roller-coaster before, during, and after the sale. For those who wish to be prepared financially, mentally, and emotionally, he works with them and guides them through the entire exit process.
Anup Gupta’s Biography
A multi-award-winning entrepreneur for over 25 years, Anup Gupta and his team worked with over 1000 companies of all sizes throughout the US. He helped these clients with creative solutions for their marketing, branding, human resources, and other business growth issues.
Some of the accolades he earned were:
• Featured on the cover page of “Inside Business” – a prominent business publication in Ohio.
• Winner of NEO (Northeast Ohio) Success Award four years in a row.
• Winner of Top 100 Diverse Businesses in Ohio, six years in a row.
• Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner, by The Cleveland Guardians.
Anup Gupta is a motivational speaker, author, and consultant passionate about coaching small business owners serious about growing their businesses with a focus on the bottom line. His work has been published in several local, regional, and national publications. Along with running his consulting business, he also volunteers at S.C.O.R.E, where he mentors fellow entrepreneurs. Before starting his business in 1996, he worked as Business Growth Manager for a print franchise company in Akron, Ohio. Under his leadership, the company sales grew 400%, and gross profits grew from 18% to 40% within five years of his employment. As a result, the company won the coveted ranking of #1 in the franchise system.
He graduated from Southern University of New Hampshire (formerly New Hampshire College) with a master’s degree in marketing. A proud father of two, Anup lives in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He enjoys reading, gardening, singing, and being the best help he can be to his wife in the kitchen.
What differentiates Anup Gupta?
Thirty-one years of proven success: Like his fellow entrepreneurs, Anup has been in the trenches and understands their pain, struggles, and challenges. He presents his stories, real-life examples, situations, and solutions rather than boring theories. That’s what makes his talks more compelling and valuable.
Practical solutions: He shares strategies and result-oriented solutions he implemented in his career, business, and personal life that delivered him double the industry average profits.
Passionate: Anup’s laser-sharp focus and passion for profits are contagious. He wants you, the business owner/manager, to enjoy the fruits of your labor, be able to provide the best you can for your family, save for your golden years, and ultimately plan for a successful exit on your own terms.
Inspirational: Despite his bank balance being in the red in the 1990s, he is someone who was able to reach financial independence at the young age of 49. Whether you are a student, business professional, or homemaker, Anup’s story and message will inspire, motivate, and provide you with that “oomph” to achieve your desired goals.
Conversational and interactive: Anup’s delivery style is conversational. He engages with the audience, which makes it interactive and fun. His stories are relatable, motivational, and straight from his heart, making them genuine and relatable.
Customized Message: Having worked and consulted with entrepreneurs in all stages of their business cycle, professionals in various industries, and people from all walks of life, Anup customizes the message to his audiences to resonate with them and have the maximum impact.
Not motivated by money: At a certain stage in our lives, money is not the biggest motivator. Yes, money is a necessity, but not the driving force as in our younger years. At this juncture of his life, Anup feels it is his calling to give back, to help where his help is needed the most – whether it is working with entrepreneurs to help streamline their operations to maximize profitability; helping individuals navigate the challenges of job hunting/career change; motivating students to stay on the right track and avail opportunities to the maximum; or sharing his inspirational life story of how he, as an immigrant, overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges but never gave up and persevered through them to achieve his goals.
He donates 25% of the proceeds to the charity of the customer’s choice, 25% to the charity of his choice, and the balance 50% goes to pay for the company expenses.