There are four ways to work with Ali, and the right one depends on how big and how clear your problem is. A single decision with good data fits a paid session. A messy, multi-part problem fits a defined project. Steady execution over months fits ongoing advisory. Everyone starts with the same free 30-minute call, which is where that choice gets made.
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Free 30-minute first conversation
A no-cost phone call to name the real problem and decide whether paid help makes sense at all.
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Paid strategy session
Focused hours with Ali on one decision, with prepared numbers and a written next-step list.
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Defined-scope business review
A fixed-scope assessment or plan with milestones, for problems too big for one session.
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Ongoing advisory
A standing monthly advisor for owners who want someone senior on call while they execute.
Free 30-minute first conversation
This is the front door for everyone. It is a phone call, free and without obligation, where you describe the problem and Ali works out what is really going on.
Use it when you're not sure what kind of help you need, or whether you need any. It's also the right step if you have a proposal from another firm and want a second opinion on whether it fits. The first conversation page explains what Ali asks and what you walk away with.
Paid strategy session
A strategy session is focused, billable time on one decision you have already defined. Think "should we drop Google Ads and put that budget into our website?" or "is our pricing too low for the market we're in?"
It suits owners who can bring numbers to the table. Sessions are billed at $175 to $350 per hour, and most single decisions fit in one or two hours. You get a short written summary of the recommendation afterwards. Details are on the strategy session page.
Defined-scope business review
A business review is a fixed-price project with milestones, for problems too tangled for a single session. Examples include a marketing assessment across every channel, a launch plan for a new service line, or a full review of how enquiries become paying customers.
Projects range from $3,500 to $25,000 depending on scope, with milestone payments. The scope, deliverables and timeline are written down before work starts. The business review page walks through what a typical scope contains.
Ongoing advisory
Ongoing advisory is a monthly retainer for owners who are executing a plan and want a senior advisor available while they do it. It works like having a part-time strategist down the hall: regular check-ins, quick answers between them, and someone who remembers last quarter's decisions.
Retainers run $2,500 to $12,000 per month depending on hours and involvement. The ongoing advisory page covers how check-ins work and how to tell whether the retainer is paying for itself.
A quick way to choose
If you are still unsure, answer these four questions honestly:
- Can you state the decision in one sentence? If yes, a strategy session is likely enough.
- Does the answer depend on several moving parts (marketing, sales follow-up, pricing, staffing) at once? That points to a defined review.
- Will you be making related decisions every few weeks for the next six months? That is what advisory is for.
- Are you unsure about all of the above? Book the free conversation and let it sort itself out.
Common mistakes when choosing
- Buying a big project to solve a small question. A $10,000 review is a poor way to settle a pricing argument that a two-hour session could close.
- Booking hourly help for a problem that keeps coming back. If you've booked three sessions on the same theme, a retainer may cost less than the stop-start.
- Skipping preparation. Paid time is far more valuable when you arrive with numbers. Our preparation guide shows what to gather.
What none of these formats include
None of the four formats include legal, tax, accounting, lending or immigration advice. We advise on strategy, growth, marketing and operations, and we'll tell you plainly when a question needs a licensed professional instead.
Prices for every format, plus how GST/HST applies, are on the pricing page. When you're ready, the contact page explains how to start with a call, a text or an email.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy anything after the free call?
No. Many owners get what they need in the free 30 minutes. If a paid format would help, Ali will say which one and why, and the scope and price come in writing before you agree.
Can I start with one session and move to a project later?
Yes, and that is a sensible order. A paid session often reveals whether the problem is a single decision or a bigger piece of work, which keeps you from buying a project you don't need.
Which format is most common?
There is no default. Owners with one clear question usually book a session. Owners facing a launch, a restructure or a stalled growth plan tend to need a defined review or ongoing advisory.
Is the Growth Partner Program a fifth format?
It is a different way of paying rather than a different kind of advice. Ali contributes time at the start and is paid from measurable results later. Partnerships are limited and scoped case by case; ask about it in your first conversation.