About SmartHelping
Financial models are the tool. Better decisions are the point.
SmartHelping is run by Jason Varner, an accounting-trained financial modeling consultant who has spent more than a decade helping buyers, owners, investors, lenders, and entrepreneurs turn complex financial information into clear, practical analysis.
Independent since 2015 · B.S. Accounting · Direct work with the person building the analysis
Professional background
Built through client work
A decade of turning business questions into usable financial logic.
SmartHelping grew from real assignments: forecasts, acquisition models, cash-flow tools, valuation analyses, real estate underwriting, SaaS cohort models, capital structures, and operating models built around the way each business actually works.
Accounting foundation
Earned a B.S. in Accounting from Lake Erie College and developed the financial-statement grounding that still supports every model.
Independent financial modeling
Began working directly with owners, founders, investors, and lenders on models built for their specific decisions and operating realities.
Models, custom work, and acquisition analysis
SmartHelping now combines an extensive template library with custom modeling and a fixed-fee deal-review service for buyers who want an experienced second look.
Three ways to work with SmartHelping
Start with the decision in front of you.
Use SmartHelping for an independent acquisition review, start from a proven editable template, or commission a custom model when your situation requires its own logic.
Acquisition Deal Analysis
Get an independent assessment of the price, financing, cash flow, buyer returns, business quality, downside, and diligence gaps before committing more capital or professional fees.
Explore deal analysis 02Financial Model Templates
Browse editable Excel and Google Sheets models built around recurring revenue, real estate, operations, lending, valuation, waterfalls, and industry-specific economics.
Browse models by category 03Custom Financial Modeling
Build a new model, adapt an existing framework, or review the assumptions and logic in a workbook that already supports an important decision.
Explore custom workHow I approach the work
Clear assumptions. Transparent logic. Useful conclusions.
A strong model should do more than calculate an attractive return. It should show what drives the outcome, which assumptions still need proof, and what happens when performance falls short.
Start With the Decision
Define the question, the available information, the decision criteria, and the risks that matter most.
Model the Economic Engine
Connect revenue, capacity, pricing, costs, financing, and capital requirements using visible assumptions.
Pressure-Test the Case
Separate base expectations from downside exposure and test the variables that can change the conclusion.
Explain What Matters
Turn the workbook into practical findings, priorities, diligence questions, and next steps.
Breadth with a consistent method
Different industries. The same disciplined financial thinking.
The details change by business type, but the central questions remain consistent: What drives revenue? What must be invested? How durable is the cash flow? What can go wrong? What return does the buyer or investor actually receive?
See the full model librarySelected work
See the analysis and modeling in practice.
I Analyzed a $900k Car Wash for Sale
A practical look at reported earnings, valuation, financing, debt coverage, buyer returns, downside exposure, and the information still needed before proceeding.
View the deal analysis10-Year Cell Phone Network Provider Model
A detailed operating and investment model covering subscribers, churn cohorts, network capacity, capital requirements, financing, valuation, and equity returns.
View the financial modelHave a decision that deserves a clearer model?
Use SmartHelping for an independent acquisition review, a custom financial model, or a proven framework you can adapt yourself.
