Checklist · 5 minutesThe five-minute homepage test
- Offer: Can a stranger say what you sell after five seconds?
- Audience: Is it clear who the service is for—and where you serve?
- Next step: Is one useful action visible without hunting?
- Proof: Can visitors find truthful reviews, examples, credentials, or process details?
- Friction: Do price, hours, timing, contact details, and policies answer the questions that delay action?
Quick scoreGive 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 requiredA 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 promptYou 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 · MonthlyA source tracker you will actually maintain
| Date | Customer or lead | Source they named | Tracked link | Outcome | Notes |
|---|
| Aug. 19 | Example lead | Friend referral | Direct | Estimate sent | Asked 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 clarityThe one-sentence offer builder
Fill-in-the-blank templateWe 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 · ReputationThe fifteen-minute public-image audit
- Search your business name in a private/incognito window.
- Check the first page of results for outdated hours, old addresses, duplicate profiles, dead links, or reviews you never answered.
- Open your website on a phone and confirm the first screen still explains what you do.
- Compare your name, logo, phone, address, hours, service area, and primary offer across your main profiles.
- Read your last ten public posts like a stranger. Do they make the business look active, competent, chaotic, angry, abandoned, or confused?
- Write down only the three issues most likely to damage trust. Fix those first.
Do not panic-cleanA 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 mediaThe “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 · MoneyThe “busy but broke” weekly check
Weekly worksheetCash 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 signThe 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.
- Get the current Franchise Disclosure Document and read all 23 required disclosure areas.
- Separate initial franchise fee, build-out, equipment, inventory, financing, royalties, marketing fees, technology fees, transfer fees, and renewal costs.
- Ask how many current and former franchisees you can contact—and actually call them.
- Model a bad month, an average month, and a strong month after all recurring fees.
- Understand required vendors, pricing restrictions, remodel schedules, hours, territory limits, and what you are not allowed to change.
- Find out what happens if you want out early or need to sell.
- Have an accountant and franchise attorney review the numbers and agreement before signing.
Why franchises can look safer than they are →