No Matter Where You Are in Your Business Journey, We Can Help
At Start Up With Feras, my team and I empower you to transform your skills into a thriving consulting and service business, whether you're aspiring to start your own venture, you're struggling to get traction in a business you've already started, or you're seeking to push through to the next stage of growth.
Our B2B services also support small-to-medium businesses and larger enterprises in key areas of business development and lifecycle, including sales and exit strategy.
Starting
Founder Coaching & Mastermind
1-on-1 coaching, small-group mastermind sessions, office hours, and access to our 60-module learning library. Great for very early-stage founders or those who are struggling to get traction or grow.
Engagement Timeline
5-10 hrs/wk
1-12 mo
Pricing
$999/mo
Growing
10-Point Assessment and Alignment
This business assessment, conducted by Feras, reviews 10 key areas and provides recommendations for shoring up your weaker areas and getting on track.
Engagement Timeline
3 Weeks
Pricing
Starting at
$2,500
Hands-On Business Strategy Consulting Program
This high-touch consulting program provides expert strategy as well as hands-on support to break through challenges and plateaus in a business that you have already built
Engagement Timeline
2+ Months
Pricing
Starting at
$5,000
Mastery
Fractional Advisory Board
Feras and our team of experts in legal, finance, service development, and marketing can help you take on the big shifts and developments in your company, including expansion, M&A planning, and succession planning.
Engagement Timeline
6+ Months
Pricing
Fee or Fee +
Equity
Exit Strategies
The Exit Strategies service provides comprehensive planning and guidance for business owners who are ready to transition out of their companies, whether through sale, succession, or closure.
Engagement Timeline
2+ Months
Pricing
Retainer + Success Fee
Specialized Business Services
Sales and CRM Strategy
If not managed and optimized, sales strategy and ops become a stumbling block for businesses growth. Work directly with Feras to get more clients, achieve better margins, and implement systems to support the sales cycle.
Engagement Timeline
4-8 Weeks
Pricing
Starting at
$10,000
Content Marketing Strategy and Operations
Expert content in the form of articles, white papers, videos, and tools plays an important role for many successful consulting and services businesses. Work with Feras and team to build a content engine that makes connections and helps close sales.
Engagement Timeline
4-8 Weeks
Pricing
Starting at
$10,000
Support for Departing Employees
Providing support for laid-off employees is the right thing to do, and it's also critical to preserve your company's reputation. Feras can work with you to guide these former employees in finding new opportunities for employment and their own businesses.
Engagement Timeline
4-8 Weeks
Pricing
Starting at
$10,000
Unsure of which option is best for you?
Founder Coaching & Mastermind
What's Included
Your full membership in Black Belt Startup includes:
- the full video curriculum, from entrepreneurial mindset and defining your audience all the way to setting up your back-office systems
- a personalized roadmap
- a monthly one-on-one coaching session with Feras
- weekly office hours, where we discuss critical topics and where I answer your questions
- an online community where you can interact with other entrepreneurs
- reviewed assignments
Who This Service Is Best For
The program serves early-stage consulting and service business founders, including those who:
- are in the idea phase but have not yet started
- are now preparing to start
- have already started but need to gain more traction
How We Work With You
Once you join the Black Belt Startup membership, you work with Feras on a personalized roadmap that helps you clarify your objectives and identify the areas where you need the most support to establish your business and get traction.
The roadmap also highlights the videos, tools, and templates in our training library that you need to focus on to get your business started right or to get more traction.
In your monthly one-on-one coaching sessions and weekly office hours, you can discuss progress on your roadmap and discuss any specific challenges.
Feras or a member of the Black Belt Startup With Feras team will review each of your submitted course assignments and provide feedback.
What's Not Included
While the membership includes a degree of one-on-one coaching, the allotted time each month will not allow for deep-dive consulting or comprehensive hands-on support.
Cost
The membership costs $999 monthly, with no annual commitment.
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.
