The growth diagnostic is our free self-assessment done properly: every lever scored against your real records, by someone who has no reason to flatter you. You get a written report with a score for each of the ten levers, the evidence behind each score, an estimate of what the two weakest levers are costing you, and the order to fix them in. If you have not scored yourself yet, the printable self-assessment is a good warm-up, and Ali will compare your scores with his.
What the diagnostic is
It is a structured review of the whole business, built around the same ten levers as our guides. Instead of ticking boxes from memory, each statement is checked against something you can show.
For example, "nine out of ten calls are answered" is checked against your phone log, not your impression. "I know my margin by service" is checked against your financial summary. "My reviews mention what I want to be known for" is checked by reading them. Where no record exists, that lever usually scores lower, and the missing record goes on the to-do list.
The result is a single picture of the business that the owner, a partner and the team can all agree on, because it rests on evidence rather than opinion. Our guide to the ten growth levers explains what each lever covers.
Who it is for
Owner-run businesses that feel stuck, busy or both, and want an outside view before spending more.
It suits you if:
- revenue has been flat for a year or more and you are not sure why
- you are about to spend serious money on marketing, a new hire or a new location
- partners or managers disagree about what the real problem is
- you scored yourself and the results felt too kind, or too harsh
- you inherited or bought a business and want a fast, honest baseline
It is less useful for a brand-new business with no history to examine. In that case a review session on your plans is the better start.
What is included
A guided collection of evidence, a review of each lever, a findings call and a written report.
- Kick-off call. We agree what you sell, who you sell to, and what records exist.
- Evidence gathering. You share exports or read-only access: phone logs, analytics, listings, a sample of quotes, review profiles, and a monthly financial summary.
- Lever-by-lever review. Ali scores all 50 statements, noting the evidence for each tick and each empty box.
- Impact estimate. For each weak lever, a rough dollar figure for what improvement could be worth, using your own numbers.
- Findings call. We walk through the scores together, and you can challenge anything.
- Written report. Scores, evidence, the two priority levers, the fix order and the first actions.
Consultations run by video call or in person, and the analysis works from shared documents.
Timeline
Most of the calendar time depends on how quickly the evidence comes together. When records are easy to export, the diagnostic moves quickly. When they are scattered or need your accountant, it takes longer. The schedule is agreed and written into your proposal before any work starts, so you know when the findings call will happen.
How results are measured
The diagnostic itself is measured by whether you agree with it and can act on it. Its longer-term value is measured by the lever scores and the numbers behind them.
Each priority lever leaves the report with one measure attached, such as share of calls answered live, quote win rate or reviews per month, and a baseline figure. Re-score in 90 days, either yourself or in a monthly check-in, and compare. If the measure has not moved, the actions need changing.
Mistakes to avoid
Most of the value is lost when owners treat the diagnostic as a verdict rather than a starting point.
- Hiding the bad numbers. A diagnostic built on partial records produces a partial answer.
- Arguing every score. Challenge the ones you have evidence against; accept the ones you do not.
- Fixing everything in the report. The report names two priorities for a reason.
- Skipping the baseline. Write down the measure for each priority lever on day one, or you will never know if the fix worked.
- Buying the wrong fix. If the weak lever is closing, more advertising will not help. The focused plan exists to match each lever with the right kind of fix.
Price and next step
The diagnostic is a fixed-price project, quoted after a free 30-minute conversation. Projects in our group range from $3,500 to $25,000; most of the variation comes from the size of the business and how many locations or product lines need scoring. See the pricing page for the full rate card, then call, text or email to start.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to provide?
Read-only access or exports for the things you already have: phone logs, website and listing analytics, a sample of recent quotes, your review profiles and a monthly financial summary. If something does not exist, that tells us something too.
How is this different from scoring myself?
Owners score from memory and hope. The diagnostic scores from records. In practice that often moves two or three levers by a point or more, and it usually changes which lever comes first.
Do you need access to my bank account or accounting software?
No. A monthly summary of revenue, gross margin and cash from you or your accountant is enough. We never need passwords to financial accounts.
What does it cost?
It is priced as a fixed-price project. Projects in our group run from $3,500 to $25,000 depending on scope, and you get the figure in writing before any work begins.