FAQs

What types of firms do you work with? Individuals and small firms under 25 employees: Designers, contractors, and vendors.

What do you consider your “unique ability”? My unique ability is to quickly and effectively see overlooked opportunities for additional revenue, holes in communication and business processes, and help you negotiate and resolve conflict issues; I’m like a business partner you don’t have to marry.

How can you help me if we don’t live in the same city? To be as effective as possible, we’ll need to start with the Business Review which should be completed on-site. The remainder of services can be performed via web conference.

How do we work together after you leave? Initially I’ll ask you to consider an annual budget for business consulting services so that you can determine whether you can afford this type of help. The work that follows the Business Review is per your request. This includes phone calls, emails, and meetings initiated by you when there’s something you want help with. But, sometimes I’ll wake up in the middle of the night thinking about your business and share those ideas at no charge.

Will we have a regularly scheduled call? That’s up to you. Once we’ve completed the Business Review, we’ll work at your pace, as needed.

How long does the Business Review process take? Usually 1-5 business days, depending on the size and complexity of your business.

Before hiring you, would it make sense to first fix some things that I know need to be done? Yes. If you know you need to fire an employee (or client), don’t wait, but, I would strongly suggest you hire me before hiring their replacement or creating a new position.

What sets you apart from the other business consultants that specialize in serving this field? What sets me apart is my 25 years of varied industry and small business experience (most of those years were spent self-employed in the landscape, interior design, event planning, and brand communication industries) and my ability to quickly assess business situations and provide cut-to-the-chase, low cost solutions for marketing and operations management.

What are the typical deliverables in our working relationship? Primarily my verbal advice, along with some brief notes to track our progress. If you need lengthy written summaries of our work together, you’ll probably be happier working with someone else.

What are your payment terms? Non-refundable pre-payment.

Do you have some references we could contact? My references are posted on my Linked In profile. If you need more, just ask.

How much do your services cost? I charge for my thinking, talking, and writing once hired – from webinars to face-to-face private consulting: email, phone, or web conference. Here’s an overview of my pricing for private consultation and group learning.