If you're a student or a recent graduate, you've recently experienced a layoff, or you're currently facing another challenging personal circumstance, please inquire about discounted pricing at [email protected].
Huge shout-out to Feras Alhlou with Start Up With Feras for an OUTSTANDING coaching session. It was such a breath of fresh air and exactly what I needed as I enter the next stage of my career.
10-Point Business Assessment and Alignment
What's Included
The 10-Point Assessment and Alignment service provides a comprehensive review of the following areas pertaining to your business:
- Mindset
- Vetting the Idea
- Business planning
- Legal & partnerships
- Marketing
- Sales
- Service delivery
- Accounting
- HR
- IT and admin
This service includes a:
- 2-hour intake session
- 10-Point Assessment and Alignment report
- 2-hour assessment review session
- 30-minute followup session 1-2 months after the review session
As part of Assessment and Alignment, you'll receive a detailed report outlining weaknesses and vulnerabilities in these areas as well as recommendations and resources for improvement and next steps.
The 10-Point Assessment and Alignment Includes 1 month membership in Black Belt Startup membership.
Who This Service Is Best For
This service is best suited for:
- founders who have already done some of the preliminary work to set up their consulting and services business
- founders who have started but are struggling to gain traction and would benefit from a greater degree of individualized input
How We Work With You
- After you sign up, you schedule a 2-hour input session and a 2-hour assessment review session.
- You receive a pre-assessment questionnaire that you submit prior to the input session.
- During the input session, you and I (Feras) dive deeper into the questions.
- After 1-2 weeks, my team and I provide the 10-Point Assessment and Alignment report.
- During the assessment review session, you and I examine the recommendations, confirming and prioritizing the next steps that you need to take for your business.
- After 1-2 months, you schedule a 30-minute followup session during which you and I discuss the progress that you have made on your actions.
Sessions/meetings are conducted online unless feasible in-person.
What's Not Included
While quite comprehensive, the 10-Point Assessment and Alignment does not include hands-on work such as conducting audience research, setting up specific marketing campaigns, implementing software and systems, or detailed process mapping.
Cost
Starting at $2,500.
I really was ... amazed by the pragmatic advice ... that not only answered my question but gave me the confidence that we could do it.
Hands-On Business Strategy Consulting Program
What's Included
As a unique combination of strategy and hands-on support, this service is fully customized for your stage of business development, your industry vertical, and the output of the 10-Point Assessment and Alignment.
Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting includes the 10-Point Assessment and Alignment and 1 month of the Black Belt Startup membership.
We take on a maximum of 6 new Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting clients in a calendar year.
Who This Service Is Best For
Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting can benefit either new founders or founders who are facing operational or growth challenges in an existing business.
New founders
Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting provides deeper support in all areas considered in the 10-Point Alignment and Assessment.
Existing founders
Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting can help founders of existing businesses:
- Get beyond your existing revenue levels to achieve your desired growth
- Handle internal dynamics and get things done within your organization
- Build a team and a set of processes that allow you to periodically unplug
- Establish systems that allow you to scale
- Break out of a seasonal or feast-or-famine sales cycle
- Build executive presence and gain traction in your current role
- Set clear priorities and “manage the imbalance” between career and personal life
How We Work With You
After we complete the 10-Point Assessment and Alignment, I work with you to develop a detailed action plan for the prioritized items. This plan can include a wide range of support, such as:
- Market and audience research
- Service definition
- Guidance on legal and accounting matters
- Review of marketing and sales materials
- Specific guidance for implementing branded email and website creation
- Specific guidance for CRM implementation
- Process mapping and standard operating procedure (SOP) development
Depending on the type of recommended action, items in the action plan are designated for completion by me (Feras), members of the Start Up With Feras team, or yourself as the business owner.
Sessions/meetings are conducted online unless feasible in-person.
Weekly one-on-one sessions
Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting also includes weekly one-on-ones during which we track progress on the action items set the previous week.
Monthly reviews
The first weekly one-on-one session of the month is devoted to a focused accounting of progress on the action items and business performance for the previous month as well as setting priorities for the following month.
