Serving Main Street, not Wall Street
You started your business with a dream. We're here to help you achieve it. Our ethos is simple: raise others up and you will rise. We believe in raising up American entrepreneurs, empowering entire communities in the process.
<1%
of the population are business owners with five or more employees
Pew Research Center
46%
of the American workforce is employed by small businesses
US Small Business Administration
44%
of the US GDP is contributed by small businesses
US Small Business Administration
70%
of business owners have made sacrifices to stay afloat
Brown and Nichols, “Self-Employment, Family-Business Ownership, and Economic Mobility.”
60%
of business owners started their business to be their own boss
Guidant Financial
The new standard in consulting
Built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs
Most consultants have never built a business. Our team has. After getting burned by consulting firms that delivered expensive binders and vanished, we built something different: a firm that stays until the work gets done. We’re builders, implementors, and advisors… not your typical consultants.
“Our superpower – our ability to continue to scale at the rate we’ve been able to scale – is definitely based on people who have embraced the culture.”
Rob Braiman
Founder & Managing Director
Rob Braiman
Founder & Managing Director
Built for freedom. Committed to yours.
Rob's entrepreneurial journey began at 26, when an experienced entrepreneur saw his potential and made him a partner. Together they built three successful companies, but the reality of being "successful" didn't match the dream. Rob was working nonstop, making sacrifices at home, and realizing that a thriving business on paper could still cost you your life.
He recognized a hard truth.
Most owners start their business for freedom, but end up chained to it. Determined to change that for himself—and for others—Rob became a business analyst, working with thousands of owners across the country. He saw the same story repeated: great people, solid businesses, but no structure or systems to create a business that could run without them.
In 2014, he founded Cogent Analytics with a mission to help owners reclaim their time, improve profitability, and build businesses that serve them—not the other way around.
“Our relentless focus on ROI is in service to our clients, in service to the American Dream.”
Caleb Connerty
Partner & Vice President of Operations
Caleb Connerty
Partner & VP of Operations
Built for excellence. Relentless about growth.
Caleb joined Cogent with an analytical mindset and a drive for success. As a serial entrepreneur himself, he understands what it means to be “doing well” but still feel the pull for more. For Caleb, good isn't enough—he wants to create market leaders, industry benchmarks, and generational wealth vehicles.
His focus is domination.
Caleb's leadership reflects the heart of the ambitious growth driver—owners who don't just want stability, they want to dominate their market. His focus is on eliminating bottlenecks, expanding into new markets, and raising the standard for what's possible.
Our business exists to make yours better
When business owners thrive, everyone wins: families, teams, communities. Our success is measured by the freedom and wealth we create, not the fees we collect.
Small businesses employ nearly half of American workers. But too many owners are prisoners of their own success, trapped by consultants who sell dreams and deliver disappointment.
We exist to change that story.
Meet the executive team
Battle-tested business operators with scars, stories, and real-world wins. Not fresh MBAs armed with textbook theories.
Culture built on character
7× Inc. 5000 winner
When you help businesses grow instead of just talking about it, people notice. We’ve been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing companies seven times.
Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies
7× winner: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025
Triad Business Journal Fast 50
6× winner: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Inc. 500
2017
Inc Power Partner
2024, 2025
Better Business Bureau accredited
Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
The Associated General Contractors of America
National Association of Manufacturers
American Trucking Association
Trusted by the industries that build America
We’re active members of the organizations that represent construction, manufacturing, and transportation. We don’t just serve these industries, we’re part of them.
What clients say when they partner with Cogent
I have been consistently impressed by their industry-leading expertise, forward-thinking approach, and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional results for our company.
Dave Kinney
Co-Owner, Performance Coatings, LLC
Cogent demonstrated a deep understanding of our business needs and provided tailored solutions that truly made a difference.
Bryceton H. Payne
President, BH Payne Construction
If I had done this 4 years ago, I would have been able to retire by now.
Thomas Wilkinson
President, Vortex Systems
Cogent set us up for a proper business valuation as we start thinking about what it might look like to sell the company.
Ben Dunning
President, Dunning Industries
My wake-up was that my failure to manage and operate properly could cause hardship on the people who put 100% of their lives in my hands.
Rodney Carroll
President & CEO, Wray's Septic
We found ourselves doing things the old way and constantly hitting roadblocks.
Dennis Hermatz
Owner, Wayne Lawn & Garden, Inc.
We are far better off today because Cogent walked through our doors.
Kathleen Deppe
President/CEO, Valley Lighting, LLC
We truly believe that signing on with Cogent Analytics was one of the best decisions we could have made for our company.
Timothy Kelley
President, Kelcode Solutions, LLC
Thank you so much for providing us with the structure and focus we will need to be successful moving forward.
Josh Hughes
Co-Partner, Tuck-Hinton Architects
The last consulting firm you'll ever need
You didn’t start your business to become its prisoner. Most consultants will gladly take your money and leave you more confused than when you started.
We’re here to build the business you always imagined, and we stick around until it’s done.