You're great at your work. The business part is the problem.
Nobody starts a business because they love payroll, insurance, and software decisions. The Small Business Starter Checkup gives you a clear picture of what to set up, in what order, so you can stop guessing and get back to the work you actually went into business to do.
A brief conversation to see if this is a good fit. No obligation.
I work with a limited number of clients each month to keep quality high.
Guaranteed: leave with a clear, prioritized plan, or your money back.
Knowing your craft is not the same as knowing how to run a business
You went out on your own because you're good at what you do. But running a business means handling a dozen things that have nothing to do with your actual trade: entity setup, banking, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, a website, marketing, insurance, and a pile of software decisions, all at once, with no clear starting point.
Most new owners deal with this by guessing, copying whatever a friend did, or putting it off until something breaks. That's understandable, and it's also how expensive mistakes happen.
The harder part isn't the decisions you know you're avoiding; it's everything you'd never think to ask about in the first place. There are tried-and-true, proven ways of handling almost all of this, but you can't search for the answer to a question you don't even know exists. That's the real gap, and it's exactly what an experienced outside eye is for.
The numbers back it up: roughly 1 in 5 new businesses close within their first year, and about half are gone within five. The reasons are rarely the actual product or service. They're the foundational pieces, the money, the setup, the systems, that never got handled properly at the start.
Figures based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics business survival data.
A clear plan for everything outside your core trade
This is not accounting, legal advice, or generic IT support.
It is a structured review and consultation built for people who are great at their work but new to running a business. I look at where you are, figure out what you actually need versus what can wait, and hand you a prioritized plan tailored to your specific type of business.
The whole point is that you don't know what you don't know yet. You shouldn't have to. My job is to tell you what matters right now, what matters soon, and what you can safely ignore for a while, all in plain language you can actually understand, not jargon and acronyms.
The whole business, not just one corner of it
The review is tailored to your specific business type, not a generic checklist. It covers:
- Business foundation - entity type, banking, basic bookkeeping and accounting setup
- Payroll and taxes - what you need to know before you hire or pay yourself
- Web presence - website, Google Business Profile, and social media basics
- Marketing - how to find clients and what actually works for small local businesses
- Tools and software - what you actually need versus what you can skip
- Insurance - what coverage matters for your type of business
- Operations - simple processes to avoid chaos as the business grows
Simple from start to finish
We talk briefly about your business and where you are. No preparation needed on your end.
A short questionnaire so I understand your situation before we meet, and our time goes straight to what matters.
We walk through every area above, tailored to your business. You ask anything you want; nothing is too basic.
Within 48 hours, a prioritized plan plus a resource list tailored to your business, followed by a 30-day check-in to review your progress.
A plan you can actually act on
Every client receives:
- Pre-engagement questionnaire to understand your situation
- 90-minute consultation covering every area of your business
- Written action plan, prioritized so you know exactly where to start
- Resource list of recommended tools, vendors, and services specific to your needs
- 30-day follow-up check-in to review progress
The action plan is organized the way a new owner actually needs it:
The handful of things that genuinely cannot wait, and why.
Important, but fine to tackle over the next few weeks or months.
Worth knowing about so it's on your radar, but not a distraction today.
Do I need to have everything figured out already?
No. The consultation is designed for people who don't know what they don't know. That's the whole point.
How long does it take?
The questionnaire and consultation typically complete within one to two weeks of booking. Your written action plan is delivered within 48 hours of the consultation.
No obligation. A brief conversation to confirm it's a good fit.
Corey Klass
I spent 30 years in corporate IT and operations, working with organizations on the systems, tools, and processes that keep a business running. I've also spent years navigating the exact setup decisions you're facing now, on my own businesses.
I started the Starter Checkup because most new owners are brilliant at their craft and completely on their own when it comes to the business side. There's no reason to learn all of this the hard way when someone can simply tell you what matters and in what order.
I work with new solo professionals, tradespeople, freelancers, and service providers in the SF East Bay who want a clear starting point instead of a pile of half-answers from the internet.
Built for brand-new business owners
Best suited for owners who:
- Have been in business two years or less
- Know their craft but not the business side of it
- Feel pulled in every direction with no clear starting point
- Don't have a business partner, mentor, or advisor to lean on
- Want someone to tell them what actually matters right now
Common clients include:
- Tradespeople and contractors
- Consultants and freelancers
- Independent service providers
- Creatives going out on their own
- Anyone who started a business without a business background
Start with the Starter Checkup. Add help if you want it.
Every option begins with the same complete review. The difference is how much help you want after you have the plan.
- Pre-engagement questionnaire
- 90-minute consultation
- Written action plan, prioritized: now / soon / eventually
- Resource list tailored to your business type
- 30-day follow-up check-in
Best for: New owners who want a clear starting point and can run with the plan on their own.
If you don't leave with a clear, prioritized plan you can actually act on, I'll refund you in full. No questions asked.
- Everything in the Starter Checkup, plus:
- Technical setup assistance (web presence, Google Business Profile, tools, software)
- One additional follow-up session after setup is complete
- 60-day follow-up support window
Best for: New owners who want the knowledge and help getting the basics actually running.
- The $200 Starter Checkup (required first step), then:
- Up to 2 hours of advisory support per month
- Questions, decisions, and minor tasks handled as they come up
- Available by email and scheduled calls
- Three-month minimum commitment
Best for: New owners who want an experienced advisor available as they build the business.
| What's included | Starter $200 |
Hands-On $750 |
Retainer $200 + $150/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-engagement questionnaire | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 90-minute consultation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Written action plan | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tailored resource list | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 30-day follow-up check-in | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Technical setup assistance | - | Yes | - |
| Post-setup follow-up session | - | Yes | - |
| 60-day support window | - | Yes | - |
| Monthly ongoing advisory | - | - | Yes (2 hrs/mo) |
A taste of the plain-English guidance you'll get
Before you book anything, here are some of my Klassroom Notes: short, jargon-free guides on the questions new owners ask me most. No signup required.
The Starter Checkup is for getting started. The Efficiency Checkup is for getting better.
The Starter Checkup is built for new businesses that need foundational direction. Once you've been running for a couple of years and the question shifts from "what do I set up?" to "how do I make what I already have run more smoothly?", that's the Small Business Efficiency Checkup.
Starter Checkup clients get $100 off the Efficiency Checkup when they're ready to make the jump.
Not ready yet?
If now isn't the right time, join the list. I occasionally send practical notes on starting and running a small business - no fluff, no hard sell.
Get a clear starting point for your business
If running your business feels like a hundred open questions with no obvious order, this is the place to start.
Not sure which option is right? We'll figure it out together during the free consultation. Once I understand where you are, the right level of help becomes obvious.
Book a Free ConsultationWe'll briefly discuss your business and whether this is a good fit before moving forward.