Cost
Starting at $5,000/month, 2 months minimum recommended.
What's Not Included
More complex business lifecycle considerations such as M&A are not included in Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting.
I've been owning a digital marketing consultancy for the past 5 years and growth has stalled. Feras's Black Belt Startup program was instrumental in order to put in place the healthy habits I needed to accelerate future growth without depending on referrals.
Fractional Advisory Board
What's Included
The Fractional Advisory Board service helps established consulting and service companies that are facing specific development and operational hurdles or seeking to make a significant change in their direction as a business.
I have a team of experts whom I've worked with in several previous and/or current businesses where we've grown, merged, spun off, and/or exited (successfully). We can also serve as your trusted advisors and empower you to take on major business challenges and opportunities with confidence.
The team includes myself, Chief Product Officer (product strategy, roadmapping, go to market, etc.), a Chief Financial Officer, and a corporate/M&A attorney. We all work together as an advisory board to guide founders in growing and scaling their business, attracting the right investment/investors, and attaining higher levels of business growth.
Additional details about the support that each of these experts can support are below.
We take on a maximum of 4 new Fractional Advisory Board clients in a calendar year.
Chief Product Officer
- Product/service strategy and roadmapping
- Go-to-market and launch planning
- User experience and engagement optimization
- Analytics and performance measurement
Chief Marketing Officer
- Develop and execute overall marketing strategy aligned with company goals
- Oversee brand management and positioning in the market
- Lead content marketing and thought leadership initiatives
- Manage digital marketing efforts, including website and social media presence
- Analyze market trends and competitor activities to inform marketing decisions
Chief Revenue Officer
- Drive overall revenue growth strategies across all channels
- Align sales, marketing, and customer success teams to optimize revenue
- Develop and implement pricing strategies for services
- Identify and pursue new market opportunities and partnerships
- Monitor and report on key revenue metrics and forecasts
Chief Financial Officer
- Financial strategy and planning
- Financial reporting
- Cash flow management
- Financial analysis and forecasting
- Investment evaluation
- Risk management and mitigation (financial)
Chief Legal Officer
- Corporate governance
- Contract review and negotiation
- Regulatory compliance
- Intellectual property protection
- Risk management and mitigation (legal)
CEO
- Strategic vision and leadership
- Overall business operations
- Team building and talent management
- Stakeholder relations
- Financial performance
Depending on your business objectives, specific members of your Fractional Advisory Board may assume more prominent roles.
How We Work With You
This service begins with two 2-hour onboarding sessions in which you meet with members of the advisory board.
Within two weeks of the second onboarding session, you receive an analysis and a high-level plan addressing the area of business support that you're seeking.
In subsequent monthly meetings, members of the fractional advisory board assess progress on the plan and guide next steps.
Sessions/meetings are conducted online unless feasible in-person.
Who This Service Is Best For
The Fractional Advisory Board serves established consulting and service businesses that are considering any of following:
- Expansion in staff and/or service offerings
- Offshoring
- Pivoting to a different service industry or audience section
- Succession planning
- M&A planning (either acquiring other companies or being acquired)
What's Not Included
Since this is an advisory service, no implementation or operational or implementation support is included. In some cases, it may make sense to combine the Fractional Advisory Board service with Hands-On Business Strategy and Consulting for more granular, day-to-day guidance and support.
Cost
Compensation for the Fractional Advisory Board can be based on:
- direct fee only
- direct fee plus equity (in the case of M&A support)
We can structure a compensation model that makes the most sense for objectives.
We greatly benefited from Feras' management of our recent business purchase. He accurately and succinctly represented the seller and helped to organize the information in an understandable way to evaluate the business' health and opportunities.
Exit Strategies
What's Included
The Exit Strategies service provides comprehensive planning and guidance for business owners who are ready to transition out of their companies, whether through sale, succession, or closure.
