Resource library

Take it. Use it. Improve it.

Short tools for real work. Adapt every example to your facts, customers, policies, and voice before publishing.

Checklist · 5 minutes

The five-minute homepage test

  1. Offer: Can a stranger say what you sell after five seconds?
  2. Audience: Is it clear who the service is for—and where you serve?
  3. Next step: Is one useful action visible without hunting?
  4. Proof: Can visitors find truthful reviews, examples, credentials, or process details?
  5. Friction: Do price, hours, timing, contact details, and policies answer the questions that delay action?
Quick score

Give one point for each clear answer. Fix the lowest-confidence item first; do not redesign the whole damn site to solve one missing sentence.

Why clarity matters → Learn conversion →

Prompt · Human review required

A safer first-draft prompt

This is a tool you can copy into an AI assistant. Replace the brackets with your information, keep private data out of it, and review the result like a responsible adult—not like the robot has suddenly become your attorney, accountant, and psychic.

Copy-and-paste prompt
You are helping draft [type of content] for [business and audience]. Use only the facts below. If a fact is missing, write [VERIFY] instead of guessing. Do not invent testimonials, prices, guarantees, statistics, credentials, legal claims, or customer details. Keep the tone [three words]. End with one clear next step. Facts: [paste non-sensitive, approved facts].

Before using the draft

  • Replace every [VERIFY] marker and confirm every factual claim.
  • Remove private customer, employee, financial, health, or account data.
  • Read it aloud and rewrite language that does not sound like the business.

Read “Why AI? Well, Why Not?” → Learn human-in-the-loop →

Template · Monthly

A source tracker you will actually maintain

DateCustomer or leadSource they namedTracked linkOutcomeNotes
Aug. 19Example leadFriend referralDirectEstimate sentAsked about service area

Use broad, consistent source names such as Referral, Google, Instagram, Event, or Returning customer. Review patterns monthly; do not overreact to one row.

Why source tracking helps → Learn attribution →

Template · Offer clarity

The one-sentence offer builder

Fill-in-the-blank template
We help [specific customer] achieve [credible outcome] through [service or method]. Start by [single next step].

Example: “We help busy homeowners in North Houston handle small repairs through scheduled, clearly scoped service visits. Start by sending photos for an estimate.”

Specificity beats hype. Do not claim a result you cannot control.

Read the full explanation → Learn CTA →

Checklist · Reputation

The fifteen-minute public-image audit

  1. Search your business name in a private/incognito window.
  2. Check the first page of results for outdated hours, old addresses, duplicate profiles, dead links, or reviews you never answered.
  3. Open your website on a phone and confirm the first screen still explains what you do.
  4. Compare your name, logo, phone, address, hours, service area, and primary offer across your main profiles.
  5. Read your last ten public posts like a stranger. Do they make the business look active, competent, chaotic, angry, abandoned, or confused?
  6. Write down only the three issues most likely to damage trust. Fix those first.
Do not panic-clean

A public image problem is not solved by deleting everything and starting over. Preserve legitimate history, correct what is wrong, and make the next customer see a coherent business.

Why public image matters →

Checklist · Social media

The “should we post this?” social check

  • Purpose: Does this help, explain, entertain, prove, or invite an action?
  • Context: Could a reasonable person see this without the backstory and misunderstand it?
  • Facts: Are names, dates, prices, claims, and screenshots accurate?
  • Privacy: Are customers, employees, children, addresses, or private messages exposed?
  • Heat: If this is written while angry, would you still publish it tomorrow?
  • Platform risk: Are you building your entire audience on a platform you do not own?

Why social media can help—and hurt →

Template · Money

The “busy but broke” weekly check

Weekly worksheet
Cash available now: $____ Cash expected in the next 7 days: $____ Bills due in the next 7 days: $____ Variable costs required to earn that revenue: $____ Tax/reserve amount that is not spendable: $____ Cash left after those obligations: $____

This is not formal accounting. It is a fast reality check so a big revenue number does not trick you into spending money that is already spoken for.

Why a busy business can still be broke → Learn cash flow →

Checklist · Before you sign

The franchise reality-check starter list

This is not legal or financial advice. It is the list of questions that should exist before somebody gets seduced by a logo, a territory map, and a revenue number.

  1. Get the current Franchise Disclosure Document and read all 23 required disclosure areas.
  2. Separate initial franchise fee, build-out, equipment, inventory, financing, royalties, marketing fees, technology fees, transfer fees, and renewal costs.
  3. Ask how many current and former franchisees you can contact—and actually call them.
  4. Model a bad month, an average month, and a strong month after all recurring fees.
  5. Understand required vendors, pricing restrictions, remodel schedules, hours, territory limits, and what you are not allowed to change.
  6. Find out what happens if you want out early or need to sell.
  7. Have an accountant and franchise attorney review the numbers and agreement before signing.

Why franchises can look safer than they are →