KEA Advisors
KEA Advisors provides management advisory, education (KEA U), and a cloud-based PULSE dashboard to North American commercial vehicle dealerships, focused on fixed-operations profitability across Parts, Service, and leadership. Named customers include Rush, Premier, Bruckner, and other top U.S. commercial truck dealer groups.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1996
- HeadquartersLawrence, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What KEA Advisors does
KEA Advisors, founded in 1996 and headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas, is a privately held management advisory and dealer optimization firm focused exclusively on commercial vehicle dealerships in North America. The company operates a vertically specialized practice targeting fixed-operations (Parts and Service) profitability at full-service commercial truck dealerships, with a named customer roster that includes several of the largest U.S. commercial truck dealer groups — Rush Truck Centers, Premier Truck Group, Bruckner Truck Sales, Dobbs Truck Group, Vanguard Truck Centers, K. Neal Truck and Bus, Fitzgerald Peterbilt, Summit Truck Group, and Long Lewis, among others. KEA positions itself as the practitioner-turned-advisor partner for dealership owners, presidents, GMs, and fixed-operations directors across OEMs (Ford, Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth, Mack Volvo, Western Star, Hino, Isuzu, International, Fuso) and the DMS-vendor ecosystem (CDK Global, Karmak, Procede, Decisiv).
The company's core technology is PULSE, a cloud-based dealership dashboard that ingests data from multiple dealership business systems up to four times per business day and surfaces fixed-operations KPIs (throughput, dwell time, technician/advisor performance, parts fill rates, inventory turns, gross margin), with threshold-driven email and mobile alerts. Complementary capabilities include Custom Analytics (compensation studies, benchmarking, throughput analyses using KEA BI tools), a freemium suite of department self-assessments (Accounting, Parts, Service), and structured leadership and operational training delivered through the KEA U division (Dealership Training, Peer Groups Levels 1-3, and an 8-10 month Emerging Leaders program), supplemented by John Maxwell-licensed leadership workshops. The advisory engagement ladder runs from $2,500 ad-hoc consultations to $19,905 three-day Discovery engagements, with curriculum priced per-seat ($894) or as bundles ($3,218.40 for four CDK courses).
KEA generates revenue through a hybrid professional-services-plus-software model: project-based advisory engagements (Diagnostic Health Checks, Assessments, Discoveries, Corrections, Preventive Maintenance), subscription recurring revenue (PULSE dashboards, KEA U Peer Groups), training product sales (KEA U, CDK/Karmak/Procede-specific courses), and freemium conversion mechanics (free self-assessments funneling to paid engagements). On March 31, 2026, Decisiv, Inc. announced an agreement to acquire KEA Advisors, with the transaction expected to close in Q2 2026; the stated strategic intent is to develop an AI-driven platform by integrating KEA's analytics with Decisiv's Service Relationship Management (SRM) platform.
KEA Advisors firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KEA Advisors
- Legal name
- KEA Advisors
- Website
- https://keaadvisors.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1996
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KEA Advisors provides management advisory, education (KEA U), and a cloud-based PULSE dashboard to North American commercial vehicle dealerships, focused on fixed-operations profitability across Parts, Service, and leadership. Named customers include Rush, Premier, Bruckner, and other top U.S. commercial truck dealer groups.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KEA Advisors industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Dealership Management Consulting
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Strategy Advisory (BPAHADAA)
Keywords
Where KEA Advisors is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lawrence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
KEA Advisors business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advisory Services: On-site and virtual consulting engagements including Diagnostic Health Checks, Assessments, Discoveries, Corrections, and Preventive Maintenance. Engagements range from single consultations to multi-month transformation projects.
- Education and Training Programs: Classroom-style training courses sold individually or as bundles, including CDK-specific courses, Emerging Leaders program, Peer Groups, and Dealership Training. Programs are sold per seat or as enterprise licenses.
- KEA U Subscriptions: Ongoing education programs including Peer Groups with monthly financial analysis, subject matter meetings, and annual manager meetings.
- PULSE Platform Subscription: Cloud-based dashboard subscription providing real-time dealership data analytics, alerts, and reporting capabilities.
- Self-Assessment Tools: Free and paid self-assessment guides for Accounting, Parts, and Service departments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Ad-Hoc Consulting |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KEA Financial Analysis |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KEA Digital Discovery |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KEA Discovery: 3 days |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | All 4 Parts Courses Bundle |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | All 4 Service Courses Bundle |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Individual CDK Course |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | The Leadership Game |
| Freemium | Monthly | Self-Assessment Tools |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
KEA Advisors product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KEA Advisors provides management advisory and dealer optimization services to commercial transportation dealerships, including consulting engagements, leadership and operations training programs (KEA U), and a cloud-based business intelligence dashboard (PULSE) that delivers real-time analytics on Parts and Service department performance. Offerings are sold directly to dealership owners, OEMs, and DMS technology partners through fixed-fee engagements, training seat licenses, and PULSE subscriptions.