This service includes:
- Business assessment and optimization recommendations
- Exit timeline development and milestone planning
- Due diligence preparation and documentation organization
- Negotiation support and deal structure guidance
- Succession planning for key client relationships and team members
- Post-exit transition planning
We work with our team of M&A specialists, business brokers, and legal professionals to ensure you benefit from comprehensive support throughout the exit process.
Who This Service Is Best For
Exit Strategies serves established consulting and service business owners who:
- Have built a business and are ready to transition out
- Want to maximize their business value before exiting
- Need guidance on the complex process of selling a service-based business
- Are considering internal succession to partners or key employees
- Want to ensure continuity for their clients and team during the transition and integration
How We Work With You
The engagement begins with a comprehensive business assessment focused on exit readiness, including financial performance, client concentration, operational dependencies, and market positioning.
Within two weeks, you receive a detailed Exit Readiness Report outlining potential business value, areas for improvement, and a customized exit timeline with specific milestones.
Strategy sessions guide implementation of value-enhancement initiatives and exit preparation activities. We provide ongoing support through the entire process, from initial preparation through deal closing and post-exit transition.
Sessions/meetings are conducted online unless feasible in-person.
What's Not Included
This service focuses on strategic guidance and planning. Direct legal representation, business brokerage services, and detailed financial auditing are handled by our trusted network partners.
Cost
Cost for exit strategy consulting is based on retainer plus success fee.
We structure a compensation model that makes the most sense for your objectives.
I had zero experience in M&A. Feras walked me through every step of the process, proactively identifying potential gotchas and how to address them. Feras also did a great job in setting realistic expectations on valuation and timelines.
Sales and CRM Strategy
What's Included
The Sales and CRM Strategy service helps businesses establish and optimize their sales processes, implement effective CRM systems, and build sustainable revenue growth through improved client acquisition and retention.
This comprehensive service includes:
- Sales process audit and optimization
- CRM platform selection and implementation guidance
- Lead generation strategy development
- Sales pipeline design and management systems
- Client onboarding and retention process mapping
- Sales team training and performance metrics
- Integration planning for marketing and operations systems
The service is fully customized based on your current sales challenges, growth objectives, and existing technology infrastructure.
Who This Service Is Best For
Sales and CRM Strategy serves consulting and service businesses that:
- Are struggling with inconsistent sales results or lengthy sales cycles
- Need to systematize their client acquisition and management processes
- Want to implement or optimize their CRM system for better results
- Are experiencing growth but lack proper sales infrastructure to scale
- Have a sales team that needs better processes and tools
- Want to improve client retention and expand existing relationships
How We Work With You
The engagement starts with a comprehensive sales audit, including review of current processes, tools, metrics, and team capabilities. We also analyze your ideal client profile and competitive positioning.
Within two weeks, you receive a detailed Sales and CRM Strategy Report with specific recommendations for process improvements, technology solutions, and implementation priorities.
Monthly implementation sessions guide the rollout of new systems and processes. We provide hands-on support for CRM setup, team training materials, and performance tracking systems.
Sessions/meetings are conducted online unless feasible in-person.
Cost
Starting at $10,000 for the initial audit and strategy development, with optional monthly implementation support available at $2,500/month.
I started a research and strategy consulting practice a few years ago and didn't know what I didn't know. After just one video and one conversation with Feras, I realized the missing pieces -- thinking about a sales funnel and using a CRM. This understanding is shifting my roll-out of new services and, well, just how I nurture relationships. Thanks, Feras!
Content Marketing Strategy and Operations
What's Included
The Content Marketing Strategy and Operations service helps businesses build a content creation and distribution engine that establishes thought leadership, attracts ideal clients, and supports sales.
This service includes:
- Content strategy development aligned with business objectives
- Competitor research
- Editorial calendar planning and content pipeline management
- Thought leadership positioning and messaging framework
- Multi-channel content production (blog posts, articles, social media, newsletters)
- SEO optimization and content performance tracking
- Content repurposing and distribution strategies
- Team training for sustainable content creation processes
Content production can include ghostwriting, editing, and content optimization based on your specific needs and preferences.
