Work with an operator,
not a consultant.
Four service lines, priced to match how the engagement is actually used. Retainers are the default because ongoing operator support produces better outcomes than transactional billing — but every engagement starts with a free scoping conversation.
Monthly retainers, sized to the company
Embedded executive leadership for companies not ready for a full-time hire. The effective hourly rate drops as the tier rises, because scale and complexity warrant volume pricing.
Starter
- $2M–$4M companies
- Focused scope — one or two specific problems
- COO or CFO lane, not both
- Async access between sessions
Core
- $4M–$10M companies
- Full fractional COO or CFO coverage
- Weekly working cadence
- Direct access — no account managers
Executive
- $10M+ or multi-entity holdings
- Combined COO + CFO scope
- Board-ready materials and KPI reporting
- Custom scope above this tier by agreement
Terms: 6-month initial commitment, then month-to-month with 30-day notice. Billed monthly in advance, net 10. Overage hours $225/hr, flagged before incurred. Up to 25% of unused hours roll forward one month. Travel and third-party costs billed at cost with receipts.
Everything else, priced in plain sight
| Engagement Type | Rate | When It Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery / Strategy Call (60–90 min) | Complimentary | Initial conversation to assess fit and scope. No cost, no obligation. |
| Advisory Hour (ad-hoc sessions) | $275 / hour | Second opinions, pressure-testing a decision, pricing or vendor strategy. |
| Project Engagement (40–120 hours) | $250 / hour or fixed fee | QBO cleanup, entity restructuring, CRM implementation, workflow design. |
| AI Operations Partner | $1,500–$3,000 / month | Ongoing AI implementation, tool-stack management, and automation maintenance. |
| Rush / Emergency | $350 / hour | Same-week response required; displaces other scheduled work. |
| Expert Witness (deposition, testimony, case review) | $450 / hour | Construction, insurance claims, vendor, and subcontractor disputes. |
The alternative is a peer group or a big firm
| Factor | Peer Groups (Vistage / EOS) | Big-Firm Consultants | X Holdings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadence | Monthly or quarterly | Project-based | Weekly + async |
| Who you get | Assigned chair / peers | Junior associates | The principal, directly |
| Execution | Peer discussion | Deliverables & decks | Hands-on execution |
| Commitment | 12 months | 6–12 month SOWs | 6-month initial, then month-to-month |
| Investment | $1.5–$2.5K/mo | $20–$50K+ per project | $3.5–$7.5K/mo, flexible |
| Industry depth | Generic frameworks | Generic frameworks | We run businesses in your industry |
Where the work goes deepest
Construction & Roofing
Operational turnarounds, margin recovery, supplement capture, crew scaling. Xactimate and insurance restoration fluency — firsthand, not academic.
ExploreHealthcare Operations & Sales
System buildouts, consult volume growth, revenue cycle optimization, distressed asset advisory.
ExploreReal Estate
Deal analysis, development advisory, acquisition strategy across hospitality, commercial, raw land, and conservation easements.
ExploreAI Consulting
Discovery → assessment → roadmap → implementation. Practical AI with measurable ROI, standalone or bundled with advisory.
ExploreExpert Witness & Dispute Support
Operator-level expert support for construction disputes, insurance claim litigation, subcontractor claims, and vendor receivables matters.
ExploreFixed-Scope Solutions
Productized engagements from $495 — business reviews, expense audits, KPI starters, job costing checks, and AI roadmap sessions.
ExploreAsked and answered
What happens on the free discovery call?
A 30–90 minute working conversation to assess fit and scope. You talk, we listen, and we tell you honestly whether we can help. If we can, a written scope document follows within 48 hours. No cost, no obligation, no pitch deck.
What are the retainer terms?
Retainers carry a 6-month initial commitment, then run month-to-month with 30-day notice. Billing is monthly in advance, net 10. Hours beyond your tier cap are billed at $225/hour and flagged before they're incurred. Up to 25% of unused hours roll forward one month.
Do you work remotely or on-site?
Remote-first, with on-site visits as scope requires. Most engagements are in Georgia, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas, but the work travels well.
What's the $495 Quick Business Review?
You grant temporary accountant access to your books (QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, Wave, or Zoho). Within 2 business days you get a written report on where the profit is leaking, plus a consultation to walk through it. The $495 is credited toward any future engagement.
Who actually does the work?
The principal — Carey Grainger. No junior associates, no handoffs, no account managers. The person you talk to on the discovery call is the person doing the work.
How fast can an engagement start?
Discovery call this week, written scope within 48 hours, and most engagements start within two weeks. Rush and emergency work is available at a premium rate when same-week response is required.
Not sure which engagement fits?
That's what the discovery call is for. 30 minutes, no cost, and you'll leave with a clear read on your situation either way.