Operations
We map the messy parts and fix the bottlenecks quietly killing your margins.
What this is
Before any AI, any software, any marketing — operations is usually the actual problem.
Operations is clear and simple, and it runs on a few unglamorous things. Aces in their places. Systems. Training. Whether your people know what is expected of them, and whether you can explain the job well enough to hand it over.
If you cannot explain the job, you cannot expect anybody else to do it. That is not a criticism, it is just where most of the mess starts.
Be honest with yourself
This is a real evaluation of you, your team and your business. You can answer these on your own and make your own plan — that is a genuinely fine outcome and it costs you nothing.
- 01Do your employees have clear expectations, written down somewhere?
- 02Do you understand your own systems well enough to explain them out loud?
- 03Can you train someone on them, or does it only work when you do it?
- 04What kind of leader are you — a clipboard manager, or are you empowering people?
- 05Are you always training your replacement?
- 06Is anything convoluted enough that it needs streamlining?
- 07Are you simply trying to do too much?
What this looks like
- 01
A conversation
Most of this starts as a meeting. We walk your systems, ask the awkward questions, and tell you what we see.
- 02
Streamline what exists
We have asked a lot of clients why a system works the way it does. The answer is often "I am really not sure, we have just always done it this way." That is usually where the time is going.
- 03
Do it yourself
Answer the questions above, make the plan, and run it. If that is what you need, we will say so and you will not hear from us again.
Why us for this
Lee Franks spent 25 years running operations before starting this — restaurants with full P&L, asset auctions for banks and the FDIC, a warehouse for a large internet sales company, and a sales floor. You are hiring someone who has been on your side of the table.
What it costs
Consultations start at $50 and go up from there depending on your budget and what you actually need.
This is deliberately the cheapest thing we do, because it is usually the thing that should happen first. Fixing operations often removes the need for the software or marketing you were about to buy.
- We will not sell you software to paper over a process problem.
- We will not tell you it is complicated when it is not. Keep it simple.
If your systems make no sense, your business is just running you — and you live there.
Straight answers
What does an operations engagement look like?
If you already know your friction points, we dive straight into solving them. If you are unsure where the breakdown occurs, we audit your current workflow from quote and order intake through delivery, pinpointing manual bottlenecks and implementing streamlined processes or targeted automations.
How do you find the bottleneck?
We bring over 20 years of operational experience to every project. While certain process gaps can be identified in an initial phone consultation, resolving deeper operational friction often requires an on-site audit to see how information, inventory, and tasks move across your team.
Do I have to replace the software I already use?
Not necessarily. It depends on your specific bottlenecks, current tool capabilities, and long-term goals. We work to integrate and optimize the software you already run whenever possible, though we will recommend replacements if legacy software is holding your operations back—no problem is too small or too large.
Also on the bench
- 01Websites
Fast, editable, on-brand sites built to convert — not just to win awards.
- 02Custom software
Tools shaped around how you actually work — no off-the-shelf compromises.
- 03Ecommerce
Stores that load fast and check out faster. Built to scale with your catalog.
- 04Marketing
Content and a plan, staged to your budget. No magic promised.
- 06AI advisory
Where AI helps, where it's hype, and what to do about it. No buzzwords.
Need operations?
Thirty minutes on your actual problem. No deck, no discovery theatre, no obligation to hire us.