Who This Service Is Best For
Content Marketing Strategy and Operations serves consulting and service businesses that:
- Want to establish thought leadership in their industry
- Need consistent, high-quality content to support their marketing efforts
- Struggle to find time for regular content creation
- Want to improve their online visibility and attract qualified leads
- Have expertise to share but lack content marketing experience
- Need to differentiate themselves in a competitive market
How We Work With You
We begin with a content audit, competitor analysis, and strategy session to understand your expertise, target audience, competitive landscape, and business objectives.
Within two weeks, you receive a comprehensive Content Marketing Strategy including editorial calendar, content themes, distribution plan, and success metrics.
Ongoing monthly sessions include content planning, review and approval of produced content, performance analysis, and strategy refinement.
Sessions/meetings are conducted online unless feasible in-person.
What's Not Included
Paid advertising management, graphic design for complex visual content, video production, and website development are not included. We focus on written content and strategic guidance.
Cost
Starting at $10,000/month for strategy development. Additional content production and distribution support available based on specific requirements.
I can listen to Feras Alhlou for hours. He has so much insight and advice around leading and scaling a company from his successful businesses.
Support for Departing Employees
What's Included
The Support for Departing Employees service helps businesses manage employee transitions professionally while protecting business interests and maintaining positive relationships.
This service includes:
- Departure planning and timeline development
- Knowledge transfer and documentation processes
- Client relationship transition strategies
- Non-compete and confidentiality agreement guidance
- Exit interview facilitation and feedback collection
- Team communication and morale management
- Replacement planning and hiring support
- Post-departure relationship management
- Support for departing employees in finding a new job or starting their own business
We work with HR professionals and employment attorneys in our network to ensure compliance with legal requirements while maintaining positive professional relationships.
Who This Service Is Best For
Support for Departing Employees serves consulting and service businesses that:
- Have key employees leaving who manage important client relationships
- Want to handle departures professionally to protect company reputation
- Need guidance on protecting intellectual property and client relationships
- Are concerned about the impact of departures on team morale
- Want to maintain positive relationships with former employees for potential future collaboration
- Need systematic approaches for handling various types of employee departures
How We Work With You
The engagement begins immediately upon learning of an employee's departure intention. We conduct a rapid assessment of potential risks, opportunities, and transition requirements.
Within 48-72 hours, you receive a Departure Management Plan outlining key steps, timelines, communication strategies, and risk mitigation approaches.
We provide ongoing support throughout the transition period, including facilitation of knowledge transfer sessions, guidance on difficult conversations, and monitoring of transition progress.
Sessions/meetings are conducted online or by phone, with flexible scheduling to accommodate urgent situations.
What's Not Included
Direct legal counsel, HR administration, and detailed employment law advice are provided by our network partners and not included in the base service. The service focuses on strategic guidance and transition management.
Cost
Starting at $10,000 for basic departure planning and guidance, with additional support available at $300/hour for complex situations or extended transition periods.
I was recently laid off from my corporate job and have been contemplating various business ideas, including consulting and service-based ventures. My main challenge is choosing a path, understanding how to validate each idea, and figuring out how long to test it for feasibility.
After taking the free course and meeting with Feras—who was approachable, knowledgeable, and friendly—he provided valuable, candid advice on my current thinking based on his work with hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs, and shared many free resources from his website. Working with Feras is a wise choice for anyone looking to start, refine, or scale a consulting or service-based business.
DON'T MAKE HARD DECISIONS OR FACE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS ON YOUR OWN. GET ESSENTIAL INPUT FROM FERAS.
A lot of folks have helped me along the way, and I'm passionate about giving back.
My goal is now to help you make good decisions, avoid pitfalls, and streamline the steps in your early-stage consulting or professional services startup.
BRANDS WE HAVE SERVED INCLUDE:
Schedule a Discovery Call
Please schedule a 30-minute discovery call so we can determine if any of these services would be a good fit.