Meet Maxime Kot | Cannabis Business Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maxime Kot and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maxime, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Being in the cannabis industry is not as glamorous as everyone thinks. Being a business consultant, I’ve been involved and/or witnessed all aspects of the industry from the planning stages pre-legalization, licensing process, opening of facilities (dispensaries, grows, manufacturing), expansion, mergers and acquisitions, etc. While there are definitely exciting and glamorous times, there is also a lot of grit behind the scenes. Having to travel across states visiting potential sites, more often times they are in very rural areas due to zoning restrictions so you stay in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes you have to do that in a snowstorm, staying up for 72 hours straight to meet a government deadlines, etc. It can be brutal but so rewarding.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, The Cannabis Business Advisors (“CB Advisors”) is a multi-faceted consulting firm providing strategic business guidance for new and existing cannabis businesses throughout all stages of growth. CB Advisors is led by a consulting team that brings more than twenty years of combined industry experience, spanning across the U.S. and around the globe. CB Advisors offers a comprehensive suite of services, including application and licensing preparation, operational analysis, merger and acquisition support, policy and procedures development, exit strategy guidance, and business development planning.

We also recently launched “How to Open a Dispensary,” a streaming platform for entrepreneurs interested in breaking into the highly regulated and competitive cannabis industry.

What I am most proud of is how we’ve built strong relationships with our clients. Approximately 70% are returning clients and/or are referral based. The cannabis industry being what it is today, with more interest in participation than ever before, we see a lot of falsities and “smokes & mirrors”, so there is always a need for a trusted consultant who has been involved in the cannabis industry long before it was popular and more importantly understands the landscape and can advise a new entrant or a group looking to expand nationwide.

Though the industry is highly competitive, as a boutique agency we’ve set ourselves apart from the competition through our longevity and first hand experience. We’ve secured dozens of licenses and opened facilities in multiple markets, which is important in an industry where every state has different laws & regulations.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m a foodie and most who are close to me are foodies as well. So we would likely plan the trip around restaurants and bars! Little Miss BBQ, Angry Crab Shack, Ocean/Steak 44, Cafe Monarch, just to name a few. If they haven’t already been, we’d likely plan a trip up to Sedona & the Grand Canyon, always takes my breath away even though I’ve been countless of times.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother, always my mother… she’s taught me resilience and grace, “if there is a will, there is a way” she always says.

And my grandmother, Margaret, who taught me strength and to be grateful, even in the toughest moments, she holds it together.

Website: https://thecannabisbusinessadvisors.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecbadvisors/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/maximekot

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecbadvisors

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCBAdvisors/

Image Credits
Carl Schultz