Sound familiar?
Maybe you've been:
Googling "how to set up business email" at 11pm
Stuck deciding between three website platforms for weeks
Writing and rewriting your first outreach email
Wondering if you need a CRM (and which one)
Postponing marketing because you don't know where to start
Playing with AI tools but not sure how they can help
You're brilliant at your craft. But suddenly you're doing everything except what you're actually good at.
And the £15-50k consulting firms? They'll send you strategy decks, but they won't actually build anything.
That's where I come in.
Why I work differently
I've spent years running businesses and understand what it's like to wear every hat.
So I work differently:
We scope it together on a call (no waiting for proposals)
I work with you hands-on - actually building things for you and with you
You see tangible progress every week
We move fast because you've been stuck long enough
Building, not just advising.
What a Sprint looks like
I'll work with you over 3 to 10 weeks, hands-on. These are just some of the areas we can work on, but it all depends on your business and your priorities:
BRAND & LAUNCH
Brand identity and positioning
Website build and launch
Professional email and workspace setup
LinkedIn profile optimisation
SALES & GROWTH
Target market research and lead generation
Outreach strategy and email sequences
Sales process design
Partnership development support
SYSTEMS & OPERATIONS
CRM selection and setup
Email marketing and templates
Process documentation and automation
Tool evaluation and implementation
I'll build what I can, source specialists (if necessary) for what I can't, and work through it with you.
Why this approach works
Honest truth: I don't know everything about every business function.
What I do know is how to research and learn fast, make effective use of tools and AI, and reach out to specialists when needed - then shortlist and negotiate with them on your behalf.
I assess what's needed, build what I can, source what I can't, and manage it all hands-on.
That breadth - rather than deep specialisation in one area - is exactly what small businesses need when they're stuck.
Who this works best for
✓ Brilliant at their craft but overwhelmed by business operations
✓ Ready to invest in getting properly set up
✓ Looking for hands-on help, not just strategy
✓ Willing to make decisions quickly and ship things
About me
I'm James Stevenson. I founded and ran a specialist airline training business for 28 years - dealing with finance, sales, marketing, operations, regulation, partnerships, and navigating major disruptions.
That broad practical experience across every business function is what makes this work. I've done it myself and learnt from mistakes and successes, so I can help others sort it out faster.
After 28 years running my own business, I started helping other professionals sort out their business challenges - initially friends and connections, then as a formal consulting practice.
The common thread? Skilled people who are brilliant at their craft but stuck on sales, systems, and operations.
Now I love the variety: one week launching a photo editor's brand, next working on pricing strategy, then setting up AI-assisted lead generation for a design consultancy.
Different businesses, different challenges, tangible results in weeks.
How we work together
NO-NONSENSE BUSINESS SPRINTS
Small business consulting for the real world
Three scopes:
Essential
5-6 days over 3-6 weeks£5,500 or €6,270
Enhanced
7-8 days over 4-8 weeks
£7,500 or €8,550Extended
9-10 days over 5-10 weeks
£9,500 or €10,830
Three focus areas:
Launch
(build from scratch)Growth
(increase revenue)Streamline
(efficiency/automation)
Optional monthly retainer: £900 to £2,700 for 1-3 days per month afterwards, but only if you need and want ongoing support. Cancel anytime.
My goal is that you won't need me for too long.
THE PROCESS:
We'll talk through your current challenges and scope out what's needed together
If it's a good fit and we're both excited, you'll have a simple agreement straight after
We could potentially start the following week
No proposals. No discovery phases. No waiting.
Common questions
How is this different from hiring specialists?
You'd need a designer, developer, marketer, systems person. I assess what you need, build what I can, source specialists for what I can't, and manage everything. One person who understands the whole picture.
What if I only need help with one thing?
That's fine. We can do a focused 4-week sprint on just that area.
Can I afford this?
If you can invest £5,500 to £9,500 to properly set up your business infrastructure, yes. Compare that to £10k for just a website, or months of your time struggling through it yourself.
Do you work in my industry?
I work across industries - that variety is what I love. The business fundamentals (brand, systems, sales) are similar whether you're a photographer or a physiotherapist.
What if I'm not sure that I'm ready yet?
Why not book a Free Initial Consultation anyway? I'll give you honest advice about whether now is the right time and what you should focus on. No obligation.
Ready to get unstuck?
Click on the button below to schedule a 45-minute Free Initial Consultation. We'll talk through your situation, figure out if I'm the right person to help, and if we're both excited about it, we can start soon after. I'm currently booking for January 2026.
No pitch deck. No hard sell. Just an honest conversation.
If you'd like to get in touch, pease send a message using the form below.
Brilliant at your craft, but drowning in the business side?
I work with you hands-on to sort it... systems, leads, strategy - done in Sprints over weeks, not months. It's small business consulting for the real world.
© 2025 James C. Stevenson