What Happens in a Free Automation Consultation (No Pitch, No Pressure)
Last week a dentist in Burlington almost didn't book a call with me. She told me later she'd been burned by a "free consultation" with a marketing agency that turned into 45 minutes of upselling. I get it. Most free calls are sales calls wearing a different shirt.
This one isn't.
I've done a couple hundred of these calls over the past year from my office in Essex Junction. Here's what actually happens in 30 minutes, so you know what you're walking into.
What do the first 10 minutes look like?
I ask you one question: "Walk me through your day."
That's it. Not "what's your budget" or "what software do you use." Just tell me what a normal Tuesday looks like from the time you open up to the time you lock the door.
You'll talk about the things that frustrate you without me asking. Every business owner does. The HVAC tech mentions he missed four calls before lunch. The salon owner says she spent Sunday night doing the books. The property manager talks about the same tenant maintenance request sitting in his inbox for three days.
I'm listening for the patterns. The stuff you do every day that you shouldn't be doing at all.
What happens after I describe my day?
I'll tell you what I'd automate first. Not everything. Just the one or two things that would give you the most time back.
And I'll be specific. Not "you should automate your follow-ups." More like "your post-service review request should go out automatically 2 hours after the appointment, with the customer's name and the service they got, and it should stop if they've already left a review."
That level of detail matters because it shows you this isn't a template. It's your business.
If you've been trying to figure out whether to build it yourself or hire someone, this is where you'll get a straight answer. Some of the people I talk to genuinely should be using Zapier on their own. I tell them that.
Will you try to sell me something?
Sometimes. But not the way you're expecting.
If I see a clear problem with a clear fix and I think we're the right people to build it, I'll say so. I'll tell you roughly what it would cost (projects start at $1,000, project-based, no contracts) and how long it would take. That's the honest part.
But I won't pressure you into a decision on the call. You'll never hear me say "this price is only good today" or "I've got three other businesses waiting." That stuff is gross. And it doesn't work on the kind of people I want to work with.
About a third of the people I talk to don't buy anything. Some aren't ready. Some have a problem that automation won't fix. Some just needed a second opinion. All of those are fine outcomes for a 30-minute call.
What if I'm not sure automation is right for me?
That's actually the best reason to book the call.
If you've been reading about AI and automation and you can't tell whether it applies to your business, that question is worth 30 minutes of your time. I'd rather spend half an hour telling you "not yet" than have you spend $3,000 somewhere else on something you don't need.
The call follows the first step of our process: We Listen. If automation makes sense, the next step is getting your business AI-ready with the foundation work (personas, brand voice, competitive mapping). If it doesn't make sense, I'll tell you why and what to do instead.
No wasted money. No wasted time.
What I won't do on the call
I won't audit your entire tech stack. I won't review your website. I won't build you a project plan. Thirty minutes isn't enough for that, and anyone who promises it is cutting corners.
What I will do is give you a clear picture of whether automation fits your situation. That's worth knowing before you spend anything.
Common questions
No. Just be ready to talk about your day. If you want to speed things up, think about the one task that eats most of your week. But don't stress about having a list or knowing the right questions. That's my job.
I respond within one business day, usually same-day. You'll get an email from me (Chris, not a bot) with a link to pick a time that works. We book most calls within a few days of the request.
I'll tell you. I've told people to hire a part-time admin instead. I've told people their real problem is pricing, not process. The consultation costs you nothing, so there's no reason for me to push something that won't work. We wrote a full breakdown of what automation actually costs if you want to think through the numbers first.
Your choice. Most people do phone. Some prefer video. Either way, it's 30 minutes, just you and me.
If you've been putting off the call because you thought it was a sales pitch, now you know what it actually is. Book your free 30-minute check-up here. Thirty minutes, your real workflow, honest answers.
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