how an engagement actually starts
what happens after you reach out.
Most consulting relationships start with a lot of uncertainty on both sides. We try to remove as much of that as possible, as early as possible. Here's what working with whereabouts actually looks like from the first email to the final deliverable.
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You reach out. We talk. No pitch deck, no prepared presentation. This is just an honest conversation about what you're working on, what's not working, and what you're hoping to change.
This call is free and comes with no obligation. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you that and point you toward someone who might be. We love a good referral opp. If we are, we move to the next step.
Usually 30–60 minutes. Scheduled within a few business days of your inquiry.
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After we understand your situation, we tell you what we think you actually need, including how many hours we estimate it will take, what skills it requires, and which of our service structures makes the most sense for your organization.
If the scope is unclear or exploratory, we'll say that too, and recommend starting on a time and materials basis until the picture gets sharper.
You'll have a written summary of our assessment and recommendation before we ask you to commit to anything.
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If you want to move forward, we put together a clear scope of work with defined deliverables, a timeline, and transparent pricing. No surprises buried in the fine print.
We use a plain-language statement of work. This is not a 40-page contract designed to confuse and irritate you into submission. You'll know what you're getting, what it costs, and what happens if something changes.
Proposals are typically turned around within 3–5 business days.
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We get to work. You'll hear from us regularly, and most definitely not just when there's a problem. We flag issues early, communicate clearly about progress, and tell you when something is going to push the timeline or budget before it does.
We don't disappear into a project and resurface with a deliverable. You're part of the process, because, after all, it’s your process.
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When the work is done, we don't just hand you a file and leave (unless you want us to). We document what we built, why we built it that way, and how to use and maintain it going forward. If your team needs training to take ownership of what we've built, that's part of the engagement.
We want the work to outlast our involvement. That means leaving things in better shape than we found them, including the documentation and training. Teach a man to fish and whatnot…
Ready to start the conversation?