The five phases
We developed this framework after running over 180 projects. Each phase has a defined output, a clear duration and a decision point where you choose whether to continue.
Discovery call
We start with a 45-minute video or phone call. You tell us what is going on in your business: the problems you see, the goals you have, and the constraints you are working within. We ask questions about revenue, team size, systems and recent changes. By the end of the call, we both know whether there is a fit. If there is, we send a one-page proposal for the diagnostic phase within 48 hours. This call costs nothing.
Diagnostic
This is where the real work starts. Over two to three weeks, we review your financial data, interview key staff, observe daily operations and map your sales pipeline. We spend at least two days on-site during this period. The output is a diagnostic report: a 15 to 25 page document that identifies the root causes of your problems, quantifies the financial impact and proposes two or three specific interventions ranked by expected return. The diagnostic phase has a fixed fee agreed in advance.
Planning
Once you have reviewed the diagnostic report, we meet to agree which interventions to pursue. We build a project plan with weekly milestones, assign responsibilities and define the measurable targets that will determine success. This plan becomes an appendix to the engagement contract. Planning typically takes one week.
Implementation
This is the longest phase: usually four to ten weeks depending on scope. We work alongside your team to execute the plan. That might mean restructuring your chart of accounts, redesigning a warehouse picking process, building a new sales outreach sequence, or coaching a newly promoted manager through their first quarter. We hold a short progress call every week and send a written update every Friday. If something is not working, we adjust the plan mid-stream rather than waiting until the end.
Review and handover
At the end of the engagement we measure results against the targets agreed in Phase 3. We compile a final report showing what changed, by how much, and what to watch going forward. All templates, dashboards, process documents and training materials are handed over to your team. We then provide 30 days of email support at no extra charge. If you want ongoing advisory support, we can set up a monthly retainer.
What you receive at the end
Every engagement produces tangible deliverables that stay with your business long after we leave.
Diagnostic report
A detailed analysis of your business with findings, data and prioritised recommendations. Written in plain language, not consultant jargon.
Implementation plan
A week-by-week project plan with owners, deadlines and dependencies. You can reuse this template for future internal projects.
Financial dashboards
Spreadsheet-based dashboards showing the metrics that matter most to your business: gross margin by segment, cash flow forecast, pipeline conversion rates. Built in tools your team already uses.
Process documentation
Step-by-step process maps for any workflows we redesigned. These are written for the people who do the work, not for a filing cabinet.
Final results report
A comparison of before-and-after metrics against the targets set at the start. Includes recommendations for the next 6 to 12 months.
30-day support
Email access to your lead consultant for a month after the engagement closes. Questions, clarifications, quick reviews of decisions you are making.
Ready to start?
The discovery call is free and takes 45 minutes. We will give you an honest assessment of whether we can help.
Book your free call