status: draft collection: company-architecture function: reference tag: [grove-united, shared-services, federation, holding-company, n+1, multi-entity] alias:
Conceptual blueprint for Grove United and related entities. Shows evolution from single LLC with DBAs to shared services, creation of Grove Holding, and federation into service-specific LLCs with N+1 failover. Includes concise roles for Waddell AV and Audio Authority.
Overview. Grove United is the backbone of a federated ecosystem. It begins as the legal/operational chassis for outward-facing brands, matures into a shared-services engine, separates ownership into a dedicated holding company, and ultimately expresses shared services as a federation of service-specific LLCs with intentional N+1 redundancy. Operating brands face the market; Grove United standardizes the spine; Grove Holding safeguards assets.
Stage 1 — Single LLC with DBAs. Grove United starts as one company that houses the DBAs for Waddell AV and Audio Authority. It receives revenue, pays expenses, maintains insurance, and keeps clean books. Purpose: one operating chassis so the front-line brands can launch quickly while back-office work remains centralized.
Stage 2 — Shared-services engine. Without changing identity, Grove United becomes the explicit provider of HR, accounting, IT, and compliance for the brands (and later, external clients). It operates at arm’s length via written service agreements, clear SLAs, and periodic settlements. The goal is standardization, auditability, and scale.