Business consulting & mediation · Houston, Texas
Most businesses have profit hiding in plain sight.
Some of it leaks out through slow processes and messy sales systems. Some of it gets burned in disputes that drag on for months. The Hidden Profit helps you find it in both places.
Where it hides
The line items your P&L doesn't show.
Every company tracks revenue and expenses. Very few track the cost of a sales process nobody follows, or a partner dispute that eats every Monday meeting. Those costs are real. They just don't get their own line.
Business consulting · Process optimization
Fix what's leaking.
At its core, this is business process optimization: looking at how work actually gets done, finding the waste, and fixing it so the gains stick. It's practical help grounded in real experience carrying a quota, leading sales teams, and building the systems behind the numbers. No 90-page binder. Just the changes that move revenue and margin.
Sales process and CRM
Pipeline stages people actually use, clean data, and reporting that tells you something. Experience across multiple CRM platforms.
Lean Six Sigma process improvement
We use the Lean Six Sigma DMAIC method (define, measure, analyze, improve, control) to find bottlenecks, rework and manual steps, cut the waste, and put controls in place so the process doesn't drift back. All of the rigor, none of the jargon.
Compensation and commission plans
Plans that reward the behavior you want and don't start arguments every quarter.
Acquisitions, exits and dissolutions
Help evaluating a deal, bringing two companies together, or taking one apart in an orderly way.
Business mediation
Settle it like business people.
Most business disputes aren't really legal problems. They're business problems that picked up a few lawyers along the way. Mediation gives the people involved a confidential place to work out an agreement that makes business sense to them.
Disputes we help resolve
- Partner and shareholder disagreements
- Vendor, supplier and customer contract disputes
- Commission and compensation disputes
- Buyouts, breakups and dissolutions
- Payment and collection disputes
How we work
- Facilitative. The parties decide the outcome. The mediator doesn't pick a winner.
- Neutral. The mediator doesn't take sides, and any conflicts are disclosed up front.
- Confidential, under Texas law.
- Virtual by default. Secure video sessions, with in-person meetings by agreement.
- Evenings and weekends are gladly offered for busy professionals.
- Business only. No family or divorce matters.
What to expect
- Reach outUse the contact form to share a short description of the dispute, who's involved, and who referred you.
- PaperworkYou'll get an intake form, the agreement to mediate and a short confidential form.
- The sessionA half day or full day, with joint conversation and private time with each side.
- Wrap-upIf you reach agreement, it gets written down before anyone logs off. If not, you leave with a clearer picture than you came in with.
A note for attorneys
You stay the legal advisor. We focus on the business conversation. We don't give legal advice, and we encourage every party to have their own counsel review any agreement before signing.
We can't promise a settlement. We can promise a better use of everyone's afternoon than a deposition.
Our founder
Led by someone who has actually run the business.
Kenny Ripkowski founded The Hidden Profit in 2018. He has spent 25+ years in sales and operations as a direct producer, a technical overlay and a sales leader, and he understands margins, contracts, quotas, handshake deals and what a lost customer really costs.
Over that career, he has worked with more than 2,500 business owners on productivity and profitability as a Business Performance Advisor. He also played a key role on the corporate development team at a Houston-based publicly traded company, evaluating acquisitions with private equity partners. He's been in the room when companies come together and when they come apart.
- Education
- BS in Economics, Texas A&M
- Certifications
- Certified Business Performance Advisor (UH Bauer College of Business), Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Business Process Management Practitioner
- Industries
- Technology, HR, manufacturing and professional services. Shop floor to boardroom.
- Off the clock
- Native Houstonian, father of four, and frequent pickleball player in Cypress.
References
What clients and colleagues say.
“We initially engaged him to assist us with process improvements for our internal warehouse/sales operations. By adjusting staff roles and responsibilities and ownership of the process our customer satisfaction and retention levels (as well as profits) are now higher than they ever have been… We would highly recommend Kenny and his team if your organization is looking to find The Hidden Profit.”
“Kenny’s perspective on IT, order flow, production, and his unique ability to solve problems have been a welcome addition to our office during the scope of our project. I would highly recommend Kenny and his team at The Hidden Profit to anyone interested in improving the profitability of their business!”
“We engaged The Hidden Profit to streamline our customer service process… We have not only seen our time spent at each customer reduced, but we have seen an increase in sales, and an increase in productivity from our technicians, in a highly competitive industry.”
“Kenny has a way of challenging you with his line of questions that make you think, but also leave you feeling connected and involved.”
“Kenny not only led our initial meeting but he kept topics on track, maintained momentum, summarized, delegated and expressed thanks. We wrapped up feeling that we had accomplished more than we thought possible, utilized everyone’s time efficiently and understood the next steps.”
“He took the time to work through and understand the customer’s situation, needs and desired outcomes… I found his support to be invaluable, and his ethics to be untouchable.”
“He never promises what he cannot deliver, and handles his responsibilities with the utmost of honesty and integrity.”
Names are withheld out of professional courtesy and to respect privacy and confidentiality.
Contact
Let's talk.
Whether it's a process that needs fixing or a dispute that needs settling, this short form is the easiest place to start. It takes about two minutes, and we'll reply within one business day.
We generally take on new work by referral, so if someone pointed you our way, let us know who.
- Location
- Houston, Texas Virtual sessions statewide. Evenings and weekends available.