Product overview
KEA Advisors provides a suite of business advisory services and data solutions for commercial vehicle dealerships, centered around its cloud-based PULSE dashboard platform. The offering includes business intelligence tools (PULSE and Custom Analytics), education programs under KEA U (Dealership Training, Emerging Leaders, Peer Groups), discovery and assessment services (KEA Digital Discovery, 3-day Discovery, Self Assessments), leadership development (The Leadership Game, Maxwell DISC Profile), and ongoing advisory services (Ad-Hoc Consulting, Correction Services, Preventive Maintenance). The company integrates with major DMS platforms including CDK Global, Decisiv, Karmak, and Procede, and was acquired by Decisiv in Q1 2026 with plans to develop an AI-driven platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- KEA U: Education division of KEA Advisors offering dealership training programs including Emerging Leaders, Dealership Training, and Peer Groups.
- PULSE
- Three Wise Truck Guys
- Heavy Duty Hub
Products and services
- PULSE
Quantifiable outcome
- 886% average ROI based on gross profit $ vs KEA Investment
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use KEA Advisors
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
KEA Advisors technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature5 records
KEA Advisors partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CDK GlobalcoreDMS technology partner providing dealership management system integration. KEA offers CDK-specific training courses and optimization services.
- DecisivcoreDMS partner offering SRM platform integration. KEA has partnered with Decisiv and was acquired by Decisiv in Q2 2026 to develop an AI-driven platform.
- KarmakcoreCertified Karmak Partner providing DMS integration and joint virtual workshops for Karmak users.
- Procede SoftwarecoreDMS partner with joint virtual workshops and training programs for Procede users.
- John Maxwell TeamminorLicensed provider of Maxwell Leadership resources including The Leadership Game and DISC Profile Workshop for dealership leadership development.
- CLA ConnectminorStrategic partnership with CLA ( CliftonLarsonAllen) for accounting and financial consulting services.
- FORVISminorStrategic partnership with FORVIS for professional services and advisory support.
- PBS (Partner Business Services)minorPartner Business Services providing distribution and support for dealership services.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
KEA Advisors competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- CDK Global: CDK is a leading Dealer Management System vendor and a direct integration partner for KEA's PULSE and CDK-specific training courses. Adjacent technology ecosystem rather than a head-to-head advisory competitor.
- Procede Software: Procede is a DMS vendor for commercial truck dealers and a KEA training/integration partner. Adjacent as a data source and ecosystem participant rather than direct advisory competitor.
- Karmak: Karmak is a DMS vendor for commercial vehicle dealers and a Certified KEA Partner. Overlaps as a data provider and integrator rather than an advisory competitor.
Broad incumbents
- National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA): NADA is the industry association that operates ATD (American Truck Dealers) and the Academy, offering consulting, training, and dealer education. Broader scope than KEA but overlapping in advisory and education for dealers.
- American Truck Dealers (ATD): A division of NADA focused on commercial truck dealers, ATD provides training programs and best-practices content. Comparable to KEA's education arm (KEA U) and OEM curriculum work.
Direct peers
- Decisiv: Decisiv is the SRM (Service Relationship Management) platform for commercial vehicle service networks and is acquiring KEA. Comparable in serving the same dealer ecosystem with technology and data-driven service management.
- Spader Business Management: Spader provides 20 Groups, management training, and operational consulting for dealerships across multiple verticals. Direct analog to KEA's peer-group, training, and advisory model.
- NCM Associates: NCM Associates runs 20 Groups (peer benchmarking and consulting groups) and management consulting for auto, truck, and equipment dealers. Closely comparable to KEA's Peer Groups model and dealership advisory focus.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
KEA Advisors social profiles
Digital presenceKEA Advisors financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KEA Advisors leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
KEA Advisors funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KEA Advisors M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KEA Advisors
What does KEA Advisors do?
KEA Advisors provides management advisory and dealer optimization services to commercial transportation dealerships, including consulting engagements, leadership and operations training programs (KEA U), and a cloud-based business intelligence dashboard (PULSE) that delivers real-time analytics on Parts and Service department performance. Offerings are sold directly to dealership owners, OEMs, and DMS technology partners through fixed-fee engagements, training seat licenses, and PULSE subscriptions.
Is KEA Advisors a public or private company?
KEA Advisors is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was KEA Advisors founded?
KEA Advisors was founded in 1996. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KEA Advisors based?
KEA Advisors is headquartered in Lawrence, United States, in the North America region.
How does KEA Advisors make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Advisory Services are the primary driver. The others are education and Training Programs, KEA U Subscriptions, PULSE Platform Subscription and self-Assessment Tools.
Who are KEA Advisors's main competitors?
Others on record are CDK Global, Procede Software and Karmak. Broad incumbents are National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and American Truck Dealers (ATD). Direct peers are Decisiv, Spader Business Management and NCM Associates.
Does KEA Advisors have an API?
No public API is recorded for KEA Advisors.
What industry is KEA Advisors in?
KEA Advisors's product category is Commercial Dealership Management Consulting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAA, Corporate Strategy Advisory. Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.