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Orange NSW  |  5.0 Stars  |  41 Reviews  |  9 Years Experience

Strategy That Moves Your Business Forward

Independent business strategy consultancy for ambitious Central West NSW business owners. From strategic planning to exit succession, we provide the clarity and framework to achieve measurable results.

Apex at a Glance
80+
Clients served
$40M+
Value delivered
9
Years established
5.0★
41 Google reviews
DT
David Thornton
MBA, Founder & Lead Consultant
80+
Businesses Advised
$40M+
Client Value Delivered
9
Years in Practice
5.0★
Google Reviews
Independent Advice
MBA Qualified
Local Central West NSW
Measurable Outcomes
Confidential Engagements
What We Do

Six Core Service Areas

Whether you need a clear direction, a performance turnaround or a structured exit, Apex provides the independent expertise to make it happen.

01

Strategic Planning

Facilitated planning sessions that produce a clear, actionable 3 to 5 year roadmap. We align your leadership team and convert goals into quarterly milestones you can track.

02

Business Performance Review

A rigorous diagnostic of your operations, financials, people and market position. We identify where value is being lost and map out a prioritised improvement plan.

03

Exit and Succession Planning

Structured planning to maximise your business value ahead of a sale, management buyout or generational transfer. We prepare the business, the numbers and the story.

04

Financial Modelling

Board-ready financial models for capital raising, acquisitions, scenario planning and budget forecasting. We turn your numbers into a compelling picture for stakeholders and lenders.

05

Marketing Strategy

Market positioning, competitive differentiation and go-to-market planning. We help you own a clear position in your market and build the systems to grow revenue with intention.

06

Leadership Coaching

One-on-one executive coaching for business owners and senior leaders navigating growth, transition or complexity. Practical, direct and confidential coaching grounded in real-world experience.

Client Results

Real Outcomes for Real Businesses

All results are genuine, drawn from anonymised client engagements across Central West NSW. Specific business details are kept confidential.

Manufacturing — Orange NSW

Margin Recovery Through Operational Restructure

A third-generation manufacturer with declining margins engaged Apex for a full performance review. We identified three areas of operational waste and redesigned their pricing structure.

34%
Gross margin improvement over 18 months
Professional Services — Bathurst NSW

Exit at Maximum Value After 2 Years of Preparation

An accounting practice owner engaged Apex 24 months before their intended retirement. We restructured operations to reduce key-person dependency and built a clean information memorandum for buyers.

2.8x
EBIT multiple achieved at sale (above market)
Retail and Distribution — Dubbo NSW

Strategic Expansion Into Three New Markets

A regional distributor wanted to expand but lacked a structured go-to-market framework. We built a market entry strategy covering two states and secured two new wholesale agreements.

$2.1M
New annual revenue within 12 months
How We Work

Three Phases. One Clear Path.

Every Apex engagement follows a proven structure designed to deliver rapid clarity and sustained progress.

Phase One

Diagnose

We invest time to understand your business deeply. Financials, operations, people, market, and your personal goals. No assumptions, no templates. Just rigorous discovery.

Phase Two

Design

We build a tailored strategy with clear priorities, milestones and accountability structures. Every recommendation is grounded in evidence and calibrated for your capacity to execute.

Phase Three

Deliver

We stay with you through implementation. Regular check-ins, course corrections, and accountability reviews ensure momentum. Results are tracked and shared transparently.

Free Tool

Business Health Check

Answer five quick questions and get an instant read on how your business is tracking across the key strategic dimensions.

Most business owners have a sense that something is holding their growth back. This quick diagnostic surfaces the key risk areas in strategy, finance, operations, people and market position.

It takes under two minutes. Your results are private and not collected without your permission. Use it as a conversation starter for a no-obligation strategy call with David.

  • Five questions covering the core pillars of business performance
  • Instant result with a plain-English interpretation
  • Optional follow-up with David at no cost
  • No email required to receive results

Quick Business Diagnostic

Takes 2 minutes. Instant results.
What Clients Say

Outcomes Worth Talking About

41 five-star reviews on Google. Here are three clients on what working with Apex Strategy Group meant for their business.

"David does not just give you a plan and walk away. He stays with you, holds you accountable, and genuinely cares about the outcome. Our business today is unrecognisable from where we started."

GH
Grant H.
Manufacturing business owner, Orange NSW

"We engaged David 18 months before selling. The preparation he put into our business made a significant difference to our final sale price. His exit planning process is exceptional and worth every dollar."

PK
Peter & Karen B.
Professional services, sold 2024 — Bathurst NSW

"I was sceptical about whether a consultant could add real value to a business like ours. David proved me wrong. His financial modelling for our expansion was exactly what our bank needed to approve the funding."

TR
Tony R.
Distributor, Dubbo NSW
Get Started

Book a Strategy Call

A 30-minute no-obligation call with David. No pitch, no pressure. Just a direct conversation about where your business is and where you want it to go.

Direct Line

(02) 6360 1188

Office

Level 1, 88 Summer Street
Orange NSW 2800

DT
David Thornton MBA
Founder, Apex Strategy Group

David has advised over 80 businesses across manufacturing, professional services, retail, construction and agriculture in regional NSW. He brings board-level thinking to businesses that typically do not have access to it.

Questions

Frequently Asked

What size businesses do you work with?

Most Apex clients turn over between $1M and $20M per year across a wide range of industries. We work particularly well with privately-owned businesses where the owner is directly involved. Smaller businesses can access our Leadership Coaching service as a cost-effective entry point.

How do engagements typically work?

Most engagements begin with a 3-month diagnostic and strategy phase, followed by an ongoing retainer for implementation support. Some clients engage for specific one-off projects like exit planning or financial modelling. All engagements begin with a free 30-minute discovery call.

Is my information kept confidential?

Completely. Every Apex engagement is bound by a formal confidentiality agreement before any commercial information is shared. We do not discuss client situations with third parties and our case studies are always anonymised with client approval.

Do you work outside of Orange?

Yes. David regularly works with clients in Bathurst, Dubbo, Parkes, Forbes, Mudgee and across Central West NSW. Approximately 40% of our work is conducted remotely via video and phone, so geography is rarely a barrier. We are happy to travel for key workshops and presentations.

Call (02) 6360 1188 to Book a Strategy Call