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Rob Douglass, business mentor for early-stage and smaller businesses

Early-Stage Mentoring · For businesses up to £500k turnover

Build the business so it never has to depend on you

Most owner-dependency problems start small: a habit of doing it yourself, a decision that never gets written down, a job that only ever sits with you.

Early-Stage Mentoring is regular, practical support for smaller businesses. Someone to think things through with, keep you accountable, and help you put the right foundations in place as you grow.

Whether you’re two years in or twenty, what matters is the stage of growth, not the age of the business.

Talk about Early-Stage Mentoring

In person and online. No minimum term.

Turnover closer to £1m–£10m? Business Mentoring may be a better fit →

Does this sound familiar?

Plenty of work, not much time to think about the business

You make most of the important decisions on your own

There’s no one to sense-check a big call before you make it

You know what needs doing, but it keeps slipping behind the day job

The business is growing, but the way it runs hasn’t changed

Things only happen properly when you do them yourself

You’d like someone to hold you to the plan

None of this is a crisis yet.

That’s the point. It’s far easier to build the right habits now than to unpick the wrong ones later.

What’s included

Regular, practical support as the business grows

Sessions are built around what’s actually in front of you that month, not a fixed programme.

Typically two to three hours of mentoring a month

A mix of in-person and online sessions

Help deciding what matters most, and what can wait

Practical input on pricing, cashflow, people and structure

Someone to hold you to the plan, so it actually happens

No minimum term: carry on while it’s adding value

How it works

How Early-Stage Mentoring works

Regular sessions, built around your business, for as long as they’re useful.

A first conversation

Free, with no preparation needed. We talk through where the business is and whether this is the right fit.

Agree the priorities

We agree what to focus on first, so the sessions have a clear direction from the start.

Regular sessions

Typically two to three hours a month, in person or online, built around what’s in front of you.

Keep going while it helps

There’s no minimum term. We carry on for as long as it’s adding value.

Before or after the 60-Day Business MOT?

Either works. The 60-Day Business MOT gives you a full review and a written action plan, and mentoring is a practical way to deliver it.

If you already know what you want to work on, you can start with mentoring straight away and bring in the MOT later if it would help.

Common questions

Questions I get asked

Who is Early-Stage Mentoring for?

Owners of businesses turning over up to £500,000. How long you’ve been trading doesn’t matter: this is about the stage the business is at, not its age.

How much does it cost?

From £495 a month plus VAT. The exact figure depends on how much time and support the business needs.

How much time does it take?

Typically two to three hours a month, as a mix of in-person and online sessions.

Is there a minimum term?

No. There’s no minimum term. You carry on for as long as it’s adding value.

Should I do the 60-Day Business MOT first?

You can, but you don’t have to. The 60-Day Business MOT gives you a full review and a written action plan, and mentoring is a practical way to deliver it. If you already know what you want to work on, you can start with mentoring and bring in the MOT later if it would help.

What if my turnover is above £500k?

Between £500k and £1m, it depends on the business, so get in touch and we’ll work out which option fits best. Above £1m, Ongoing Mentoring or Strategic Consultancy is usually the better fit.

How do I get started?

With a free first conversation about where the business is. No preparation needed, and no obligation. If it makes sense to work together we will. If not, you’ll still leave with a clearer view.

Get in touch

Ready to get the foundations right?

Tell me a little about your business and I’ll be in touch to talk through whether Early-Stage Mentoring is the right fit.

Ready to get the foundations right?

Talk about Early-Stage Mentoring

In person and online. No minimum term.